Five Takeaways from NPC25
- Jing Zhang, AICP
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
After some moderate turbulence, my flight landed in Pittsburgh, returning from the American Planning Association’s 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver. For the event, I facilitated six meetings, attended one meeting, had five scheduled meetups, participated in a full-day APA leadership meeting & training, spoke at one educational session, and enjoyed one reception (another was sold out, so I couldn’t get in).
Now is a good time to jot down some takeaways. These reflections do not represent the stance of the APA’s International Division (which I chair). Instead, they come from me as a volunteer who observed, learned, and engaged with fellow planners.
1. More Interest in Learning from Abroad Than Exporting U.S. Experience
This was particularly evident in a discussion with Indian students, where American planners concluded that Indians understand their own country better. The stark differences in population density and culture make American planning approaches less relevant for India. A similar theme emerged in the Affordable Housing Roundtable, where the drawbacks of exported zoning practices in Mexico were examined, along with comparisons of affordable housing concepts across different countries, including the UK. Likewise, in the International Hazard Mitigation Roundtable, participants noted that lessons from other countries could be valuable for U.S. cities.
In two separate conversations—one with an International Division board member and another with a chapter’s career development officer—this theme became even more apparent. The realization that “Oh, it can be done that way!” can spark great interest among American planners and is essential for educating future planners.
That said, there were discussions about the value of sharing U.S. planning experiences, particularly in hazard mitigation - there is merit in exchanging best practices with European counterparts. Also, Vietnamese colleagues expressed interest in learning more about TOD practices in the United States.
Ultimately, the key takeaway is that expanding American planners' perspectives is beneficial. The U.S. approach is not the only way, nor necessarily the best or future way.
2. Strengthening Partnerships with Other Divisions Is Encouraging
Collaborating with other APA divisions, finding common interests, and working together is both productive and enjoyable. The International Division is already engaged with several other divisions on initiatives like the Ukrainian Rebuilding Action Group (URAG) and the Climate and Sustainability Working Group. The emergence of additional collaborations is promising. I plan to share a comprehensive partnership map with division members around May as these relationships become more defined.
3. Events at NPC Showcase the Division’s Diverse Interests
One of my most memorable moments at NPC25 was facilitating six planners at 8:00 PM in a Hyatt Regency meeting room for a virtual conversation with Indian students. That event—Conversation with Planning Students from India—stood out as a highlight of my experience.
Additionally, every International Division-affiliated event attracted strong participation. We had full tables at Meet Urban Leaders from Vietnam, the International Division Business Meeting, the International Hazard Mitigation and Recovery Roundtable, and the International Affordable Housing Roundtable. This level of engagement highlights the division’s diverse interests and the enthusiasm of ID members and non-ID members.
4. Improving the Meeting and Roundtable Process
I’m still unsure of the best way to improve these sessions, and I plan to seek guidance from more experienced members.
On one hand, the beauty of in-person meetings lies in their flexibility, inspiration, and spontaneous discussions. On the other hand, attendees have made the effort to travel and dedicate their time, so a loosely structured meeting may not always serve their best interests.
Perhaps we should establish discussion guidelines in advance. For example:
If you tend to speak early and often, challenge yourself to pause and create space for others before speaking.
If you tend to speak less frequently, challenge yourself to contribute earlier.
We should listen with curiosity and a spirit of inquiry, ensuring a balanced discussion where all voices are heard.
Additionally, hybrid (virtual and in-person) roundtable meetings did not work well, except for the business meeting, where the URAG team effectively updated attendees.
5. Exploring New Ways to Connect
The Asian and Pacific Islander Interest Group launched a WhatsApp group at the conference. Inspired by this, I created a WhatsApp group connecting American planners with Indian students. Could this be a good way to foster connections? How about Discord?
These takeaways reflect my experiences and observations at NPC25. As we continue learning and collaborating, I look forward to seeing how these insights shape future planning conversations and initiatives.
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