About
Mission Statement
The mission of the Planning Van is to educate, engage, and empower both individuals and groups so that they may play an active role in the development of their communities.
Goals
Educate
We will educate community members about planning concepts in order to provide a foundation for discussion about land use issues. We will also inform them of the ways they can get involved and have a meaningful impact on decisions that shape their built, social, and economic environments.
This will be achieved by having booths with educational materials and interactive exercises at community events such as farmers' markets and street fairs.Engage
We will engage community members, especially those who have traditionally been left out of the planning process, through creative outreach strategies. Not only will we bring together a variety of stakeholders to build consensus and find solutions to land use and development challenges, but we will offer opportunities for them to inform and influence decisions in their communities.
In addition to booths at community events, this will be achieved through collaboration with local planners and other development professionals and decision makers. Local jurisdictions may choose to have Planning Van volunteers assist with existing outreach efforts.Empower
We will empower community members to bring their ideas to life by providing them with the tools and resources they need to build capacity and turn their visions for their community into reality.
This will be achieved through mentorships and ongoing consultation, enabling community members to identify their own projects and see them through to completion.