Tools for Equitable Planning Solutions

A tale of two neighborhoods in Oakland, California

How can we undo the harms of past discriminatory planning practices?

Our new success story — Exploring Equitable Planning Solutions Through Mapping — highlights mapping as a powerful tool to visualize the impact of planning policies over time. The article discusses two neighborhoods in Oakland, California, where residents born just three miles apart have a 15-year difference in life expectancy, due to health disparities that are a legacy of the racially discriminatory practice of redlining.

By involving community groups that were previously excluded from planning and policymaking, localities across the United States can begin to undo the harms of the past and create a healthier built environment that serves all residents. Formerly redlined cities can enact policy changes to counter the harmful legacy of discriminatory planning practices, so inequities in wealth, health, and opportunity are alleviated for future generations.

Our success story connects you to a suite of planning resources with step-by-step instructions for centering equity and including diverse community groups in every phase of the planning process.

12/6/2021