Monthly Archives: April 2025

Building Embedded Planning Praxis at USC Architecture

Scenes from USC Architecture from my 4/3 guest talk, “Building Embedded Planning Praxis.” The invited lecture was delivered in the USC Master of Heritage Conservation graduate course, Heritage Conservation Policy and Planning.

This is chapter 1 in the story of Embedded Planning praxis.

I lay out my path to Embedded Planning which includes coming up as graffiti writer and hip hop kid in the 80s & 90s, dropping out of architecture school in ‘98, and then finding urban planning thanks to Mike Davis and Edward W. Soja (both rest in power). Embedded Planning was co-created with community members in Florence-Firestone in South Central LA.

Who’s the cat in the photo?! In 2003 in the MAUP program at UCLA Luskin Department of Urban Planning, I took an architecture theory course where I learned Professor Gregory Ulmer’s CATTt method for writing a manifesto. I would go on to use the CATTt to write my 1-page manifesto on Embedded Planning titled, “We Cannot Plan From Our Desks,” published in the October 2018 issue of APA’s Planning Magazine.

And now we’re a worldwide movement in planning theories and practices.

Photos by Meredith Drake Reitan, Professor & Associate Dean. Thanks for the invite to speak with your MHC students!

Embedded Planning is the Future at Whittier College

Infographic by Whittier College Hartley House

Join us at Whittier College Hartley House for “Embedded Planning is the Future,” a public talk on the present and future of street-level planning, followed by a feet on the street walking tour of Uptown Whittier.

Embedded Planning shifts the planner’s work from a desk to the streets. Created in the Florence-Firestone community in South Central LA, this praxis aims to rebuild trust and foster meaningful relationships with marginalized communities harmed by inequitable planning.

The talk features case studies, reflections, and personal experiences highlighting both the challenges and benefits of Embedded Planning in these times.

Coffee, tea, and pan dulce will be served. OUR EVENT IS FREE TO ALL.

When: Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:30am to 1pm
Where: Hartley House, Whittier College, 13741 Earlham Drive, Whittier, CA 90602

Thanks to Whittier College Hartley House Hub for Integrative and Applied Learning in Social Justice for event support!

Embedded Planning is the Future at Duke with a UNC Big Up

Infographic by a UNC Chapel Hill Urban Planning student

Here’s an alternative flyer designed by Duke’s neighbor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shout out to the urban planning student in Dr. Ashley Hernandez’s class who dreamed up this remix!

I love the subtle rivalry at play here ha. But for real, my virtual talk in Dr. Hernandez’s UNC class “Diversity & Inequality in Cities” in 2023 led to our in-person event at Duke on April 10, 2025. See how Embedded Planning praxis brings us together?

Students, planners, and community: if you’re in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill on 4/10 come through.

Also can we do flyers like this for UCLA Luskin / USC Price events?!

Embedded Planning is the Future at Duke University

Infographic courtesy of Duke’s undergraduate student group, Our Urban Future

On April 10th, I’m at Duke University with Our Urban Future for the invited public talk, “Embedded Planning is the Future.” I consider this Chapter 3 in the Embedded Planning speaking series. We’ll discuss Embedded Planning’s trajectory — including origins, challenges, and benefits — and examine why this praxis is the future of planning.

After the talk, we’ll hold an extended Q & A to discuss my work on Middle Housing (Casita Coalition), Community Empowerment (Florence-Firestone Community Organization), and Urban Planning Education (Cal Poly Pomona Urban & Regional Planning).

Open to students, planners, and community — if you’re in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill come through!

Big thanks to Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability for sponsoring our event.