The APA Inland Empire Young & Emerging Planners (YEP) group is dedicated to fostering a dynamic social and professional network for students, young professionals, and the broader planning community.
We serve as a vital resource to engage and support aspiring urban planners in becoming active members of APA through conferences, workshops, and interactive events.
Our mission is to develop programs and activities that inspire, motivate, and build meaningful connections among members.
Interested in getting involved? Contact Kassie Vickers (kass.vick@gmail.com) or Derek Meksavanh (derek.meksavanh@gmail.com) to learn more and join our growing network!
Programs
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is excited to announce the launch of the Future Leaders Initiative, a six-month civic leadership program designed to empower the next generation of civic leaders, planning professionals, and changemakers in Southern California. This program is tailored for young adults (ages 18–26) who are interested in building a deeper understanding of how local and regional governments collaborate to drive long-term change. With a strong connection to SCAG’s Connect SoCal engagement, the program offers participants training and professional development opportunities to better understand planning principles and their impact on our region’s future. The program is free to participate in, and participants will receive a $500 stipend.
Curriculum Topics May Include:
• Community Planning 101: The role of cities and local jurisdictions
• Regional Planning & Connect SoCal: How long-range planning connects to neighborhoods and communities
• Intersectional Issues: Land use, transportation, public health, sustainability, equity, and justice
• Policy Development & Advocacy: Knowledge- and skill-building
• Changemaking: From planning to implementation
Interested In Sharing with Your Community?
We have developed a Communications Toolkit that includes suggested content and posts to share.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with students, interns, young professionals, and community members in your networks who may be interested. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the full program details and apply on the SCAG website.
Thank you for helping us spread the word and for supporting SCAG’s mission to empower tomorrow’s leaders in regional planning.
Scholarships
California Planning Foundation Scholarship Program
The California Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA California) established the California Planning Foundation (CPF) in 1970 as a nonprofit, charitable corporation with the goal of furthering the professional practice of planning in California. The primary focus is providing scholarships and awards to university students in financial need. The scholarship recipients come from many backgrounds and are selected because they are talented and motivated and have demonstrated academic excellence at university planning programs in California. All members of APA California are automatically members of the CPF. Although APA California members pay annual dues to belong to APA California and the national organization, the American Planning Association, there are no separate dues to belong to CPF.
Each year, CPF invites planning students to compete for a number of scholarships. Scholarships are offered to students enrolled in eligible planning programs in California (both accredited and non-accredited programs). All scholarship application materials are sent directly to eligible programs. Students interested in CPF scholarships should contact their faculty or staff advisors for additional information. More information is also available on their website.