UrbanPlan
UrbanPlan programs in Portland and Seattle bring urban planning into high school and college classrooms. As a national program, UrbanPlan reaches over 3500 students annually and drives them to more deeply engage in the complex nature of land-use decisions and take an active role as engaged citizens. Volunteers facilitate discussion in the classroom to encourage students to think critically about their decisions and judge final presentations. Volunteers are encouraged but not required to be ULI members.
Volunteer with UrbanPlan
Sign up for volunteer slots in Seattle and Portland.
Interested in volunteering in Portland or Seattle?
All new volunteers must fill out this form in order to join the national UrbanPlan volunteer database. Already a volunteer? Make sure your location and volunteering preferences are up to date using this form.
Volunteers must complete the on-demand training before entering the classroom. This training takes about two hours to complete and provides an introduction to UrbanPlan and program overview.
Volunteers should attend a lightning round before entering the classroom. Lightning rounds are practice UrbanPlan programs where volunteers review the program in-person before working with students. We will advertise upcoming lightning rounds on the ULI Northwest events page.
The Mission
UrbanPlan harnesses the power of experiential learning to drive students to more deeply engage in the complex nature of land-use decisions and inspire them to take an active role as engaged citizens to create better communities.
What Is UrbanPlan?
UrbanPlan is a realistic, engaging exercise in which participants—community leaders, university students, high school students, or public officials—learn about the fundamental forces that affect real estate development in our communities. Participants experience the challenging issues, private and public sector roles, complex trade-offs, and fundamental economics in play when proposing realistic land use solutions to vexing growth challenges.
Learn more about the national UrbanPlan program here.
For more information or to become an UrbanPlan Volunteer Facilitator, contact us at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time commitment required of volunteers?
Volunteers must complete a two hour on-demand training, then can volunteer when they are able. The typical commitment is about two hours per quarter.
When is the next lightning round?
Lightning rounds are posted for registration on our Events page and sent out in our newsletters.
What do volunteers do?
Classroom volunteers serve as Facilitators who lead discussion with student groups as they develop their project site. Volunteers also act as City Council Members who evaluate the final project sites.
How should I get involved?
Fill out this form to join the UrbanPlan volunteer database and complete the on-demand volunteer training.