Conferences and Meetings
Conferences and Meetings Conferences and Meetings
The Division hosts webinars for members throughout the year, holds the Regional Futures Forum (previously the Livable Communities Forum) at APA's National Planning Conference, and gathers for sessions and events at NPC. A highlight of our recent and upcoming events is shared below.
Our Annual Business Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 3:00 pm EST. During the meeting, we will discuss RIPD's annual work plan, budget, and initiatives. We will also have an interactive panel discussion on regional planning for data centers. You can learn more about the panel discussion and log CM credits here. The proposed work plan and budget are on the "About" page of this website. Sign up for the Meeting here!
Friday, April 24th 2026 Regional Futures Forum
The 2026 Regional Futures Forum was held at the District Detroit Opportunity Center and SEMCOG's offices in Detroit.
This year's forum included networking break-out sessions, topical presentations, a walking tour, and a legislative update.
View the full agenda here. If you attended, you can log CM credits at the link below and share feedback here.
Previous Forums Regional Futures Forum - 2025
March 28, 2025, 12:00 - 5:00 GMT
RIPD hosted our annual Regional Futures Forum on Friday, March 28th from noon to 5 pm. The annual event, which is organized in association with the National Planning Conference, brings together public and private sector practitioners who support regional and intergovernmental planning and are working to advance metropolitan planning.
Denver Regional Council of Governments hosted the Forum at their offices, located a short walk from Union Station. We focused on the impact of state and federal actions on regional and local planning, and included a walking tour of the area. If you attended, you can log CM credits at the link below.
Previous Forums Livable Communities / Regional Futures Forum - 2024
April 12, 2024
RIPD hosted our annual Livable Communities / Regional Futures Forum on Friday, April 12th from noon to 5 pm in Minneapolis.
Previous Forums 2020 - 2023
Regional Futures Forum - 2023
RIPD hosted our 2023 Livable Communities Forum in Philadelphia on Friday, March 31st.
Regional Futures Forum - 2022
The 2022 Regional Futures Forum examined the creation of new regional plans covering a wide variety of topics, with a focus on meeting regional housing needs. Additionally, speakers from APA explored new federal policies and investments that will have an impact on regional planning efforts for years to come.
Regional Futures Forum - 2020
In 2020, the Regional Futures Forum was conducted virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum this year included two plenaries and two networking break outs which covered a range of topics and trends related to regional planning. The first plenary explored the short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on regional housing and real estate markets, transportation systems, employment trends, and local budgets. The second plenary spotlighted efforts to address long-standing racial disparities in Atlanta GA and Columbus OH; and the role of regional agencies to address inequity in their regional planning work and from their own practices.
Some of our recent webinars include:
Sustainability Planning in Metropolitan Los Angeles
November 28, 2023
This is the first book to identify and summarize all of the sustainability plans affecting Metropolitan Los Angeles. While this policy handbook approaches sustainability through the lens of those within the Los Angeles city limits, it also provides pointers to sustainability plans in the other counties and key cities of metropolitan Los Angeles. It also helps to frame sustainability planning internationally, nationally, and throughout the state of California. Finally, it presents summaries of highly-regarded historical and societal science interpretations of the importance of the Los Angeles region.
Collaborative Planning for Climate Resilience
March 15, 2022
The Collaborative Planning for Climate Resilience webinar is presented by Dr. Julie Kalansky, climate scientist with Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), along with planners Bob Leiter, Cary Lowe, and special guest speaker Coleen Clementson, Deputy CEO of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). They outline the publication of the same title, providing a planning framework for climate resilience and adaptation planning in the San Diego region.
Creative Placemaking in Rail Transit Corridors
November 10, 2021
Co-editors and authors of Creative Placemaking in Rail Transit Corridors, Mark VanderSchaaf and Brenda Kayzar, talked to Annis Sengupta, Director of Arts and Culture at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in the Boston region and Alexis Moore, Principal Planner at the City of Lakewood in the Denver region, about their strategies and gather insights related to the creative placemaking process.
