Plan Dulce Podcast

Plan Dulce Host Stefanie Esteban (she/they) is joined by Christian Llamas (he/him), an emerging planning professional in Los Angeles. They discuss his experiences with design and technical skills coming out of school and jumping right into planning careers in the private and public sector. Bio and Links:A recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in the field of Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in  Spatial Studies (GIS), Christian Llamas' primary interest is in transportation systems, climate resiliency, and urban  design. Christian wants to use his passion for environmentalism and urbanism in a consulting career with the  intent of improving the vibrancy, mobility, and prosperity in cities globally. Knowledgeable in  architecture and design programs such as AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, and the Adobe Creative Suite after several architecture courses. Learn more about Christian:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christian-llamas-8aa3861b0 --------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced by Stefanie Esteban (she/they).Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Plan Dulce Host Michelle E. Zuñiga, AICP (she/her) is joined with Cristina Garcia (she/her), founder of Latinxs in Sustainability (LiS) for a live recording at LUGARES 2025, the annual virtual conference focused on bringing diverse Latiné voices across the nation and their contributions to planning in our communities. L.U.G.A.R.E.S. is Latinidad, Unity, Gente, Advocacy, Resiliencia, Equity, Spaces. Raíces Fuertes: Sowing Resilience. Guided by the wisdom passed down through generations, we gather to explore how collective community is a legacy we inherit, cultivate, and sustain —planting the seeds for the future. We are advancing resilience through collaborative creation, acknowledging dónde estábamos (where we have been), dónde estamos (where we are now), and dónde vamos (where we are headed). Together, we will examine how to sustain growth and justice for cities in the face of systemic barriers, climate change, and displacement—grounded in cultura, guided by historia, and committed to acción.Bio and Links:Cristina Garcia (she/her) is a first-generation Latina, native New Yorker, and Founder of Latinxs in Sustainability (LiS), a national nonprofit advancing Latinx leadership in climate and sustainability. Since 2017, LiS has grown to 2,000+ followers, hosted 75+ events, and built programs connecting Latinx students and professionals to mentorship and career opportunities.Cristina works at Con Edison, managing programs that help New Yorkers decarbonize their homes. She previously held roles at the Building Electrification Institute and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, where she launched workforce initiatives for CUNY students. A Certified Energy Manager, Cristina holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering from City College of New York.Learn more about Latinxs in Sustainability (LiS):https://www.latinxsinsustainability.org/ --------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced by Michelle E.  Zuñiga, AICP (she/her) and co-produced by Vidal F. Márquez (he/him).Connect with Plan Dulce and Latinos and Planning:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—----

How do you build a city that's truly fair for all its residents? Plan Dulce Podcast Host Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño, AICP talks to Andre Soucy, a Transportation Planner for OakDOT, whose mission is to secure the funding for projects that prioritize equality in transportation. He breaks down how cities secure multi-million dollar grants and explains his work managing Oakland's equity-driven Capital Improvement Program. Andre's passion for access and justice comes from his own roots as a Colombian/Venezuelan-American growing up in exurban South Florida. You'll hear how this Master in City Planning from UC Berkeley is shaping the future of urban areas.Bio and Links:Andre Soucy is a Transportation Planner for the City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master in City Planning from UC Berkeley. He is a Colombian/Venezuelan-American from South Florida whose interest in transportation access and equity is based on his experience growing up in the exurban community of Loxahatchee, Florida. His work on OakDOT’s Funding Strategy team involves pursuing grant funding to support multimodal capital projects across Oakland and updating the City’s equity and data-driven Capital Improvement Program.Learn more about:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrebsoucy?trk=blended-typeahead--------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was written and produced by Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño and edited by Stefanie Esteban (She/They).Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—----

