Mission: The Young Planners Group (YPG) is a new addition to the APA. This group identifies young planners who have finished school and entered the profession, up to age 35. As the future leaders of the planning profession, the YPG sees a greater role for networking to discuss important issues such as career development, moving into management positions, and balancing careers and families. Goals include organizing mixers, a mentoring program, and identifying other programs of interest to young planners.

Contact Information:

Kathleen d'Erizans, Chair
kmwilson47@gmail.com
914.478.0800

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Dear Colleagues:

The APA New York Metro Chapter’s Young Planners Group (YPG) invites professional planners to participate in the third round of its Mentorship Program kicking off in early February 2012. We are seeking both mentors and mentees interested in gaining valuable career advice, skill development, and networking opportunities. YPG will use a survey to pair participants with like interests and communication preferences, and we will provide materials to help ensure the experience is professionally and personally rewarding for mentors and mentees alike.

Who can participate?

Professional planners of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. Interested mentors should have five or more years of professional planning experience while interested mentees should have less than four years of professional planning experience. This round of the program is open solely to professional planners who have already completed graduate school.

What are the program benefits?

Mentors gain the opportunity to:

• give back to the profession by supporting new planners
• expand their professional networks
• connect with the experiences of younger professionals
• hone their leadership skills
• increase their involvement in the APA New York Metro Chapter

Mentees gain the opportunity to:

• discuss career goals with experienced professionals
• confer on professional development and long- and short-term professional goals
• discover what experienced and senior-level planners deal with on a day-to-day basis
• understand different subfields within the planning profession
• expand their professional networks

What is the time commitment?

• The program will kickoff at a meet-and-greet in early February 2012 (date/time TBD)
• We request that participants commit to the program for five months.
• Participants have the option of corresponding via phone, email, or in person, but we recommend meeting at least once a month for the duration of the program.

Who will I be mentoring? Who will be my mentor?

• The YPG developed a brief survey that will help us form mentoring partnerships based on mutual interests and communication preferences. (If you are prompted with “Safe Mode Preference,” click “Do Not Use Safe Mode” to access the survey.)
  • Mentor Survey: www.misterpoll.com/polls/543688
  • Mentee Survey: www.misterpoll.com/polls/543689
• We also require that you send a copy of your updated resume to ypgmentorship@gmail.com to aid with placement.
• The surveys will be available online through January 20, 2012, and we will notify participants of their pairings in late January in advance of our kick-off event.

Please feel free to contact the Mentorship Subcommittee at ypgmentorship@gmail.com with any questions about the program or the application process. The success of last year’s program was due in large part to the dedication and energy of the participants, and we look forward to working with you to ensure another productive and enjoyable mentoring program for New York area planners.

Best Regards,

Mentorship Subcommittee, Young Planners Group, APA New York Metro Chapter

Andrew Murray, Subcommittee Chair
Michael Davis
Cherry Mui
James Rather
Maxwell Sokol