Young People in City Planning? Deborah McKoy, UC Berkeley
Professor Deborah McKoy explains how young people can shape schools, neighborhoods, and more equitable city-planning decisions.
Professor Deborah McKoyFounder of the Center for Cities + Schools at UC BerkeleyAbout this episode
How can cities connect education and community development instead of treating them as separate systems? Michelle examines that question with Professor Deborah McKoy, founder of the Center for Cities + Schools at UC Berkeley.
Drawing on decades of work in urban planning, Deborah explains why young people should participate in decisions about their schools and neighborhoods. She shares how the Center for Cities + Schools developed its approach and describes examples of students contributing to real planning and community-development work.
The episode explores the relationship between urban planning, education equity, and social justice; what adults misunderstand about young people's capabilities; and which policy changes could make planning more inclusive and participatory.
Topics covered
- ✦Why young people belong in city-planning decisions
- ✦The origins and approach of the Center for Cities + Schools
- ✦How students have shaped real schools and neighborhoods
- ✦What policymakers misunderstand about youth capabilities
- ✦Policies that can promote equity in urban development
