Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee
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APA KY’s inaugural DEI Committee was launched in January 2022. The mission of the committee is:
To promote the facilitation, education and practice of more inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities in Kentucky through the planning profession. The committee has established goals and tactics (PDF format) that promote its mission.
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DEI Webinar Series
Part of a quarterly webinar series, where the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Planning Association discusses a wide array of topics related to how we can take a more equitable and inclusive lens to the planning profession.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Why Planners Should Care (6/28/23). This session covered how the LGBTQ+ Community is impacting planning and policy on a local level. During Pride Month, the eyes of the Nation are on the LGBTQ+ Community more than ever, in ways that Planners can celebrate. The panel discussion center primarily around advantages to a community taking a public position on LGBTQ+ rights, the growing pains of creating a thriving LGBTQ+ hub and lessons learned, benefits or positive outcomes of inclusion in your community, and threats to LGBTQ+ rights and ways to combat them. Panelists included:
Part of a quarterly webinar series, where the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Planning Association discusses a wide array of topics related to how we can take a more equitable and inclusive lens to the planning profession.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Why Planners Should Care (6/28/23). This session covered how the LGBTQ+ Community is impacting planning and policy on a local level. During Pride Month, the eyes of the Nation are on the LGBTQ+ Community more than ever, in ways that Planners can celebrate. The panel discussion center primarily around advantages to a community taking a public position on LGBTQ+ rights, the growing pains of creating a thriving LGBTQ+ hub and lessons learned, benefits or positive outcomes of inclusion in your community, and threats to LGBTQ+ rights and ways to combat them. Panelists included:
- Tom West, AICP – Economic Development Director for the City of Covington & APA-KY DEI Committee Member
- Brit Manor – LGBTQIA+ Liaison for the Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
- Bonnie Meyer – Founder of Blue Jay Collective and Co-Founder and President of the Northern Kentucky Pride Center
- Josh Sommer, AICP – Planner 3 with the City of Paducah & APA-KY DEI Co-Chair
- Samantha Castro, AICP, LEED-ND – Lexington Office Lead, TSW Design & APA-KY DEI Co-Chair [Moderator]
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Division Scholarships
Four $25 division scholarships per year will be offered to APA KY members to cover membership costs to the following APA divisions:
Committee Members
If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact us (Attn: DEI Committee).
Four $25 division scholarships per year will be offered to APA KY members to cover membership costs to the following APA divisions:
- Latinos & Planning
- LGBTQ & Planning
- Planning & the Black Community
- Women & Planning
Committee Members
- Samantha Castro, AICP, LEED-ND (Co-Chair)
Senior Planner, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government - Joshua P. Sommer, AICP (Co-Chair)
Planner III, City of Paducah - Ryan Holmes, AICP
Principal/Planner, EHI Consultants - Sharmili Reddy, AICP
Executive Director, PDS of Kenton County - Kareem Simpson
Northern KY Community Action Council - Tom West
Director of Economic Development, City of Covington
If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact us (Attn: DEI Committee).