However, we must recognize that physical planning will fail unless we address the issues of diversity. Community Education Educating community members so that they can participate effectively in planning and development activities is an important service planners can provide. Planning schools, planning agencies and firms, and APA chapters and sections could sponsor these programs. Also, planning agencies could offer internships for community activists. The citizen participation process can be modified to recognize cultural differences through the presentation of multilingual materials and the use of translators at public meetings.
Planning affects the allocation of resources.
A community that can speak and plan for itself effectively is in a good position to begin to solve its problems. Marjorie Macris, AICP , is a planning consultant from Northern California. Both should start with more inclusion and diversity within the planning schools themselves. Macris' sources cite the significant underrepresentation of African-Americans and women in both planning schools and the profession itself, and Hispanics within the profession. It is understandable, but no longer acceptable, that a profession and process historically guided by Anglo males would be characterized by cultural and equity myopia among even the best-intentioned.