Planning Sustainable & Racially Equitable Urban Communities

3 units

This course explores principles, ethics and practice for planning sustainable and equitable urban communities. Learning how to manage resources for both current and future generations, students will gain greater understanding of the importance of integrating environmental, economic, social and institutional efficiency. With a focus on communities in the St. Louis region, students in this course will focus on equity and community capitalism aimed at ensuring that fairness and well-being are inclusive for all people in providing for health, safety and the built environment. You will learn to integrate and utilize a racial equity lens, trauma-informed approaches, cultural competence and Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism practices to help lead to better decision-making and creating solutions aimed at reducing adverse impacts on the environment, preventing gentrification, improving the welfare of people, and shaping urban areas and neighborhoods into healthier, robust and more equitable communities. This course will prepare the student to be a leader-advocate for sustainable urban planning and community development, whether as an elected or public official, a professional staff person, or a citizen volunteer.