The faculty, staff, and students in Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning (SCaRP) have been deeply shocked and saddened by the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and more recently Rayshard Brooks here in Atlanta. These incidents, along with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Ga. and other violence inflicted on the Black community across the country, acutely highlights the injustices that Black citizens and people of color continue to face in this country and elsewhere. The worldwide protests against racial injustice that ensued remind us of the systemic racism that undergirds the foundation of American society and its insidious impacts, especially on cities.

Equity, justice, and inclusive communities are principles that form the core of the planning discipline. These principles are the fundamental lens through which we view planning issues and engage in planning practice. We acknowledge that planning has not done enough to dismantle the inequities in our communities and cities. Urban planning has played a key role in institutions that promote racial inequality, including urban renewal, exclusionary zoning, and in the current moment, public investment which results in gentrification and displacement rather than promoting values of inclusion and justice. As planners, our work is deeply entwined with institutions that can either promote or dismantle racial inequality. We choose the latter. We embrace the equity and justice serving principles at the core of the planning discipline. We will actualize them to promote just, anti-racist societies and to undo the values of white supremacy at the root of racism. 

At SCaRP, our commitment to justice and inclusive communities is a critical part of our mission and values. Our recently adopted Strategic Plan includes two goals that seek to expand diversity and inclusiveness in our faculty, staff, and student body. This plan commits us to create an environment that nurtures, respects, and celebrates diverse voices and experiences. But we also realize that, as a community, we must do more to prepare new generations of planners for their roles in bringing about inclusive communities that are just, healthy, sustainable, and resilient. 

We are proud of our students who have taken the lead in sparking this new round of discussion and introspection among the SCaRP community. The Student Planning Association at SCaRP has made a strong statement about systemic racism and the role of planning to promote change. Going forward, we are committing ourselves to ensuring that, as a school, we find ways to do more to advance social and racial justice. Below are some specific plans that we will pursue.