Planning News
The Baltimore Planning Academy Fall Cohort Begins!
We will be launching our Fall 2024 Planning Academy Cohort on September 11th. This cohort will run through mid-October, learning about the history of development in the City, current zoning and land use, and more. While the application for this cohort is closed, we offer two cohorts per year, so keep an eye out for future opportunities to participate! For more information about the Planning Academy, please visit: https://www.baltimoreplanningacademy.com/
Planning Academy's Emerging Planners
 Name: Nzingha Campbell
From: Baltimore
Name of Program: Master of Community Planning at the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Current position Food Policy and Planning Fellow at DOP
How I benefitted from the Baltimore Planning Academy: Prior to joining the Planning Academy, I was not 100% sure that the planning profession was right for me. I teetered back and forth between Public Policy, trying to find the best way to directly impact and improve the lives of Baltimore City residents. This is a super wide goal, and the planning academy helped me narrow down where I can make a difference in our communities through Planning. It showed me up close the work of Baltimore City planners, the amazing work happening in the city, and the somewhat sordid history of city planning when it comes to racial equity and segregation. I also learned that I loved learning about the more technical parts of planning including land use, zoning, and geographic information systems. This is where I also learned about the Food Policy and Planning division for the first time, and more widely Food Systems Planning.
Future Career plans: In school I am interested in focusing my research on food systems planning and urban agriculture! I have been amazed by urban farms in Baltimore City as hubs of economic development, neighborhood resilience, reconnecting Black populations to the land, and a focus on holistic health. This partners greatly with my interest in cooperative economics, and supporting the establishment of cooperative grocery stores in Baltimore City. I hope to return to Baltimore City as a Food Systems Planner, Greenspaces Coordinator, or community planner.
Any advice for emerging planners: Talk to people! I’ll shout it from the rooftops, especially for my shy gen-z agemates out there. Community planners particularly are extremely kind, knowledgeable, and want to bring young diverse planners into the profession. They hold a wealth of knowledge about what to consider going into your career, the wide range of options available within planning, and great stories/case studies that will bring your readings and studies to life.
Join us at Food PAC to celebrate our Resident Food Equity Advisors!
The Food Policy and Planning division recently concluded the 4th cohort of the Resident Food Equity Advisors initiative. Resident Food Equity Advisors (RFEA) are cohorts of Baltimore City residents that work to collectively drive equitable food policies through an inclusive, collaborative process.
This cohort focused on improving Online SNAP, SNAP, and Digital Equity in Baltimore City. Residents also provided direct feedback on ways to improve B’more Fresh, an Online SNAP voucher program that provides SNAP participants with $30 each month to spend on fruits and vegetables. The resulting policy recommendations report from the 2024 cohort will be unveiled at the next Food Policy Action Coalition meeting, where advisors will be presented with certificates of recognition. The certificate ceremony will be hosted at Lexington Market on Wednesday September 25th from 4:30-6:00pm. All community members are welcome, RSVP here.
John Rurah EMS Community Project – Umbra Street Park
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Umbra Street Park rests in eastern Greektown, next to the I-95 corridor. With funding allocated by the INSPIRE program for the area surrounding John Rurah Elementary/Middle School, the park has received several improvements. These have included infrastructure to make the park ADA-compliant, tree pruning, and the installation of new Greektown branded benches and trash bins. The benches and bins were installed this past July by the Department of Transportation, and The Department of Public works will be servicing the park for garbage pickup. |
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