Plan Dulce host Vidal F. Márquez (He/Him) speaks with Norena Limón (She/Her) from the Casita Coalition to discuss the California housing supply crisis and her journey raised in the Inland Empire, working at the Obama White House, going to Harvard and becoming a CEO in policy advocacy in California. Bio and Links:Noerena Limón brings over 16 years of experience working at the nexus of government, public policy, and the private sector. She is currently the CEO of the Casita Coalition, where she leads efforts to address California’s housing crisis through policy advocacy and community engagement. Previously, she founded Mariposa Strategies LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic guidance to nonprofits, government entities, and private organizations on housing. In 2023, Limón was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Board of the California Housing Finance Agency. Since 2021, she has also served as a Housing Fellow at UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation, where she collaborates on research addressing California’s housing supply crisis.Noerena has spent most of her career doing federal policy work with experience at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Obama White House and U.S. Congress. Noerena received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and her Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.Learn more:https://casitacoalition.squarespace.com/https://casitacoalition.squarespace.com/build-the-middle-national-housing-convening-2025 --------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced by Vidal F. Márquez (He/Him). Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Pride Series: The Power of Communities. Stefanie Esteban (She/They) speaks with Andres David Veliz (all pronouns) from the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Senior Services team in this Pride Month episode of Plan Dulce. Together, they explore what it means to design cities where queer and trans elders can age with dignity. Drawing from his work creating affirming programs across senior housing sites, Andres shares how joy, accessibility, and belonging show up in planning at the community level.They talk about the stories and needs of LGBTQIA+ elders, the importance of intergenerational connection, and the legacy of queer spaces that no longer exist. From bilingual HIV support dinners to public art projects that center color and care at bus stops, this conversation is a reminder that community care is city planning.Andres David Veliz (all pronouns) is a Senior Services Activities Coordinator at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and a former journalist and translator with roots in Venezuela. He designs inclusive programs for queer elders across LA’s diverse neighborhoods, bridging language, culture, and access. Through storytelling, bilingual outreach, and community-based design, Andres builds spaces where aging is honored and difference is celebrated.Learn more about Senior Services at the LA LGBT Center:http://lalgbtcenter.org/services/senior-services/https://volunteer.lalgbtcenter.org/--------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced byStefanie Esteban (She/They) Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—----

Stefanie Esteban (She/They) speaks with Alex Shippee, a queer Latino transit planner working in Southern California’s Inland Empire region (commonly known as the IE). In this conversation, they talk about his capstone research on heat, bus shelters, and dignity in public space; as well as his current work in transit planning; and a public art initiative he helped launch that centers community, color, and care at bus stops. They also dig into topics like mixed identity, queerness, burnout, and the quiet acts of self-expression that show up in planning work every day.Bio:Alex Shippee (Him/Him) is a queer Latino planner who grew up in southern California. He studied biology at UCLA, but after working with nonprofits in LA and teaching English overseas in Egypt, travel and these cities grew his interest in urban planning and how cities settings are shaped. Alex began his planning career as an intern at Omnitrans and then moved into a full-time position as a transit planner.   Learn more about:Omnitrans Beautiful Benches Project / Proyecto Bancas Bellas (2024)--------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced byStefanie Esteban (She/They) Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—----

Stefanie Esteban (She/They) is joined by their fellow Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) graduates from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona to explore their experiences in the Master’s program, advocating for anti-displacement and gentrification community organizations and growing as queer Latine professionals in today’s political climate. Marcos Molina (He/Him/His) is an LA native that has been living in Pomona for over 10 years. He is a nonprofit worker at a community based organization called Day One working on anti gentrification efforts in the City of Pomona. He is a big advocate for walking and biking – so much as he refuses to drive! He’s spent the past years being a civic leader at a local level and is the current chair of the planning commission at the city of Pomona. @aiurareJennifer Lopez (They/Them/Ella), known as JLo, is a passionate advocate for equitable urban development and community empowerment. Finishing their Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona, JLo’s journey began after completing their undergraduate studies at Sonoma State in Women’s and Gender Studies with minors in Queer Studies y Chicano Studies. Aiming to address the pressing issues of displacement of their community and advocate for marginalized groups Their leadership stems from being a sister of Sigma Pi Alpha Sorority co-chair representative for the Graduate caucus@ Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) & The National Association for Chicana Chicano Studies(NACCS)This summer Jennifer will be continuing their professional development this summer through the Equity Policy Fellowship California Housing Partnership.@SweetnLowJlo | Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lopez-201265223 ---------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced byStefanie Esteban (She/They) Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Stefanie Esteban (She/They) chats with Norma Sánchez (They/Them/Elle) about their relationship-building powers to connect the LGBTQ+ community with educational programs and social services in the Boyle Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles. Norma Sánchez’s Bio:Norma Sánchez (They/Them/Elle) is a nonbinary queer punk community advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in Los Angeles. Norma has worked with the community for approximately 12 years and counting. Their educational background is in Education, Communication Studies and the LGBTQ+ community. Currently they work as a Program Coordinator at Mi Centro, the Latine Community Site of the Los Angeles LGBT Center based in Boyle Heights. Their work is rooted in care, punk resistance, cultural joy and has deep ties to the community especially in a neighborhood they long call home. Learn more about Mi Centro:Websitehttps://lalgbtcenter.org/about/locations/mi-centro/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/micentro2/ ---------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, edited and produced byStefanie Esteban (She/They) Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—----

