The PEN Oral History Project continues to celebrate California’s trailblazing planners through engaging, annually updated interviews. With 14 inspiring conversations already available online and five more set to debut by the end of November, now is the perfect time to explore the voices shaping our field’s legacy.
We’re expanding access to planning students and professionals statewide—these interviews are being shared with all California planning schools and archived at CSUN in the APA California Archives. We’re also in the process of applying for AICP CM credit to make these resources even more valuable.
Help us grow this living archive! If you know an outstanding planner whose story should be featured, please send your recommendations for our 2026 interviews.
Reconnect with the past, engage with the present, and be part of planning’s future. Visit the Oral History Project and experience the evolution of California planning!
The Planners Emeritus Network (PEN) Oral History Project was launched in 2025 to honor notable California planners and others whose careers and contributions exemplify excellence in the planning field. This initiative seeks not only to recognize planning pioneers but also to spark curiosity, reflection, and action on important planning issues. The project features a series of recorded interviews available online, with new profiles added annually in the order they are completed. New interviews will be added each year in the order they were recorded.
Project Mission
The Oral History Project is guided by two core goals:
- To highlight, honor, and raise awareness of influential planning pioneers, and
- To inform, challenge, and inspire action on significant planning topics.
Objectives
PEN’s primary goal is to enrich the APA California Archives with recorded insights on pivotal topics in planning. PEN seeks to document the rich diversity of planning history, offer personal narratives that bring the field to life, and partner with related efforts and historians to expand our collective understanding.
Key Participants & Interviewees
PEN invites a diverse array of voices to share their experiences—from esteemed APA California leaders and planners at every stage of their careers, to subject matter experts, prominent advocates, legislators, and individuals reflecting the broad spectrum of the profession. Interviews will delve into personal journeys, professional milestones, core values, landmark projects, evolving trends, and the broader societal impact of planning work.
This project serves California planners, students pursuing planning studies, allied professionals, educators, researchers, and policymakers at both state and local levels. Whether you are shaping communities today or studying the legacies of yesterday, the Oral History Project offers valuable perspectives to inform and inspire.
Interested in learning more or getting involved? Contact Hanson Hom, CPAT Program Coordinator, at hansonapa@gmail.com or visit our Archives to explore current recordings and resources.