Legislative Issues and Action
APA-RI collaborates with the RI League of Cities and Towns, Grow Smart RI, the Rhode Island Builder’s Association, and other organizations to carefully monitor and advocate for well-crafted legislation that affects all areas of community planning. Our Legislative Committee is generally comprised of ten to twelve individuals and is also supported by other interested Chapter members.
Want to get involved?
We're always looking for new members for the Legislative Committee! We meet virtually on the third Tuesday of every month at 9AM.
Please contact Jane Weidman with any questions about joining the committee: jweidman at charlestownri dot org
Outreach to State Legislature
In 2023, the Legislative Committee mailed out a letter and brochure to all new members of the RI General Assembly introducing them to APA RI, our legislative principles, and how we and our members can be of service. We hope this will be a first of many steps to more proactively cultivate relationships with our state legislators.
APA-RI 2021 Letter to Legislators
Planning Advocacy
National Community Planning Month
The achievements of planning are celebrated in October with National Community Planning Month. The annual event kicks off with the announcement of APA's Great Places in America, and includes a wealth of resources designed to help planners educate others about the value of what we do.
Policy Advocacy
APA National provides a wealth of resources that can keep you informed about important policy developments, and also build your capacity to advocate for good planning. Some important resources:
Planners' Advocacy Network provides tips, tools, and training geared toward shaping policy at the federal level. Visit the Planners' Advocacy Network.
APA National’s Advocate’s Toolbox provides special access to a suite of tools needed to affect change on Capitol Hill and beyond. Click here to learn more about their advocacy resources, the Legislative Action Center, success stories, and more.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee of APA RI promotes diversity within the Rhode Island planning profession and the Chapter to help planners serve and support more diverse and inclusive audiences.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Committee Chair Annette Bourne.
EDI Committee Mission and Action Plan
Click Here to view
EDI Resources for Planners
Click Here to view
From APA National
APA is pleased to launch a new video series today, Voices of Equity in Planning, to raise awareness of the unique responsibility and capability planners have to center social equity in their work. A full announcement about the series can be found here.
The videos are being produced with support from members of the Social Equity Task Force, whose report was accepted by the APA Board in 2019, and successfully integrated into APA's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy by the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee last year.