Special episode! Live recording at the 2024 Latinos and Planning LUGARES Conference. Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño and Matt Gomez chat with Dr. Christine Marin, Professor Emeritus and Archivist-Historian at Arizona State University, about growing up in a copper mining town and the influence this had on her relationship with labor and union organizing. Dr. Marin speaks about the importance of supporting students, Chicana/o studies and the waves of other Chicana/o/Latino/a/x professors, archivists, librarians who are helping share and preserve our history. She highlights the importance of never giving up on your dream, no matter how long it takes -- "you have to be persistent," she says. Dr. Christine Marin is Professor Emeritus and Archivist-Historian at Arizona State University. Dr. Marin is the founder of the prestigious archival repository, the Chicano/a Research Collection and Archives at the Hayden Library in Tempe, Arizona. As Adjunct Faculty Associate in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she taught courses on the history of Mexican Americans for the former History Department and the School of Transborder Studies, and the history of Mexican American women and Latinas for the Women and Gender Studies Department. The National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies awarded Dr. Marin its Community Award “in recognition of her commitment to the Latino community as an archivist and historian in the field of Chicano and Chicana Studies.”   Arizona Humanities awarded her the  Juliana Yoder Friend of the Humanities Award, 2021 “in recognition of her research, writing and scholarship for her work that supports and promotes the Humanities.”  Her most recent publication is “Amazing Grace Keeps the Platters Spinning. A Photo Essay on Radio and Television Trailblazer Graciela Gil Olivarez.” IN: Feminist Media Histories. (2021) Vol. 7:4. Pp. 107-135. Profiles: Christine Marin | ASU Search Dr. Christine Marin Staff Award Christine Marin, PhD | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Dr. Christine Marín: Archivist/Historian | Arizona Memory Project ASU Organizations and People: ASU Hispanic Research Center Hispanic Research Center ASU Provost Dr. Nancy Gonzales  ASU Chicano Research Archives https://lib.asu.edu/collections/chicano  Nancy Godoy -Director of Community-Driven Archives ASU School of Transborder Studies https://sts.asu.edu/  Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the APA does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement.Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was written and produced by Matt Gomez and Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño and edited by Grecia White. Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño chats with Kat Sibel on Indigenous People’s Day about her life’s journey of twists and turns reflecting on her Peruvian ancestral roots and how Andean and Quechua knowledge and values informed her work and research looking at both sides of public health and environmental science. Kat Sibel (she/her/ella) is a passionate, bi-cultural Community Climate Resiliency Coordinator for the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. As a researcher, she embraces her indigenous identity in applying a decolonial lens to climate justice topics, such as extreme heat and flooding, and its impact on community health. As an action-oriented urban planner, she develops meaningful strategic partnerships via 'embedded planning' for climate health-focused capacity building. By centering community concerns from faith leaders, residents, community health workers, and emergency managers, she is able to advocate and collaborate with policy makers, urban designers, data analysts and community engagement leaders on climate risk tools and resources. Learning the traditions of her Andean (Quechua) heritage through meditation, language and culture throughout her life has kept her grounded through the challenges that arise as an environmental justice practitioner, leader, urban planner, and global citizen.Learn more about Kat’s work:LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherin-sibel/ NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/index.page  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nychealthy/---------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠.  Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was produced byKeyanna Ortiz-Cedeño, Host, Producer, Writer, Editor Vidal F. Márquez, Audio Engineer, EditorFollow Latinos and Planning on Social Media: Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944⁠LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño speaks with Jose Antonio Gordillo Martorell- tuning in from Sweden, about democratizing decision making for museums and other cultural institutions to elevate children's pespectives. Dive in and learn how re-priotitizing play, "dancing with the system" and expanding our idea of public participation to include children of all backgrounds can introduce groundbreaking new ideas into our cultural institutions and placemaking initiatives. Mr. Jose Antonio Gordillo Martorell, Ph.D. is the Founder and CEO of Cultural Inquiry, a micellium company located in Switzerland that operates internationally. He is a professional with 26 years of experience in education, collective creativity, content co-creation, change-driven strategy, participation and community weaving with a passion for the democratization of minoritized and unrepresented cultural voices in the cultural arena. He founded Children’s Boards in different Museums of the world like the City of Arts and Sciences, Norrbottens Museums, HOTA-House of the Arts, and more recently Historisches Museum Saar, Museo of Solutions in Mumbai, Museum of Communication Bern, or Swiss National Museum-Château des Prangins.  Learn more about Jose’s work and connect: LinkedIn (personal) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-antonio-gordillo-martorell-28ab0727/ Company LinkedIn Profile https://ch.linkedin.com/company/cultural-inquiry  Company Website  https://www.cultural-inquiry.com/ Publication in MuseumNExt about the Children’s Board Methodology https://www.museumnext.com/article/giving-youth-a-voice-in-your-museum-setting-up-a-childrens-board/ Phonetic Planet Interview https://phoneticplanet.org/jose-antonio-gordillo-martorell Articles in Medium https://medium.com/@joseantoniogordillo Publications  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Zg7OQOXro-zJlGmtv1lWXYtKn4h0AD1nSrFLNXjYhEs/edit Read Jose's article in Europeana about Diversity and Inclusion  https://pro.europeana.eu/post/everything-starts-with-a-question-diversity-and-inclusion-in-a-global-world Learn more about Jose's expertise as a Systems Thinking Changer https://collaboratiohelvetica.ch/catalysts/jose-antonio-gordillo-martorell --------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠⁠.  Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. Follow Latinos and Planning on Social Media:  Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠⁠ X/ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠⁠

