This research surveys how graduate level urban planning students think about social justice and equity issues and how academic instruction in urban planning affects the disposition of students toward these issues and themes in the context of their development as urban planning professionals. Although the quantitative findings did not demonstrate that the graduate curriculum and instruction had any appreciable impact on student understanding and navigation of equity and social justice themes, qualitative evidence did suggest that students are understanding and care about issues related to social justice and equity and were interested in incorporating those issues into their professional practice. This research also suggests that graduate academic instruction may fall short in supporting students with the useful integration of social justice and equity issues into their professional practice.Keywords graduate urban planning education, teaching and instruction related to social justice and equity issues, progressive planning practice and advocacy planning, professional urban planning training
One powerful expression of the neoliberal orthodoxy within economic development practice in the United States has been local governments' use of economic-development-driven eminent domain. However, the presumed benefits but not the actual harm of the eminent domain actions typically eludes the working-class and low-income segments of the community that often shoulder the greatest consequences of the action. Municipal governments must be much more exacting, deliberative, and strategic in ensuring there is an obvious and direct connection between the potential economic development opportunities leveraged by eminent domain practices and the benefits, opportunities, and resources that the community derives from those transactions of local government. Thoughtfully and strategically designed and executed Community Benefit Agreements have tremendous potential to afford working-class and low-income residents, as well other city residents, a chance for more equitable and democratic results than they frequently experience under existing economic-development-driven eminent domain practice.
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