FLIP Program Receives Honorary Award for Distinguished Public Engagement

A group of seven people stand in an auditorium dressed in business attire. One holds an engraved award and the projector screen behind them reads, "Presidents Awards for Exemplary Public Engagement 2023."

The Department of Geography and Planning, College of Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the Capital District Region Planning Commission(CDRPC), was recognized with the 2023 Honorary Award for Distinguished Public Engagement for their Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) Program at the President’s Award for Exemplary Public Engagement event on April 25, 2023.

FLIP is an innovative summer program that immerses high school students in urban planning experiences and offers them the chance to interact directly with community leaders. Through tangible experiences, students from around the region learn about challenges and opportunities related to critical societal issues, such as transportation, land use, sustainability, equity, community engagement, and local food production and access.

During the week-long session, students visit several unique and diverse sites, including Albany’s South End, the cities of Troy and Saratoga Springs, and the Pine Bush Preserve. At the end of the week, students present their conceptual plan for a specific Capital Region site incorporating topics and ideas learned through the week to a panel of community leaders.