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño speaks with Ursula Troncoso- tuning in from São Paulo, Brazil- about her path into architecture and planning and her insights into meaningfully engaging young children in community engagement and urban design projects. Ursula Troncoso leads Ateliê Navio, an architecture and urbanism office focused on cities, childhood, and education. She holds a postgraduate degree from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and studied Outdoor Learning Spaces for Early Childhood at North Carolina State University. She participated in the Executive Leadership Program for Early Childhood at Harvard University and is a consultant at the Van Leer Foundation. Learn more about Ursula’s work and connect on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-troncoso/ Urban 95 Website: https://vanleerfoundation.org/urban95/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urban95cm/?hl=en Ateliê Navio Website: https://www.atelienavio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelienavio/ --------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠.  Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. Follow Latinos and Planning on Social Media:  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ X/ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño chats with Paul Fericelli about his work in disaster recovery and climate resilience at federal agencies like FEMA and the EPA, growing up in Puerto Rico, and the role mentorship has played in their professional journey. Paul Fericelli's Bio and Links: Paul Fericelli is an Environmental Engineer with the federal government. With over 10 years of experience, Paul has worked across various mission areas in the federal government including, water, materials management, toxics control, emergency response, disaster recovery and intergovernmental relations. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfericelli/ --------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association.  Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. Follow Latinos and Planning on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/ X/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en

