From November 7 to 9, 2024, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Annual Meeting was held successfully at the Sheraton Grand Seattle in Washington State. This year’s theme, “Advancing Anti-Racism in Planning to Build Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Cities,” brought together experts and scholars from around the world to discuss how urban planning practices can dismantle racial inequality and promote fair and inclusive city development.
As Director of the Program on Chinese Cities (PCC) at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Professor Song Yan led a student team invited to participate in this conference. Professor Song and the team engaged actively in several panels and roundtable discussions, exploring topics including urban spatial patterns, community engagement, and social equity, with a focus on advancing anti-racism and fostering inclusivity in planning education, policy, and practice.
Exploring Diverse and Inclusive Urban Development Pathways
During the conference, Professor Song’s team focused on sessions addressing diversity, equity, and social inclusion. Scholars and practitioners from diverse backgrounds discussed ways to achieve justice within the built environment, enhance inclusivity in community planning, and examine tenant compliance and equity issues in urban renewal projects. These discussions provided Professor Song’s team with valuable insights and experiences from international case studies, enriching their understanding of balancing modernization needs with equity considerations in urban planning practices in China.
Focus on Urban Renewal and Social Justice
Professor Song paid particular attention to the theme of “Urban Renewal and Social Justice,” exploring how anti-racist approaches can be integrated into urban renewal to ensure that development benefits people from all backgrounds. Urban renewal projects worldwide often face complex challenges related to social equity, economic balance, and cultural preservation. This conference offered rich opportunities for international exchange, allowing Professor Song’s team to gain a deeper understanding of global trends and future directions in urban renewal from perspectives of diversity and social justice.
On-Site Investigation of Seattle’s Urban Renewal Project: Understanding Inclusive Renovation for Diverse Communities
After the conference, Professor Song and the team visited a representative urban renewal project in Seattle to gain insights into the project’s achievements in architectural preservation, environmental sustainability, and social benefits. The team observed how the project successfully incorporated public spaces to foster resident interaction and enhance community cohesion, while also achieving environmental goals. These findings resonated with many discussions from the ACSP conference and provided concrete strategies for the team’s approach to inclusive and sustainable development in urban renewal projects.
Promoting Anti-Racism and Multicultural Urban Planning from a Global Perspective
As a professor at UNC and Director of the PCC, Professor Song has long been committed to fostering in-depth exchanges between China and the international community in urban planning education and practice. Through participating in the ACSP conference and conducting an on-site investigation of Seattle’s urban renewal project, Professor Song hopes that his students will gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and complexity of urban planning from a global perspective. He noted that the challenges posed by rapid urbanization require planning scholars and practitioners to adopt cross-cultural perspectives and innovative practices to meet the diverse social needs in real-world contexts.
Professor Song emphasized that urban planning is not only a technical field but also an interdisciplinary field involving social, ecological, and humanistic aspects. In education, a close combination of theory and practice is essential to equip students with the ability to solve complex problems. He highlighted that while rapid urbanization in China provides opportunities to learn from international experiences, it is equally important to explore innovative approaches tailored to the local context, especially in areas such as urban renewal, green building, and social equity. Through this conference, students gained a more profound understanding of diverse challenges and strategies in real-world applications, building on their theoretical knowledge.
Looking Ahead: Anti-Racism and Innovation in China’s Urban Planning
Professor Song expressed that the ACSP conference offered his team invaluable opportunities for academic exchange and learning, as well as new directions for future research. He emphasized that urban planning education in China should be developed with a global perspective, drawing on advanced international theories and practical methods in anti-racism and inclusivity, while continuously exploring innovative paths suited to China’s urban context. He hopes that through more international exchange activities, students can gain a deeper understanding of the planning features of different regions worldwide, contributing to the sustainable development of cities in China.
Through this conference and the on-site investigation, Professor Song and his team accumulated valuable knowledge and experience, strengthening their commitment to interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration. As PCC Director, Professor Song is committed to promoting academic collaboration and practical exchanges between China and the United States in urban planning, fostering the healthy, green, and inclusive development of Chinese cities. He looks forward to further academic exchanges and project collaborations between China and the United States to advance urban modernization in China and contribute to global urban planning innovation and progress.