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. ​
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.

Details and recordings of past webinars (listed below) can be found here.
  • ​Acknowledging Systematic Displacement in Black Communities (June 2024)
  • Equity in Comprehensive Planning (December 2023)
  • Where The Side Walk Ends (September 2023
  • LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Why Planners Should Care (June 2023)

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 [email protected] 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).