The Planner as a Social

Entrepreneur

APA Florida Conference

September 10, 2015

An Introduction

Changes to the Planning Profession

• End of Florida

building boom

• Growth

Management Act

changes

• Rise of

conservative grass

root groups

How does this affect your job?

Collaboration

ParticipationSupport

• The planner is

often seen as a

“regulator”

• The “new

normal”

requires the

profession to

expand this role

What is Social Entrepreneur?

• Change agent

• It’s all about the mission

• Applies practical, innovative and

sustainable approaches to benefit society

• Pursue new opportunities

• High sense of accountability

Why planners make

good social entrepreneurs?

• Public good (values)

• Making connections

• Natural conveners

• Data management experts

• Other technical skills

Session Case Studies

Luis Nieves-Ruiz – Economic Development

Mary-Stewart Droege - Food Systems Planning

Jacob T. Cremer – Technology/Communications

Katie Berkey- Young Professional Organizations

The views expressed by the panelists do not necessarily reflect the

views of their employers.

Building Communities

by Building People

The Jobs Partnership Experience

Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP

Economic Development Program Manager

East Central Florida Regional Planning Council

This story starts in 2006…

• Orange County

Enterprise Zone

Program

• Business incentives

program

• Why don’t EZ

businesses employ

more EZ residents?

Mercy Drive neighborhood

• West Orlando

community

• Part of the

Enterprise

Zone Program

• Very high

crime,

unemployment,

and poverty

rates

Jobs Partnership Program

• Raleigh, NC 1996

• Orlando, FL 2002

• Faith and business

community

• Work as a vocation

• Break poverty cycle

Jobs Partnership Program

Life Works Program

• Life Skills mentoring

• Job Search training

• 12-weeks

• Volunteer-led effort

• Healthy relationships

Populations Served

• Ex-Felons

• Single-mothers

• Homeless

• “Career Changers”

• Recent Migrants

• High School

Drop Outs

Planning Skills Used

• Facilitation

• Goal Setting

• Computer skills

• Listening Skills

Skills Gained/Improved

• Leadership

• Project Management

• Volunteer Recruitment

• Communications

• Job satisfaction

Lessons Learned

• Barriers to

employment

• Importance of “soft

skills”

• Need for vocational

education

• Mentoring/relations

Entrepreneurial Planner

• Connects skills to volunteer work

• Convenes different stakeholders to

achieve a mission

• Uses technology to communicate

professional values

• Engages with other professional

groups

Session Wrap Up

More Information

Jobs Partnership Florida

http://www.jobspartnershipfl.org/

Good Food Central Florida

http://www.goodfoodcfl.org/

The Florida Land Environment

http://www.jacobtcremer.com/

Connect Florida

http://www.leadershipflorida.org/connect-florida

Urban Land Institute

http://florida.uli.org

Start

something!

The Planner as a Social Entrepreneur

APA Florida Conference

September 10, 2015

Questions/Comments