Katelyn Huang and Lauren Trice, Division Scholars in Quick Conversation
From Lauren to Katelyn:
Incoming Scholar Katelyn Huang
You studied architecture in high school. What inspired you to make the switch to planning?
As much as I enjoyed architecture in high school, I always knew I wanted to work with a community. Being in a community service organization in high school, I always found joy in helping others and volunteering. I wanted to pursue a career in something that combined the idea of architecture and the community, which is to me, planning. While researching what colleges to apply to, I came across Urban Planning as a possibility in what to study. I honestly did not know what it was other than the simple Google search results before going to college. However, after my first year in college, I immediately enjoyed it as it was incorporating the design aspect that I love, but also working with the public.
What is the most interesting planning idea or project you have learned about so far?
In my most recent semester, I was fortunate to work with three other individuals on an analysis of Cal Poly-Pomona’s student commuting patterns in a policy class. We looked at the issues with the parking on campus and created a list of alternatives rather than the "driving alone" student commute. This project was unlike any other work I had done previously. My group and I had the opportunity to interview transportation specialists for college campuses to analyze the different travel patterns of students in different universities and conduct a student survey. Especially as a student who commutes by myself, I wanted to know the other commute options there were and how to better the sustainable commuting the campus offers.
What do you think is the best way for planners to engage with high school and college students?
I think a good way for planners to engage with high school and college students is by using social media. There is such a large, young audience on social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and many more. Students love learning in ways that connect to their lives or in ways that are outside a traditional classroom. As a college student, I follow urban planning pages and blogs on different social media platforms because I know if I am not studying or reading about it, I know I am sure to see it on my phone when I am scrolling. Also relating planning to everyday aspects like the parks or roads in the city you live in. Everybody, in general, gets more engaged when there is a personal connection to what you’re learning about.
From Katelyn to Lauren:
Past Division Scholar Lauren Trice
How did you get introduced to planning and what makes you interested in it?
I was inspired by a 4th grade field trip, my first job was at a local house museum. It led me to study historic preservation in college. Then, I went through a process of deciding what I didn’t want to do. Turns out I didn’t want to give tours in a costume, dig in the dirt for artifacts, clean ceilings with a toothbrush, document structure after structure, or design individual buildings. I always wanted to put historic preservation in the context of community engagement, local zoning codes, and new development.
How did you know you wanted to work with a younger audience?
Throughout my career, I have been able to find work and volunteer opportunities where I could work with youth. The best experiences were volunteering with Architecture in the Schools in Washington, DC and being able to design my own youth engagement efforts as a local government planner in Colorado. Over and over again, I realized that others didn’t have the same instinct to include youth. Many planners struggle with effective community engagement and even more don’t think about youth engagement as a crucial component of achieving equity. I feel honored to find kindred spirits in my current role on the board of YEP! Youth Engagement Planning. Whether we are writing curriculum or running workshops, YEP! gives planners and educators tools to engage with youth in ways that are inclusive and empowering.What have you found that intrigues the youth in planning?
Do you want to attend a meeting that is just a box to check in the middle of a politically charged process? How about participating in a boring activity that doesn’t lead to any implementation? We all want to be included in meaningful engagement that has a real outcome. Youth engagement, like all community engagement, should strive to be fun, honest, and important. As a profession, we have not done a great job of getting the idea of a career in planning out there in the world. Not only would it save many of us who tried to be architects a lot of time but it would increase the diversity in our profession. I hope for a day when more youth know about planning and are intrigued by planning as a career.In conversation mid summer, 2022.