23rd Annual La Gran Limpieza, The Great Los Angeles River Cleanup

On Saturday, April 28, 2011, from 9AM to noon, join 3000 volunteers in pulling trash from the Los Angeles River at one of over a dozen cleanup sites across the Southland. Wear clothes for getting dirty, sturdy shoes, work gloves, and sun protection. Please bring drinking water. Some handy items to bring if available are small hand/garden tools for clearing entwined trash, grabber arm tools, and rubber/wading boots. Individuals and groups welcome! Advance registration appreciated. Site maps available at http://folar.org/?page_id=5

Kick-Off Mixer! March 16, 2012

Join us for YPG's Kick-Off Mixer on Friday, March 16th, 2012.  We'll be getting together at the historic Hotel Fig in Downtown LA from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.  This will be a great opportunity to meet and catch up with other young planners, and also a chance to see what APA-LA's Young Planners Group (YPG) has to offer you this year.

RSVP by March 9th, 2012 to ypglosangeles@gmail.com.

Looking forward to seeing you! Feel free to pass the invitation around.

YGP Goals for 2012

Hello Young Planners!

Meghna Khanna and I (Emmanuel Soriano) are privileged to be serving you as YPG Coordinators in 2012.  On January 16th, the APA-LA's Board of Directors had its retreat to discuss and set-out APA-LA's goals for the year.  Please feel free to give our goals a look and to suggest anything that we could do to make your YPG experience that much more enriching.  

Mission and Goals

The YPG’s mission this year is to provide opportunities for the region’s young planners to participate in a social and professional network; to assist young planners in their on-going professional development; and to contribute to the region’s communities through volunteerism.  Although a resource for all planners, YPG emphasizes on planners under the age of thirty-five and those who may have less than 10 years of professional planning experience. 

Increase Membership to APA through the YPG

Transitional planners (from students to professionals) are a constant presence in the region.  By making the YPG more welcoming through events and programming, we can attract these professionals who not only see the importance of belonging to the APA, but also the value of being connected to a wider network of young planners like themselves.

Opening Event/Informational meeting:

Hold this in March to introduce YPG to LA Chapter members:

• Receive feedback on the needs of young planners and what they would like the YPG to focus on this year
• Identify issues and opportunities for young planners (Interviewing, Networking, Resources, etc.
• Solicit new planning ideas
• Update the contact list of young planners interested in joining the YPG
• Meet members interested in serving on a YPG Subcommittee
• Update the email list serve to inform YPG members about programs and events

 Form YPG Subcommittees focusing on:

• Educational Programs
• Mentoring
• Volunteerism
• Networking
• State and National Conferences
• Marketing and sponsorships
• Website and Communications

 Increase online presence

• Social networking: Facebook, Twiiter, LinkedIn - The best way to keep a consistent line of communication with young planners is through social networking sites.  Advertising for events will be more direct and group members can communicate with each other. 
• YPG-Specific website linked from the APA-LA Home site.

Mentorship Series
Continue the mentorship series that taps into the region’s experienced professionals in the private and public sector to share their insight with young planners.  It could occur every other month or every month.

Social Networking Event /social mixers.
An opportunity for young planners to unwind and socialize over drinks and food; could occur two to four times in the year.

Monthly Professional Networking Event:

• Diversity in the Work Place: To explore the diverse qualities that young professionals are bringing to the workplace, including their approaches to talent and culture and their knowledge of their related field(s).
• Field Trips: Join the Young Professionals on field trips to explore TODs, mixed-use, art tour, BRT or other successful planning projects, within the Los Angeles Area.
• Educational Programs:  Provide educational programs for YPG members that inform them of important planning issues and topics they should be aware of as they start their careers.  The topics could include transportation, climate change 101, California redevelopment end, California Subdivision Map Act, EIR process.  Workshops/courses could be a collaboration with online planning magazine Planetizen, which already hosts a number of courses through its website.
• AICP Exam prep and Study Groups

Volunteerism
Los Angeles is filled with initiatives meant to improve the lives of its residents.  From food justice programs to bike counts, YPG members will have a chance to serve the greater community of Los Angeles.  Other events could include beach cleanup, CicLAvia etc.