The Planner as a Social
Entrepreneur
APA Florida Conference
September 10, 2015
An Introduction
Changes to the Planning Profession
• End of Florida
building boom
• Growth
Management Act
changes
• Rise of
conservative grass
root groups
How does this affect your job?
Collaboration
ParticipationSupport
• The planner is
often seen as a
“regulator”
• The “new
normal”
requires the
profession to
expand this role
What is Social Entrepreneur?
• Change agent
• It’s all about the mission
• Applies practical, innovative and
sustainable approaches to benefit society
• Pursue new opportunities
• High sense of accountability
Why planners make
good social entrepreneurs?
• Public good (values)
• Making connections
• Natural conveners
• Data management experts
• Other technical skills
Session Case Studies
Luis Nieves-Ruiz – Economic Development
Mary-Stewart Droege - Food Systems Planning
Jacob T. Cremer – Technology/Communications
Katie Berkey- Young Professional Organizations
The views expressed by the panelists do not necessarily reflect the
views of their employers.
Building Communities
by Building People
The Jobs Partnership Experience
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP
Economic Development Program Manager
East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
This story starts in 2006…
• Orange County
Enterprise Zone
Program
• Business incentives
program
• Why don’t EZ
businesses employ
more EZ residents?
Mercy Drive neighborhood
• West Orlando
community
• Part of the
Enterprise
Zone Program
• Very high
crime,
unemployment,
and poverty
rates
Jobs Partnership Program
• Raleigh, NC 1996
• Orlando, FL 2002
• Faith and business
community
• Work as a vocation
• Break poverty cycle
Jobs Partnership Program
Life Works Program
• Life Skills mentoring
• Job Search training
• 12-weeks
• Volunteer-led effort
• Healthy relationships
Populations Served
• Ex-Felons
• Single-mothers
• Homeless
• “Career Changers”
• Recent Migrants
• High School
Drop Outs
Planning Skills Used
• Facilitation
• Goal Setting
• Computer skills
• Listening Skills
Skills Gained/Improved
• Leadership
• Project Management
• Volunteer Recruitment
• Communications
• Job satisfaction
Lessons Learned
• Barriers to
employment
• Importance of “soft
skills”
• Need for vocational
education
• Mentoring/relations
Entrepreneurial Planner
• Connects skills to volunteer work
• Convenes different stakeholders to
achieve a mission
• Uses technology to communicate
professional values
• Engages with other professional
groups
Session Wrap Up
More Information
Jobs Partnership Florida
http://www.jobspartnershipfl.org/
Good Food Central Florida
http://www.goodfoodcfl.org/
The Florida Land Environment
http://www.jacobtcremer.com/
Connect Florida
http://www.leadershipflorida.org/connect-florida
Urban Land Institute
http://florida.uli.org
Start
something!
The Planner as a Social Entrepreneur
APA Florida Conference
September 10, 2015
Questions/Comments