People of UW: Editor-in-chief of Wisconsin Urbanist showcases city planning in unique light – The Badger Herald

Report on Student-Led Urban Planning Initiatives and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the work of Norah Justinger, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her leadership roles within the Wisconsin Urban Planning Association (WUPA) and the Wisconsin Urbanist academic journal. Her efforts demonstrate a significant commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to urban development, social equity, and education. The initiatives focus on making urban planning more accessible and engaging the community in creating sustainable, inclusive cities.

Urban Planning as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development

Ms. Justinger, a double major in landscape and urban studies and human geography, identifies urban planning as a critical discipline that dictates societal interaction and environmental health. Her academic and extracurricular pursuits are directly aligned with several key SDGs.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Her core focus is on improving urban environments, recognizing that city design is integral to the daily lives and sustainability of communities.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): She emphasizes that planning must address and rectify systemic inequalities, ensuring cities are built for all residents, regardless of age or ability.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Her work acknowledges the direct link between urban planning, environmental health, and the physical and social well-being of inhabitants.

Key Initiatives and SDG Alignment

Through her leadership, Ms. Justinger contributes to two primary student-led organizations that actively promote sustainable development principles.

The Wisconsin Urban Planning Association (WUPA)

WUPA serves as a platform for students interested in urban planning, fostering a community dedicated to interdisciplinary solutions. The association’s activities contribute to the SDGs in the following ways:

1. Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): WUPA creates networking opportunities by connecting students with professionals and government officials, such as representatives from the Sun Prairie Planning Department, building crucial partnerships between academia and public institutions.
2. Promoting Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16): The organization encourages engagement with local government and civic processes, which is fundamental to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.
3. Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10): By hosting speakers on topics like discriminatory language in housing documents, WUPA directly confronts systemic issues that perpetuate inequality within urban communities.

The Wisconsin Urbanist Journal

As editor-in-chief, Ms. Justinger guides this peer-reviewed academic journal, providing a forum for students to research and publish work on urban planning. The journal’s mission aligns with:

• Quality Education (SDG 4): It offers a unique educational outlet for students to deepen their knowledge, conduct research, and engage in meaningful academic discourse outside of the formal curriculum.
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): The journal serves as an incubator for new ideas and research on sustainable urbanism, allowing students to explore and propose solutions to contemporary urban challenges.

Case Study: Accessible City Design for Seniors

Ms. Justinger’s published article on accessible city design for seniors exemplifies a targeted approach to achieving specific SDG targets. The research highlights how contemporary cities often fail to meet the needs of older populations, leading to their ostracization.

The article’s focus directly addresses:

• SDG 11.2 & 11.7: A call to create safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation and public spaces for all, with a specific focus on the needs of older persons.
• SDG 10.2: A commitment to promoting the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of age.
• SDG 3: An effort to ensure the health and well-being of seniors by designing communities that support mobility, affordability, and social connection.

Future Objectives and Call to Action

The primary goal articulated by Ms. Justinger is to increase public awareness and understanding of urban planning. This objective is crucial for fostering the participatory decision-making required to achieve SDG 11. By demystifying urban planning, she aims to empower more citizens to engage with their local governments and advocate for sustainable and equitable community development. This work catalyzes change by connecting academic passion with practical, community-focused action, thereby shaping a new generation of leaders committed to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Analysis of Relevant SDGs

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire discussion revolves around urban planning, the design of cities, and making them better for inhabitants. Norah Justinger’s work focuses on making cities more accessible, affordable, and welcoming, which are core principles of creating sustainable communities. Her article on “accessible city design and public policy for seniors” directly addresses the need for inclusive urban environments.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article directly addresses inequality based on age. Norah points out that cities are “often created with able bodied and younger individuals in mind,” which can leave the senior population “incredibly ostracized.” Her work aims to reduce this inequality by promoting the social inclusion of older persons through better urban design and policy.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The Wisconsin Urbanist journal and the Wisconsin Urban Planning Association (WUPA) function as educational platforms. Norah’s goal as editor-in-chief is “getting planning out there, and allowing people to understand what urban planning is.” This effort to educate students and the wider community about sustainable urban development contributes to quality education and awareness.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Identification of Specific Targets

1. Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing.

   The article connects to this target when Norah mentions that seniors are “in homes that might cost more than they are able to pay.” This highlights the issue of housing affordability for a vulnerable segment of the population, a key concern of Target 11.1.

2. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of… older persons.

   This target is explicitly addressed. Norah states that a problem for the senior population is that they “don’t have easy mobility in public transportation.” Her focus on accessible city design for seniors directly aligns with the goal of improving transport systems for older persons.

3. Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory… human settlement planning.

   Norah’s goal to make urban planning more accessible for people to “understand, engage with, and recognize” directly supports this target. She encourages people to engage with city design through “public forums” and local government, which is the essence of participatory planning.

4. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age.

   The article’s central theme of creating cities that are “welcoming to seniors” and combatting their “ostracization” is a direct reflection of this target. By advocating for changes in urban design, Norah is working to promote the social inclusion of older persons.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Implied Indicators for Measurement

1. Indicator for Housing Affordability (Target 11.1): The article implies the need to measure the proportion of the senior population facing housing cost burdens. Norah’s statement about seniors being in homes that “might cost more than they are able to pay” points to housing affordability as a key metric for assessing the well-being of this demographic in cities.
2. Indicator for Transport Accessibility (Target 11.2): The text implies an indicator related to the level of accessibility of public transportation for older persons. The phrase “don’t have easy mobility in public transportation” suggests that measuring the ease of use, proximity, and convenience of transport for seniors would be a relevant way to track progress.
3. Indicator for Participatory Planning (Target 11.3): An implied indicator is the level of citizen engagement and understanding of urban planning processes. Norah’s mission to help people “understand what planning is” and “engage with it” suggests that progress could be measured by tracking public participation in planning forums and local government decisions related to city design.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: badgerherald.com