Effective Youth Engagement in the Planning Process

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Effective Youth Engagement in the Planning Process

• Erin L . AlemanOctober 20, 2009

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Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

• Established in 2005 by the State of Illinois with
  support from the regions mayors.
• Purpose To integrate planning for land use and
  transportation.
• Merger of the Northeastern Illinois Planning
  Commission (NIPC) and Chicago Area Transportation
  Study (CATS).
• Service Area
• Seven counties
• 284 municipalities
• Numerous school, park, and sanitary districts,
  along with other agencies

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CMAP Board

• 15 voting members
• 5 City of Chicago
• 5 Suburban Cook County
• 5 Collar Counties
• 2 non-voting members
• Super majority

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CMAP Committee Structure
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GO TO 2040

• The regions official comprehensive plan
• GO TO 2040 is new and different
• Its about leadership.
• Not just a plan, a strategic campaign to get
  things done.
• Prior to CMAP there was not a unified voice for
  our region.
• Strong momentum to set clear priorities,
  including capital projects.
• Local officials buying into the concept of "One
  Economic Region."
• Its not Schaumburg vs. Joliet for jobs. Its
  our region vs. other countries.
• Building consensus ? the lowest common
  denominator and avoiding tough choices.

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The challenge

• With 2.8 million more people by 2040
• Where are they going to live?
• How do they get to their job?
• How do we manage our water supply?
• What can we change to protect and improve our
  environment?
• How do we keep our communities vibrant?

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The Regional Vision

• Describes where we want to be in 2040
• Major themes include
• Environment
• Housing and social systems
• Economy and infrastructure
• Governance
• Overall themes of quality of life, equity,
  sustainability, and innovation

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Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP)

• In 2040 todays youth will be the leaders of our
  communities
• To give youth a voice at the table

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Youth Engagement In the Chicago region

• 1909 Plan of Chicago
• Wacker Manual
• Local tools programs
• Metro Joe, Chicago Metropolis 2020
• Youth Media Chicago Network, McCormick Foundation
• Chicago Humanities Festival Think Big Youth Expo
• Virtual Burnham Initiative, Lake Forest College

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Youth Engagement A National Movement

• APAs ResourcesZine
• National League of Cities Institute for Youth
  Education Families
• Atlanta Regional Commissions Model Atlanta
  Regional Commission
• Planners Network Young Planners Network

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08 09 FLIP Program
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Developing a model

• We invited students to come to CMAP, see what we
  do, take a tour
• Youth advisors
• Helped us plan
• Came up with a name

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Developing a model

• We went back to CMAP parents
• Developed a FAQ sheet
• Why
• Times and Locations
• CMAP contact info
• Mailings and emails
• Transportation and logistics

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Curriculum development

• The Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan
  Development
• We needed a partner with strengths in education
  lesson planning
• Leading Community Change Program
• Introduce high school students to theoretical
  constructs of urban planning
• Allow students to demonstrate apply what theyve
  learned on a project in their own neighborhood

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Details

• Pick dates and times that work for youth
• Chaperones
• Release forms
• Building a network
• Scheduling activities

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Getting the word out

• 300 paper applications mailed
• Identified and contacted the 3 largest high
  schools in each county in our region
• Available online via email
• Committee members
• CMAP Planning liaisons
• High school counselors
• Local youth organizations

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Student Essays

• In the past few years we have been trying hard
  to help our communities. Helping stop violence,
  stop gangs, go green, and making the place better
  for future generations. The truth is we can be
  trying harder. Do bigger things, more
  influential things to get more people to help and
  have a bigger and better outcome. A lot of
  people think that they cant do anything but that
  is not true. If everybody helps just a little
  bit we have a greater chance of having safer,
  stronger communities.

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Student Essays

• (next year I will be enrolled in AP
  Calculus)This skill will help as we discuss
  difficult questions such as whether or not new
  developments trump open spaces, or when an area
  discusses an infill project, should it be mixed
  use and include housing that only high-income
  citizens can afford, or does it make sense to
  include housing for area workers who make lower
  incomes?

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Our first FLIP class

• Student representatives from all 7 counties
• 20 females, 19 males
• 33 schools represented
• One homeschooled student

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Pilot year FLIP breakdown
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Program overview

• Family Orientation
• Retreat Getting to know you our region
• Session 1 Explore existing conditions
• Session 2 Community engagement
• Session 3 Expert interviews
• Session 4 Case study of a regional project
• Session 5 Putting it all together
• Final Presentation Recommendations to CMAP Board

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Family Orientation
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The Retreat planning the region
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The Retreat getting to know you
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Session 1 Existing conditions
Housing
Land Use
Economic Community Development
Environment
Transportation
Human Services
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Housing
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Housing
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Economic Development
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Economic Development
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Environment
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Human Services / Education
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Transportation
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Session 1 Existing conditions

• Shared experiences
• Learning from each other
• Presentation skills

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Session 2 Community engagement

• Corridor Development Initiative in Hyde Park

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Session 2 Community engagement

• What would you do if you were the community
  leader?

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Session 3 Expert interviews

• How does planning inter-relate?
• Interview skills
• Question development
• Applying what we learned

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Session 4 Regional projects

• OHare Modernization Project

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Session 5 Recommendations
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Final Presentation

• Recommendations to the CMAP Board

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Proof is in the pudding

• Evaluation
• Mid-program survey
• Effectiveness of assignments
• More variety of lunch options
• Program evaluation
• DePaul University grad student
• FLIP student focus group
• Parent interviews

FLIP parent commented on the impact of her child
visiting the wealthy downtown area vs. a less
fortunate, minority dominated community.
Another parent indicated the value in her child
visiting the greenhouse in the city, as she is
interested in environmental issues.
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Making Connections

• Program press releases
• Contacted all participants Mayors and Alderman
• Invited students to write for the CMAP blog
  goto2040.org
• Scheduled interviews

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Social media
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FLIP 2009 10

• 29 students
• 15 female, 14 males
• 25 schools
• 8 volunteers from last year
• Blog
• Newsletter articles
• Photographers

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08 09 FLIP Program
09 10 FLIP Program
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Erin Alemanealeman_at_cmap.illinois.gov312.386.8816