The College of Architecture and Planning saw a remarkable intersection of academic learning and real-world impact through the Department of City and Metropolitan’s Urban Ecology Planning Workshop. Led by C. Aujean Lee, assistant professor in City & Metropolitan Planning, the course provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, tackling challenges faced by local neighborhoods in collaboration with the Salt Lake City’s Mayor’s office.
Students present their findings to the Office of the Mayor of Salt Lake City.
“This course is designed to connect students with real clients,” Lee explained. “They get to apply skills they learned in class to the broader community.”
Fall 24’ semester’s workshop centered on the Love Your Block program and the development of the Neighborhood Strength Indicators mapping tool, a project still in its formative stages. Lee first learned about the initiative from a social media post, sparking a conversation with Chimalli Hernandez-Garcia in May 2024.
“We had a lot of flexibility about how students could do some community engagement to collect information and test some of the ideas that can be incorporated into this future map,” she noted.
Building skills through real-world challenges
For many students, the workshop offered a first-hand look at community engagement beyond the classroom. They conducted resident surveys and explored how data tools like the Neighborhood Strength Indicators map could be used alongside focused engagement efforts.
“Students quickly realized how challenging it is to collect resident input in real-world settings,” Lee shared.
The culmination of the course was a presentation to the SLC Mayor Mendenhall’s office staff. “In a packed room, students shared their findings and recommendations,” Lee recalled. “For many, it was their first presentation outside of a classroom. The staff had great questions about their report and were overall very receptive to student feedback.”
Looking ahead
Among other indicators, students noted the physical condition of buildings on streets across SLC.
The Neighborhood Strength Indicators map holds the promise of transforming how Salt Lake City understands its neighborhoods.
“Many cities use similar maps that may focus on deficits of neighborhoods, which can lead to stereotypes about “problem areas,” Lee emphasized. “I hope that the map can provide a nuanced perspective of neighborhoods.”
Lee is optimistic about continued student involvement. “After the holidays, I will reconvene with them to brainstorm how to continue student involvement. I’ll be teaching similar classes next fall and would love to build on this semester’s work!”
Divya Chandrasekhar, chair of City and Metropolitan Planning, expressed the great support this work offers students.
“We are proud of the work that students have produced this semester for the Love Your Block program of Salt Lake City. Our community engagement and planning workshop courses are a wonderful resource for both students and communities. Students are able to build their essential planning skills while communities are able to build their capacity to undertake grassroots action on their immediate environment. It’s a win-win!”
The Urban Ecology Planning Workshop exemplifies the college’s mission to integrate academic excellence with community impact. By engaging directly with local issues, students not only deepen their understanding of urban planning but also contribute to meaningful change in Salt Lake City neighborhoods.
For more information on their final project click here.