In this episode we'll hear from Vidal Marquez, Edna Ely-Ledesma and Adrian Diaz about their successful mobile workshop at this year's national planning conference which took place back in may in Minneapolis Minnesota. The workshop, Puentes: Bridging Healing and Revitalization in Latine neighborhoods, took participants to the East Lake Street Corridor, the largest Hispanic/Latinx neighborhood in the twin cities and a diverse community with immigrants from all over the world. Check out the photos posted on LAP's Instagram page Check out the route and stopping points along East Lake Street A special thank you to La Loma Tamales in Minneapolis for the delicious tamales! Vidal F. Márquez is an urban planner born and raised in the Highland Park community of Los Angeles, California. He is the immediate Past Chair of the APA Latinos and Planning Division. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. A division member since 2009, Vidal assisted in creating programming and educational opportunities within the Division beginning in 2012. During the fall of 2020, Vidal was proud to lead and produce the Division’s inaugural multi-part conference event entitled L.U.G.A.R.E.S.: Latinidad, Unity, Gente, Advocacy, Resiliencia, Equity, Spaces. A key objective of the conference was to highlight ways in which planners within and outside of formal planning processes are addressing challenges and issues in their communities. Vidal is excited to showcase more resources and achievements for Latine planners who are working to make their communities a better place for all. Adrian Diaz Jr, is a Planner and Public Engagement Specialist with Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc, has worked with dozens of urban and rural communities throughout the Midwest. He earned two Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Community Development and Sociology with emphasis on social justice and sustainability. Adrian has focused on developing plans that provide equitable solutions and address community needs. Additional to his planning career, he has designed and launched multiple youth programs focused on career development, secondary education, community leadership, and cultural empowerment for Latine youth. Adrian was awarded the United States Presidential Environmental Youth Award for a stewardship project he led in his hometown, Waukegan, Illinois. Edna Ely-Ledesma is an assistant professor in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she directs the Kaufman Lab for the Study and Design of Food Systems and Marketplaces. The corpus of her research, teaching, and mentoring focuses on understanding the development of the smart, green, and just 21st century city. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between communities and city governments to help define the planning and design agency of Latinos, a traditionally under-represented group. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Architecture and a Master of Urban Design from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University. She was a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellow. She served as a lecturer in the Urban Design program at the University of Texas School of Architecture (UTSOA) from 2014-2018. In 2017, she was the Emerging Scholar of Race & Gender Fellow in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, and in 2018 she was the Carlos E. Castañeda Postdoctoral Fellow for the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠.  Follow, rate, and subscribe! Follow Latinos and Planning on Social Media:  ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeno chats with Danielle Zoe Rivera, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of California Berkeley. Rivera's research examines policy and design for environmental and climate justice. Her work uses community-based research methods to address the impacts of climate-induced disasters affecting low-income communities. Her current work deeply engages rural and unincorporated communities of color reeling from disasters, challenging government agencies to recognize these communities and alter outdated policy and programmatic frameworks. Rivera teaches environmental planning and design, community engagement, and environmental justice. Rivera holds a PhD in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan, a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Pennsylvania State University. ⁠Learn more about her work and research.⁠ -------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠.  Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. Follow Latinos and Planning on Social Media:  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@laplatinosandplanningdivis2944⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ X/ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠ --------------- ⁠Register for LUGARES!⁠ LAP’s 5th Annual Conference November 7-8, 2024 at 10AM-5PM Central Time. This year’s conference theme is “Nuestras Historias” centering on the shared collective knowledge that is embedded within our histories and storytelling for shaping greater community resilience. ⁠Dr. Lydia Otero⁠, professor emeritus from the University of Arizona will be our keynote speaker. This year’s LUGARES will also feature a variety of resources for implementation in your local communities from partners such as ⁠UnidosUS⁠, ⁠Main Street America⁠, and ⁠Latinos in Heritage Conservation⁠.

Julio shares his experience growing up near La Oroya, one of the most polluted cities in Peru, and going on to study architecture to pursue his interest in large scale solutions that impact people's every day lives. He shares his experience spearheading the Green Building Council in Peru as the only LEED AP in the country and his most recent project, Planning 2050, a dashboard platform where public entities such as cities, towns and agencies can track progress on the goals they have set for themselves on a range of topics like transportation, air quality and parks. Over time, tracking their performance can lead to identifying best practices that can be shared with other entities.  Julio Carrillo, AICP, LEED AP ND, is a Senior Planner at Parkhill. Julio co-founded Peru's Green Building Council and has chaired various committees, including Austin's AIA Urban Design Committee (2022), and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee at the Urban Land Institute of Austin – Texas (2022). Julio is also a board member of the Downtown Austin Alliance (2024). Recognized for his urban design practice, Julio was selected as an International Expert in 2021, leading a research team for future city planning in Asia. In 2023, Julio was the General Co-Rapporteur of the 59th World Planning Congress. He is also the Director of Planning Commitment Inc, driving the PLANNING 2050 initiative for positive impacts in Equity, Climate Change, and Resiliency. ----------- Save the date! LAP’s 5th Annual LUGARES Conference will be November 7-8 ~10AM-5PM Central Time. This year’s conference theme is “Nuestras Historias” centering on the shared collective knowledge that is embedded within our histories and storytelling for shaping greater community resilience. Dr. Lydia Otero, professor emeritus from the University of Arizona will be our keynote speaker. This year’s LUGARES will also feature a variety of resources for implementation in your local communities from partners such as UnidosUS, Main Street America, and Latinos in Heritage Conservation.  ---------- Episode host: Grecia White, Latinos and Planning podcast lead Episode producers: Matt Gomez, Latinos and Planning LUGARES conference lead and Grecia White Plan Dulce is a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association.

Learn about the transportation advocacy campaign led by the Northwest Center, a 501c3, community based organization (formerly known as the Northwest Side Housing Center) pushing to bring more bike lanes and bikeshare to the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago. This episode was the first podcast collaboration between Latinos and Planning and the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC).  Co-host: Hani Shamat is a Program Coordinator at SUMC in Chicago, Illinois  Co- host: Alex Rosander, mobility enthusiast and former Program Coordinator at SUMC  Guest: Zair Menjivar, operations Coordinator at Equiticity Guest: Jeremy Cuebas, transportation organizer for Northwest Center Producers: Hani Shamat, Alex Rosander, and Alvaro Villagran, Director of Federal Programs at SUMC Editor: Grecia White, New Mobility Planner at City of Boston Jeremy Cuebas is the transportation organizer for Northwest Center. His work focuses on building relationships and empowering the youth specifically in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. He led a group of 30 students called the “Belmont Cragin Youth Leadership council”  who met 5 days out of the week, to organize, strategize, and meet with community stakeholders, elected officials, and residents on issues that they are passionate about. In 2019 Jeremy and the youth council rallied around the idea of improving public transportation in Belmont Cragin. Zair Menjivar is a firm believer that in order for Chicago to be considered the best city in the world, all 77 neighborhoods of Chicago have to be the absolute best. Zair is currently an Operations Coordinator at Equiticity, and in his previous role, he organized multiple transportation and health oriented events at the 31st Ward Alderman's Office. He also organized around transportation inequities in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of the city, which recently saw unprecedented investments in new bike lanes, bike locks, and Divvy bike share stations. Alex Rosander is a native Midwesterner, mobility enthusiast, and former Program Coordinator at SUMC where she provided planning and technical expertise on a wide range of mobility initiatives, including the Bikes for Belmont Cragin Evaluation Report, FTA’s Mobility Innovation Program, and USDOT’s Thriving Communities. As an urban planning professional with a keen interest in universal design and sustainable transportation solutions, she’s enjoyed the opportunity to work with agencies and community organizations to support strategic mobility efforts at both the national and local levels. Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring new places on bike, hammocking along Lake Michigan, and listening to live music. Hani Shamat is a Program Coordinator at the Shared-Use Mobility Center in Chicago, IL. Hani has a passion for transportation and a drive to make it equitable, sustainable, and connected. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Northwestern University, where he wrote his thesis on transportation equity, bikeshare, and multi-modal transportation. Check out the Bikes for Belmont Cragin Evaluation Report: English version: https://sharedusemobilitycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BikesForBelmontCragin_EnglishVersion.pdf Spanish version: https://sharedusemobilitycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BikesForBelmontCragin_SpanishVersion.pdf Learn more about the Northwest Center and their community focused work.  Plan Dulce is a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association.

