Women's History Month Programming
Join us in March 2026 for Women's History Month!
Why We Celebrate Women's History Month: A WPD Essay
The Women & Planning Division was created by and for women in the planning profession in 1979. Over the Division’s 40+ year history, one of the longest running Divisions in APA, the needs of women in planning have evolved but our mission remains the same:
To provide a national network supporting women in the planning profession and advocating for the needs of women in the planning practice.
In this Division, we expose and champion the ways in which our profession can better support women in the workplace; enhancing equity, closing the gender wage gap, equally paying women for equal work, flexible workplace policies for home/work balance, providing affordable childcare options, and seeing gender parity in our most basic of institutional accolades; FAICP inductees. We will continue this message to overturn these stark differences that we see through our work as a Division, programming, networking, connecting, and on the national stage at NPC.
Read on for a full history of our Division linked below on our website!
Women's History Month Archive
WHM | 2025
POSTPONED: Bossy Bias
Please check back for rescheduling!
"Bossy bias," i.e., mischaracterizes and unfairly penalizes women's assertiveness as inappropriate domineering behavior (or worse). Bossy bias undermines women's leadership potential, reinforces gender inequity, and erects barriers to success.
In this webinar, panelists will share their experiences with gender bias in the workplace, its unique impact on women's career trajectories, and how it perpetuates gender inequity in professional settings. You will hear about the very real impacts of the bossy bias on women's careers, including how it plays out in hiring, leadership assessments, and everyday interactions.
Participants will also learn to create unbiased decision-making processes, encourage diverse leadership styles, and implement organizational changes supporting women's advancement while eliminating the burden of likability standards.
Join the fight and combat bossy bias in your workplace!
HERstory Coffee Break: From Planner to Founder - Starting Your Own Planning Business Hosted March 25, 2025
An inspiring conversation with Breanne Rothstein, AICP, founder and CEO of Thrive Consulting! Breanne shares her journey of launching Thrive Consulting — what led her to take the leap, challenges she faced in her first year, and lessons learned in building a successful planning business. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own firm or want to hear from an experienced planning entrepreneur, this session is for you!
HERstory Planning Trivia with the Chair and Networking Hosted March 13, 2025
Women & Planning Division Women's History Month planning trivia and networking.
HERstory Featured Webinar: HerCity Recorded on March 6, 2025
HerCity is a research initiative focusing on the concept of the gendered city, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities involved in creating spaces that cater to the needs of girls, and introducing a step-by-step methodology and digital tools ensuring girls' voices are heard and integrated into urban development. This is an essential presentation for planners, city officials, and everyone who is committed to building cities where every voice matters.
WHM | 2024
Women Entrepreneurs in Urban Planning, Panel and Discussion March 14, 2024
Women take different career paths in urban planning. While having equal skills to start a business, men heavily outnumber women in entrepreneurial endeavors. In this panel discussion, women-led business owners shared their personal stories that led them to entrepreneurship, the challenges of starting a business and brand, and bringing their passions to their communities.
Moderated by:
- Breanne Rothstein, AICP; Founder and CEO, Thrive Consulting
- Jasmine Jones- Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast Co-host
Featuring:
- Dee Powell, Creator and Founder of Do Right By the Streets (DRBTS)
- Samantha Ellman and Natalie Ikhrata, Urban Planning Is Not Boring Podcast
POSTPONED! Sex(ism) and the City, Panel & Discussion
Modern city planning is faced with reconciling a long history of gender bias in planning practice. Buzzwords like "gender mainstreaming" are entering the collective consciousness but have limited success in creating tangible changes in planning practice. Women and minorities continue to be systemically underrepresented in the decision-making process for land use decisions. This panel will acknowledge sexist cities and then discuss strategies for planners and communities to dismantle barriers for women & minority populations participating in the decision-making process through strategic civic engagement. Featuring Lydia Lo, Research Assistant at Urban Institute and Katelynn Wintz, AICP as Moderator.
Women in Pow-HER, Annual Women's History Month Networking Event March 28, 2024
Join the APA Women & Planning Division for an enriching mid-morning coffee break and networking event.
Featured speakers:
- Jahnee Prince, Atlanta Planning Commissioner
- Corrin Wendell, Community Development Director and Planner, City of Little Canada
- Tamara Frost, Assistant Director of Zoning, City of Miami
These accomplished professionals shared their insights and experiences, highlighting the power and influence of women in planning. After the panel discussion, planners connected, exchanged, ideas, and expanded their professional networks.