WP&D Chicago

✨Board Member Spotlight ✨ Celebrating our Professional Development Co-Chair, @diana_mb07 Beltran! 💫 From creating meaningful Small Talks and events to fostering connection and mentorship within the planning community, Diana brings so much thoughtfulness and passion to WP&D Chicago. Thank you for your leadership and for continuing to inspire and uplift women in planning and development! 🤍 #WPDChicago #MemberSpotlight #WomenInPlanning #WomenInDevelopment #WomenInLeadership

Help inspire the next generation of planners 🌆✨ Join WPD in supporting students at Lindblom Math and Science Academy during their annual Urban Planning Fair on June 3! Volunteer to give feedback on student ideas or stop by the fair to hear students present their visions for transforming their neighborhoods 💭🏙️ Let’s help support future planners, designers, and changemakers 🤝 Google Form to RSVP: /forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfboOjrHHyC445HLVmPqCKxa0cIl5CiNA_siGwbFMj8sl2KMw/viewform

WP&D Upcoming Events! ✨ Join WP&D Chicago for our next Small Talks event featuring Morgan Chapman on Wednesday, May 13 from 8–9 AM at Tiny Tapp & Cafe ☕ Enjoy your morning coffee along the Riverwalk while hearing from Morgan, PLA and Senior Landscape Architect at The Lakota Group. With more than a decade of experience, Morgan brings a thoughtful approach to place-based design and master planning, creating landscapes that connect people, communities, and nature. And for all WP&D Board Alumnae — join us Thursday, May 21 from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Chicago Architecture Center to celebrate the lasting impact WP&D continues to make. Register through the links in our bio!

April WP&Drinks at Nine Bar ✨ Good food, great vibes, and even better conversations! Loved reconnecting with friends and meeting new WPD faces in such a vibrant space.Thank you Nine Bar for hosting! See you at the next one 💫 #WPDChicago #WPDrinks #WomenInPlanning #ChicagoEvents

WP&D Board Alumnae Event We are grateful for your service and leadership and we’re excited to welcome you back for a special evening of reconnection and celebration. Please join us as we bring the WP&D Board Alumnae network back together at the Chicago Architecture Center for an evening to reconnect with familiar faces, meet fellow alumni, and celebrate the lasting impact this community continues to make. When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM Where: Chicago Architecture Center (111 E Wacker Drive, Chicago) Expect an evening of lively conversation, great food and drinks, and plenty of time to share stories, laughter, and a bit of well-earned nostalgia. We look forward to celebrating with you! Register through the link in our bio

Start your morning with WPD Chicago ☕✨ Join us May 13 from 8 to 9 AM at Tiny Tapp & Cafe for Small Talks with Morgan Chapman of The Lakota Group 🌿 From parks to urban spaces, Morgan designs landscapes that bring people and nature together 🌆 Come for the coffee, stay for the conversation Register now- /nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F43605 #WPDChicago #SmallTalks #LandscapeArchitecture #WomenInPlanning #ChicagoEvents #WPDChicago #SmallTalks #LandscapeArchitecture #WomenInPlanning #ChicagoEvents

The WP&D Board spent last Saturday exploring Pullman National Historical Park and diving into the history, planning, and legacy of one of Chicago’s most iconic company towns. A huge thank you to our National Park Service ranger, Elijah Olomoniyi, for an engaging tour of the museum and a deep dive into the story of the Pullman Factory. We’re also grateful to Rebecca Conant from Friends of Pullman, for leading us through the south Pullman neighborhood and helping bring the lived experience of Pullman residents to life. And thank you to Daniela Salgado of Friends of Pullman for thoughtfully curating a day that resonated with our planning perspectives. It was incredibly insightful to explore a neighborhood that was entirely planned, designed, and built in the 1880s—in just five years. As one of the country’s first model industrial communities, Pullman introduced innovations like running water, electricity, and integrated infrastructure at a time when those amenities were virtually unheard of in working-class housing. One of the biggest takeaways? The core challenges of Pullman’s original design, housing affordability, access to goods and services, and questions of economic equity, are still central to planning and development conversations today. We wrapped up the afternoon with lunch from D'Masti and a thoughtful conversation about board priorities for the year ahead. It was a meaningful day of learning and reflection with fellow planners passionate about Chicago’s past and future.

A look back at an inspiring night at the WPPA x WP&D Professional Development PowerPoint Party. From designing more inclusive spaces to navigating the realities of project management, the conversation was as insightful as it was honest. Our panelists shared real-world perspectives across placemaking, nonprofit planning, affordable housing, and the ongoing work to advance gender equity in the field. A huge thank you to Abigail Rose, Hannah Bader, Rashanah Baldwin, Caitin Hartnett, and Consuelo Arguilles for offering a behind-the-scenes look at their professional journeys and day-to-day work. And thank you to Diana Beltran, Francesca S. Lawrence, and Rachel Polak for coordinating such an engaging event. These are the conversations that move the planning field forward!

Calling all past WP&D Board Members - Save the Date! We’re bringing the WP&D Board Alumnae network back together for an evening that’s equal parts reunion and celebration. Join us at the Chicago Architecture Center to reconnect with familiar faces, meet fellow alumni, and toast to the impact this community continues to make. When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 (6 - 8 PM) Where: Chicago Architecture Center (111 E Wacker Drive) Expect lively conversation, great food, and drinks to match, plus plenty of stories, laughs, and maybe a little nostalgia along the way. Register with the link in our bio.

March WP&Drinks in Hyde Park was a vibe ✨ Great conversations, planning and development talk, and a room full of inspiring women 🌆 Good drinks, good food, and even better company 🤝 Can’t wait for the next one! #WPDChicago #WPDrinks #WomenInPlanning #ChicagoEvents

April WP&Drinks Join us for our next WP&Drinks in Chinatown for an easy, welcoming way to connect with other women in planning and development, share ideas, and build your network in a relaxed setting. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned pro, all are welcome. 📅 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 ⏰ 5:30 – 7:30 PM 📍 Nine Bar | 216 W. Cermak Rd, Chicago Come for the conversation, stay for the community. See you there! Register through link in our bio.

We are teaming up with WPPA at UIC for a Professional Development PowerPoint Party on Monday, April 13! 6pm to 8 pm✨ Join us for fast-paced, bite-sized presentations from five incredible women across the planning and development field: Abigail Rose, Senior Planner and Designer @ All Together — Placemaking, Urban Design, and Mitigating Gentrification Hannah Bader, Vice President @ The Lakota Group — Project, Team, and Client Management Rashanah Baldwin, Founder @ Baldwin Media Group — Planning in the Nonprofit Sector Caitin Hartnett, Project Manager @ IFF Chicago — Affordable Housing Development Consuelo Arguilles, Assistant Director of Community Development @ Village of Addison — Women of Color in Planning and Gender Equity From local government to private practice to nonprofit work, this event showcases the diverse pathways shaping our built environment. Stay after for a networking hour to keep the conversation going and build meaningful connections.