The design of the built environment, land use and zoning decisions, and transportation policy can all have major impacts on the economic, physical, and mental health of communities and their access to resources and opportunities. A focus on equity in planning acknowledges the historical injustices that still pervade much public policy in the U.S. and seeks to build urban systems that enhance social equity and meaningful civic engagement.
All Equity Courses
City Dreamers
The film "City Dreamers," directed by Joseph Hillel and released in 2018, tells the story of four women designers who worked to shape North American cities throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century.
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
The 2011 documentary film “The Pruitt-Igoe Myth” documents the rapid rise and fall of a housing complex in St. Louis. Pruitt-Igoe became a symbol for the failure of public housing policy in the late 20th century.
Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City
The life and achievements of architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham offer a chance to witness the application of the social agenda of the City Beautiful movement, of which Burnham was one of the most famous practitioners.