Justice by Design?, the latest Planners Network Conference, was held June 2-5 2005 in Minneapolis and was attended by over 250 participants. The Department of City Planning was represented by the attendance of current students Lee Ann Beaubien and John Koch-Schulte, as well as Dr. Sheri Blake who presented her film on the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. The conference was co-organized by Dr. Richard Milgrom as part of his previous position.

The conference featured two keynote addresses, the first by Mike Pyatok of Pyatok Architects on Housing and Justice, and the second by MIT’s Anne Whiston Spirn on Environmental Justice, Community Design and Development.  Both keynotes were very well received with Spirn’s presentation being very relevant to current environmental planning/education in Winnipeg.  The first full day of the conference comprised several tours.  John took in Transit Oriented Development and Light Rail: From Affordable Housing to the Mall of America, while Lee Ann pursued her interests in Aboriginal planning with the Indigenous Planning in Minneapolis and Mille Lacs tour, and Dr. Blake went on the Affordable Housing tour.  The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) tour included how the vast network of dedicated bike paths tied into the Light Rail Transit (LRT), as well as the scale of all sorts of development along the line from large scale housing projects and office developments to the Mall of America and the regeneration of urban housing. The tour group also met a Minnesota congressman who was successful in obtaining funding for the LRT which took several decades to lobby for and obtain.  The tour included several LRT stations and presentations by developers and community groups.  The Friday evening reception was at the Weisman Art Museum (designed by Frank Gehry) http://www.weisman.umn.edu Finger food and drinks ensured that a good time was enjoyed by everyone.  It was the perfect way to crown a very full day. Saturday, June 4 was a full day of sessions on a wide range of topics and issues, including Dr. Blake’s showing of her film on the participatory design process use by the Detroit Collaborative Design Center.  John followed his interests in active living, universal design and planning for aging populations.  Several important contacts were made with presenters and participants during the discussions and over lunch and coffee chats. The Saturday evening reception was held at Open Book, a renovated warehouse which now houses the Minnesota Center for Book Arts http://www.mnbookarts.org/  Dr. Blake’s film was shown again, with others.  Exquisite food was served along with a well stacked bar.  Following the reception a large group of participants went out for drinks and dancing.   Sunday morning featured a brunch and a strategy session on the future of the Planners Network.  The conference wrapped up with a Twins-Yankees baseball game which was organized the night before.  It was won by the home team in dramatic (for baseball) fashion.Attending the conference was a valuable experience which has led me to further explore several issues in planning.  I look forward to similar events in the future.