Thank you for reading our inaugural ULI Nashville UrbanPlan newsletter!  

As we begin the year, I am proud of how ULI Nashville’s UrbanPlan program has grown since its launch in 2022 and excited to extend our impact in 2023. UrbanPlan is one element of our commitment to ULI’s Mission Priority of educating the next generation of diverse leadership, and we’re thrilled with UrbanPlan’s successful first year. 

UrbanPlan is a global ULI initiative activated across four continents for over 20 years. ULI Nashville’s version of UrbanPlan began as an idea seeded by past Executive Director Rose Faeges-Easton and developed from idea to impact by ULI staff member Catrina Chatelain. UrbanPlan has grown, though, thanks to the time, energy, and thoughtful leadership of ULI Nashville member leaders. In 2022, ULI Nashville’s UrbanPlan program: 

• Held our first workshop for 15 undergrad architect students in partnership with the Civic Design Center and the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Architecture and Design.  
• Held our first workshop for 60 high school students at Glencliff High School in Nashville. 
• Formed a Steering Committee that is 17 members strong, providing guidance on our strategy for growth and elbow grease in making the workshops successful.
• Grew our UrbanPlan volunteer pool to 31 members trained and ready to implement workshops.

In 2023, ULI Nashville’s UrbanPlan program is growing and expanding the impact on our community. On the horizon, we will be conducting additional high school and college workshops. We will host our first community leader workshop with neighborhood leaders in partnership with Neighbor 2 Neighbor. And the UrbanPlan Steering Committee will update its strategic plan for how to reach additional high schools, colleges/universities, community leaders, and public officials.  

If you have been involved in UrbanPlan, you know the energy and excitement it creates. ULI Nashville members who volunteer for UrbanPlan have seen young people experience “aha” moments when they think differently about development in their community. They realize how they can have a voice in shaping their lived environment and potentially a career in real estate and land use. UrbanPlan’s success is based on ULI Nashville members – if you’d like to learn more, please contact me at [email protected]  

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