For the fourth year, the Southeast Section of the Pennsyvlania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA SE) is launching a mentor program between professionals in the planning field and local city planning graduate students. The program will include students from the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and West Chester University. This program has helped students learn about the array of planning jobs in the real world, the day to day job duties of planners in different facets of the planning field, and employment prospects in the Philadelphia region.

Mentors should agree to be available 2-3 times throughout the year to meet with their student on an informal basis and will have the opportunity to meet with their mentees at events sponsored by the APAPASE. You do not have to be a member of APAPASE to be a mentor in the program.

APAPASE, Penn, and WRT will be hosting a Mentor Mixer at the WRT Philadelphia office on October 19th from 5:30 - 7:30 at 1700 Market Street to introduce professionals and students to each other and the program. After the event, mentors and students will be given the opportunity to express their preference for a match. Mentors can pair with their mentee from last year or a new contact made at the event. If no preference is expressed, we will be matching mentors based on common planning interests (community and economic development, transportation, urban design, land use and public/private development) and experience in different sectors (public, private or nonprofit).

Please stay tuned for more information and contact Katie Olson at planningmentorpa@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jeannette Brugger at jeannette.brugger@phila.gov This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions about the program.

For building security purposes, you must register for the event by Monday, October 17th at 5pm.