At the ULI Americas District Staff Summit Awards, the spotlight shone brightly on ULI Nashville’s UrbanPlan en Español workshop. The workshop, held at Glencliff High School in October 2022, hosted 60 students, including 15 Spanish-speaking individuals. For the workshop, the student materials, instruction, and all facilitation were conducted in Spanish. This represented a first in UrbanPlan’s 20+ year history as a program. 

Glencliff High School, with nearly 70 percent of its student population being of Hispanic descent and over half of them English-language learners, highlighted the crucial need for language accommodations. ULI Nashville stepped up to the plate, translating the student materials into Spanish and ensuring that Spanish-speaking instructors and volunteers were available for the workshop. The result? An inclusive and enriching experience where language barriers were broken, and the Spanish-speaking students could fully participate. 

Applause erupted when ULI Nashville’s UrbanPlan en Español workshop was announced as an award winner, highlighting ULI District Council’s commendable efforts to promote diversity during the ULI Americas District Staff Summit. It was a moment of immense pride for everyone involved. 

But ULI’s commitment to inclusivity doesn’t stop there. The exciting news emerged at the ULI Americas Midsummer Retreat – the organization plans to translate all UrbanPlan materials into Spanish. This ambitious step aims to extend the program’s impact, making it accessible to even more students, community members, and leaders nationwide. 

This well-deserved recognition and ULI Nashville’s forward-looking plans underscore the organization’s unwavering dedication to empowering communities through urban planning education. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, ULI paves the way for a brighter, more equitable future in urban development. The UrbanPlan en Español workshop is a true testament to the transformative power of education and community engagement.