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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

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:
  • 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:
  • Latinos & Planning
  • LGBTQ & Planning
  • Planning & the Black Community
  • Women & Planning
If you wish to apply for one or more of these scholarships, please send your request and why you should qualify to Tom West at twest@covingtonky.gov with the subject: APA-KY DEI Scholarship.

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).
  • Home
  • Events
  • News
    • KY Planner
  • Jobs/RFPs
  • Awards
  • Resources
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Membership
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Sponsors
  • Contact
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook