Exploring the Experiences of Canadian Black Planning Professionals

This project will document the experiences of Black planning professionals and promote discussions to explore and address anti-Black and systemic racism within the field of planning, a field tasked with building cities in the public interest. It aims to create inclusion and support in the field of urban and regional planning by amplifying the voices of Black planners and supporting Black planners to be successful in their careers. This objective is critical in order both to rectify past exclusions and barriers to Black professionals and to expand critical perspectives within the profession on what good planning should and could be. The project will explore the following overarching question: What are the experiences of Black individuals in navigating their planning careers and how can those careers be best supported in order to maximize the flourishing of Black professional planners and their contributions to the field? Methodologically, the project will rely primarily on interviews with Black planning professionals about their experiences and challenges in the field of planning, ranging from graduate education to entry-level employment to leadership roles.

Faculty Supervisor:

Katharine Rankin

Student:

Partner:

The Black Planning Project;Ontario Professional Planners Institute

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

University of Toronto

Program: