Latinos and Planning Division ¡Bienvenidos to the Latinos and Planning Division!
LAP was established in 2005 to address issues facing Latine planners and communities. Over the years, LAP has emerged as the leader in advocating for and addressing the needs and perspectives of Latine communities in the planning process through dialogos (Spanish for "dialogues"), research, podcasts, reports, and collaboration between Latine planners across the country.
With over 400 members from across the country, we welcome you to our division! On our APA website you will find information about upcoming and resources. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions and would like to learn more!
Hello New Members!
Welcome to LAP! We are so happy that you found us and cannot wait to increase Latine participation in planning processes! The Latinos and Planning Division is family of planners looking to make new professional connections and be active in the American Planning Association.
We would not be able to continue our mission of supporting and advocating for the needs of Latines in the planning profession if it were not for members like you, so thank you for your support and participation!
Should you need assistance or have questions about your membership at any time, please feel free to contact us at latinosandplanning2@gmail.com.
You can also keep up with us through our pages on the APA website and social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram!
Statement on Current Situation in LA & the US as a Whole
In Los Angeles and across the nation, immigrant communities are facing escalating threats and uncertainty. In recent days, workplace raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies have led to the detention of hundreds of community members — disrupting daily life, separating families, and spreading fear throughout homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces.
These inhumane attacks threaten everyone’s constitutional rights, including our right to safe, secure workplaces and the public spaces that are essential to our work as city planners. They stand in opposition to the core values foundational to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the APA Ethical Principles in Planning, and APA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy that intend to prevent our work from perpetuating prejudice, bias, and injustice.
We acknowledge the deep fear and uncertainty affecting our Latinx/o community across the nation. Yet, even amid these challenges, our resilience shines through. We see communities uniting, uplifting one another, and standing up for justice with unwavering courage and determination. We are a country of Immigrants and acknowledge that the greatest American cities were built by Immigrants from all walks of life; their contributions have positively shaped livable and thriving communities. Immigrants continue to play a critical role in all aspects of business, labor, tourism, food, and commercial industries that sustain our daily economy.
Our community is powerful. The people of Los Angeles have shown up to fearlessly protect our workers, immigrant communities, and our Constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and domestic tranquility —setting a national example of what it means to be in courageous nonviolent solidarity with one another.
We strongly believe in protecting the human and civil rights of every human being, regardless of immigration status. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and the American right to due process. This is not just about policy changes – this is about humanity. Families are torn apart, and community members are beaten, disappeared, censored, and intimidated through militarized force, and we must collectively say “No.” No one should live in fear of exercising their right to free speech or the pursuit of a better life. We believe that every person, regardless of birthplace, deserves protection from the harms of systemic racism and is entitled to repairs for such harm.
We recognize that the roots of state violence run deep, dating back to the atrocities of slavery in America and throughout the Diaspora. These systems of control have never disappeared; instead, they have evolved. The tools and tactics of oppression that were originally designed to enslave, dehumanize, and extract wealth and exploit labor from Black people are now being modernized to target immigrant communities. The paradigm of oppression is unmistakable.
As we navigate this challenging time in America’s history, we draw upon our roots in shaping this country, and generational strength from our grandparents, parents, and many people before us that paved the way. On behalf of the American Planning Association Latinos and Planning Division, we are committed to inclusive planning practices and stand with community efforts to protect U.S. born and diverse immigrant communities, and worker rights. We denounce inhumane and unlawful immigration raids, and call for comprehensive immigration pathways. As we continue to build alliances and unity, we want to remind everyone that we have a shared responsibility to uphold the United States Constitution and its promise for freedom, liberty, and justice for all. .
In solidarity,
Latinos and Planning Division
Stay Connected!
Stay connected with us by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and YouTube! Links to our social media account can be accessed by visiting our Linktree below.