Pre-session Content

Please take a look through these linked resources before this session. It will help you be more engaged in the material presented and the discussions that will be taking place.

Links denoted with "**" are required before the session.

Videos

**What is Urban Planning?
You're in this program to find out more about what city planners do, right? Watch this video for a quick intro to the field

City Beautiful's YouTube channel offers videos to topics related to foundational planning ideas, such as:

• How do Cities Grow?
  
• A Brief History of City Planning in the United States
• Chicago’s Geography Advantage
  
• Government and City Planning

Planetizen’s YouTube channel also hosts introductory planning videos over a broader range of topics such as resilient cities, sustainable growth, and future cities.

Short Articles

**The Silver Room Block Party turns 15: Founder Eric Williams looks to the future of culture, community and commerce
After reading the article, write down at least one question for our guest speaker Eric Williams. During the live session, we’ll invite you to submit your question(s), and we’ll ask Eric to answer as many of your questions as time allows!

Silver Room Block Party Canceled Due To Coronavirus: ‘Way Too Much Uncertainty’
This annual festival had to be canceled. Find the exact reasons why.

Additional Websites to Explore

CityLab is a news website with planning related stories and articles.

Next City is another planning news site but is focused on issues like race, equity, and housing.

Planetizen helps provide resources for both planning enthusiasts and planning professionals. If you're interested in continuing to learn about urban planning, bookmark this site to start building your toolkit!

Streetsblog caters towards issues surrounding pedestrian transit through walking and cycling. It features several city-specific sites, including one for Chicago.