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Planners Network Boston Chapter

Planners Network Boston Chapter (PNboston) is an association of professionals, activists, academics, students, and community members interested in creating an equitable built environment to open lines of communications within and between the many institutions and communities in the greater Boston area. Originally started in 2008, we have grown to include a diverse range of participants from all communities and expanded our activities and goals. We now include members involved in urban advocacy, planning professionals and practitioners, and students from all five Boston area schools with graduate planning programs.
Feb 29, 2012

Can We Talk? Film screening and discussion

Join the Tufts Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department for a discussion on how Boston’s communities have been impacted by the legacy of school desegregation.

Can We Talk?

Film and Discussion with Union of Minority Neighborhoods

Thursday March 1

4:15 - 6:15 pm

Crane Room, Paige Hall

Can We Talk?, a film by media producer Scott Mercer, was commissioned by Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN) as part of its Boston Busing/Desegregation Project. The film offers powerful stories of the 1970’s busing/desegregation crisis that changed Boston forever. Most of those in the film have never publicly shared their stories. It documents how this crisis is still felt today. It aspires to prompt a long-overdue honest conversation about public education and racism, classism, and social injustices that have plagued not only the Boston public schools, but the city of Boston as a community. The film is a vehicle to help spark honest reflections, dialogues and conversations across the city that would help lead to truth telling about and learning from this era and ultimately to deepen engagement in and commitment to strengthening Boston’s public school system for all its residents. Learn more about the film and UMN’s Boston Busing/Desegregation Project at: http://bbdplearningnetwork.wordpress.com/

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Jan 12, 2012

DRAFT - 2012 – 2015 Environmental Justice Strategy for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Department of Housing and Urban Development released a draft of its Environmental Justice Strategy. This EJ strategy is a four-year plan to address environmental justice concerns and increase access to environmental benefits through HUD policies, programs, and activities. Read it here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=DrftHUDEnvJustStrat093011.pdf

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Nov 8, 2011

Networking Night

Local planning, public health, social change, and transportation
Wednesday, Nov. 9
5:30-7:30pm
Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant, 903 Boylston Street, Boston [map]

Free and open to the public.
Interested in Boston’s urban planning and design scene? Applying to graduate schools? Want to get involved with advocacy, government, or consulting firms? Learn what is happening here in Boston and how to get involved.

Led by LivableStreets Alliance, the big networking event includes Planners Network Boston Chapter (PNboston), Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), Interdisciplinary Consortium on Urban Planning and Public Health (ICUPPH), and the New England Institute of Transportation Engineers (NEITE).

A unique opportunity to expand your social network. Schmooze with people and be part of a growing community making the Boston region a better place to live, work and play.

RSVP HERE

Convened by LivableStreets Alliance — your voice for a balance of biking, walking, and transit with automobiles — creating safe streets and livable communities.

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Sep 22, 2011

PNboston 2011 Fall Mixer

You are invited to attend a Planners Network Boston Chapter Fall Mixer on Thursday, September 29th at Middlesex Lounge in Central Square, Cambridge.  The event will be an opportunity to meet other planners, both professional and those still in school, and learn about upcoming fall events the Boston Chapter is planning.  Please see below for event details.

Planners Network is an organization dedicated to progressive planning with chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  It promotes networking and career development for planners, and advocates for social, economic, and environmental justice through planning. For more information, the national Planners Network website can be found here.

{DETAILS}
{WHEN} Thursday, September 29th, 6-9 PM
{WHERE} Middlesex Lounge, 315 Massachusetts Avenue, Central Square, Cambridge [map]

Thanks very much and we hope to see you at this and future events!