In this episode we hear from Ana Cubas, a professional with over 20 years’ experience in government, non-profit, and private sectors. Ana comes from an immigrant background, is the first in her family to graduate from college, and has devoted her life to helping others. Ana's mission is to focus on working with companies that spur job and economic development, that are socially conscious and are in the center of innovation. Ana's focus on the environment comes from her humble beginnings growing up in El Salvador, where she grew up in a small town with plenty of green spaces and clean air.  Her love for urban planning and public policy stems from her journey as a 10-year old immigrant growing up in Los Angeles, her activism at U.C. Berkeley, and her academic studies obtaining her Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Princeton University. Ana established her company in 2013 and officially incorporated in 2017. She obtained her certifications from the State, LA Metro, LA City/County, OCTA and others. Co-host: Haydee Urita-Lopez, Principal City Planner for the Los Angeles City Planning Department Co-host: Grecia White, New Mobility Planner with the City of Boston. Producer: Haydee Urita-Lopez Editor: Grecia White Plan Dulce is a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association.

This episode was recorded during last November's LUGARES conference -- LAP's annual virtual conference where the theme was Caminando P'alante. As Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, Claudia Monterrosa oversees affordable housing and community development programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Housing Trust Fund, and CDBG Disaster Recovery funds, in addition to Department-wide energy and environmental policy.Claudia brings decades of non-profit and public sector experience incorporating social justice, grassroots organizing, and equity to her work at HUD. Previously, Ms. Monterrosa served as the Chief Housing Officer for the City of Los Angeles. In this capacity she oversaw the implementation of Measure HHH’s $1.2 billion for the development of Permanent Supportive Housing and successfully secured over $1.6 billion for emergency rental assistance for COVID-impacted tenants. She served as the Public Policy & Research Director at the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), where she managed a team that secured more than $800 million in new funding for affordable housing, energy efficiency programs, foreclosure prevention, and strategic planning and preservation initiatives. Claudia directly led efforts to secure the adoption and implementation of the City’s inaugural Eviction Defense Program, including $10.5 million in funding for the first year and subsequently securing an additional $30 million to extend the program through 2024. In 2017, her efforts led to the creation of the City's first permanent local source of funding for affordable housing via the adoption of the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. In that same year, she led the City’s successful adoption of the Assessment of Fair Housing Plan under HUD’s new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (AFFH).Claudia holds an MA in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA in Political Science and Latin American & Iberian Studies from UC Santa Barbara.Co-host: Haydee Urita-Lopez, Principal City Planner for the Los Angeles City Planning Department Co-host: Grecia White, New Mobility Planner with the City of Boston. Producer: Haydee Urita-LopezEditor: Grecia White----------Plan Dulce is a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association.

David Salazar speaks with us today on his experience involving youth in urban planning, working with Long Beach City College and Cal Poly Pomona to develop an associates degree in urban planning -- the first one in California, and the importance of increasing representation of Latino/a/e urban planners at the state and national level. David Salazar, FAICP is currently the Executive Director for the Long Beach Community Design Center. He has a combined 29 years of campus planning and design experience in public and private universities and colleges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Cal State University, Long Beach; a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona; an Executive MBA from Claremont Graduate University and studied strategic management at Oxford and Anahuac University, Mexico. David is a member of the College of Fellows American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and the California Planning Roundtable. He served as an adjunct faculty member in the Urban and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly Pomona. ________________________ Co-host: Haydee Urita-Lopez, Principal City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning Co-host: Isai Madrid, Student Professional Worker for the City of Los Angeles in the Planning Department. Co-producer: Haydee Urita-Lopez Co-producer: Betty Barberena, City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning Editor: Grecia White, New Mobility Planner, City of Boston ____________________ Plan Dulce is a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association.