The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has raised critical questions of the role of planning in social equity and environmental justice. With regards to ensuring access to affordable and decent housing, green space, transport and employment, the planning profession is at a critical juncture as to whether – and how – our activities can be oriented towards justice as opposed to perpetuating ongoing racial, colonial, economic, environmental, and ability-related injustices. It’s a moment to take stock of how Planning can be envisioned otherwise and to hear what budding planning practitioners and scholars envision as just planning practice.
In this vein, we are seeking short submissions (roughly 500 words) for our online magazine, Progressive City: Radical Alternatives, from current or recently graduated Planning students about their vision for “The Future of Planning”. We are particularly interested in submissions for ONE of two possible tracks:
- Reflections on the themes of decolonial planning; anti-racist planning; abolitionist planning; disability planning; feminist planning; socialist planning; community economic development; disaster planning; transport equity; housing justice; planning for equitable public or green space; food justice; and/or environmental planning. Ideally, the contributor would first highlight a pressing planning injustice and discuss why that injustice exists and persists and then provide thoughts about how planning can be envisioned otherwise, with planning – as practice or process – defined broadly.
- In times of crisis, when planning is most needed, the discipline and profession of planning has oftentimes taken a backseat to austerity measures on campus and in government. How would you envision a society that values and priorities planning as a way toward positive transformation, and what can planning students and practitioners do to usher in such an environment?
Please note that while we work with authors to help them fit the Progressive City style, format, and themes, we cannot accept all articles that have been submitted. The typical article goes through layers of editing: e.g. an overview editor and a copy editor.
Articles may be submitted up until March 15, 2021. Send articles to [email protected]