-Planners Network Boston Chapter Board

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Sep 5, 2011
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Join the Planners Network Boston Chapter for a tour of Boston! We’ll be visiting neighborhoods that played a role in Boston’s rich history of environmental justice, urban renewal, and community organizing. Open to incoming first years, returning students, partners, professors and staff. If you’re new to Boston, this is a great chance to learn more about the places we talk about regularly in classes and to familiarize yourself with the city. If you’re not new to the city, this is a great opportunity to hear from local residents and youth about places you may already have been through. If you think you know everything about Boston, why are you holding out on us? Come share your knowledge with the urban planning community. Our tour will end with a happy hour (although technically not permitted in Boston…Puritanical laws and whatnot), location TBA. {DETAILS} {WHEN} Sunday, September 11, 10:30 am - 3 pm {WHERE} Somerville folks: Meet at 10:30 am near the Davis Square station, outside JP Licks. Everyone else please gather at the Government Center Station (above ground) at 11:00 am. We’ll start together downtown and then split into separate groups to South Boston and East Boston. All groups will end at some fantastic location together for drinks. {TRANSPORTATION} We’ll take the T together to our first stop (if you’re leaving from Davis) and at least one more T ride during the tour (Tufts students: be sure to pick up your September T-Pass from Dowling Hall before Saturday if you ordered one). Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. {COST} $5- $10 each, sliding scale (to compensate the tour guides and their organizations) {WHAT TO BRING} Walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, snacks, water, T pass {REGISTER} Please rsvp by filling out this google form by Wednesday, September 7th. You’ll get an e-mail from us by September 9th with confirmation details and any updates. https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE1aeWJTRldPNnI4ZGh5UFkzYVB3UUE6MQ {QUESTIONS} Contact Jessie at jessie.partridge@gmail.com {NOTES} This tour is being planned by Tufts UEP and MIT DUSP students on behalf of the Planners Network Boston Chapter. For more information about Planners Network, visit http://pnboston.tumblr.com/. We’re actively recruiting representatives from Boston’s planning schools and professionals for this coming year.

Join the Planners Network Boston Chapter for a tour of Boston!

We’ll be visiting neighborhoods that played a role in Boston’s rich history of environmental justice, urban renewal, and community organizing. Open to incoming first years, returning students, partners, professors and staff. If you’re new to Boston, this is a great chance to learn more about the places we talk about regularly in classes and to familiarize yourself with the city. If you’re not new to the city, this is a great opportunity to hear from local residents and youth about places you may already have been through. If you think you know everything about Boston, why are you holding out on us? Come share your knowledge with the urban planning community. Our tour will end with a happy hour (although technically not permitted in Boston…Puritanical laws and whatnot), location TBA.

{DETAILS}

{WHEN} Sunday, September 11, 10:30 am - 3 pm

{WHERE} Somerville folks: Meet at 10:30 am near the Davis Square station, outside JP Licks. Everyone else please gather at the Government Center Station (above ground) at 11:00 am. We’ll start together downtown and then split into separate groups to South Boston and East Boston. All groups will end at some fantastic location together for drinks.

{TRANSPORTATION} We’ll take the T together to our first stop (if you’re leaving from Davis) and at least one more T ride during the tour (Tufts students: be sure to pick up your September T-Pass from Dowling Hall before Saturday if you ordered one). Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

{COST} $5- $10 each, sliding scale (to compensate the tour guides and their organizations)

{WHAT TO BRING} Walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, snacks, water, T pass

{REGISTER} Please rsvp by filling out this google form by Wednesday, September 7th. You’ll get an e-mail from us by September 9th with confirmation details and any updates. https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE1aeWJTRldPNnI4ZGh5UFkzYVB3UUE6MQ

{QUESTIONS} Contact Jessie at jessie.partridge@gmail.com

{NOTES} This tour is being planned by Tufts UEP and MIT DUSP students on behalf of the Planners Network Boston Chapter. For more information about Planners Network, visit http://pnboston.tumblr.com/. We’re actively recruiting representatives from Boston’s planning schools and professionals for this coming year.

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Jul 6, 2011
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Summer Activity - Bike Tour

We hope everyone is enjoying their summer. The weather’s been great - a perfect opportunity to get to know and explore the Greater Boston area.

As part of PNboston’s Summer Activities, we are going to do a bike tour of Boston. All chapter members are welcome to join in this event. Here are the details:

  • Thursday, July 28th
  • Meet @ 5:30pm (Depart @ 6:00pm) - Urban AdvenTours, 103 Atlantic Ave, Boston
  • End @ City Sports, 480 Boylston, Boston
  • Free!

PNboston members will be joining in with Urban AdvenTours’ weekly bike ride of Boston. The entire tour is about a 25 mile loop. The best part - it’s free! They even have free bike rentals for the evening event (first come, first served). For additional information, visit here.

All you’ll need for the event is:

  • Bike (or get there early for one of the free rentals)
  • Helmet
  • Blue t-shirt (this will help identify PNboston members)

Hope to see you July 28th! And don’t forget to wear your blue t-shirt!

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Jun 22, 2011

Summer Reading!

Planners Network Boston wants your input for its summer reading.  We will be reading two books this summer: one in July and one in August.  We will also have a book club meeting in those months to discuss what we have read (and also hear about fun summer activities and travels!). 

To help select the books, please click this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/76MFY7G, read the information, and rank your choices by June 28th.  We will send out an email soon to let you know what books to read!

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