More than 5,000 planners, planning commissioners, appointed and elected officials, and students will make their way to New Orleans this week to learn about the current issues, trends, challenges, and solutions that are shaping the field.

Organization: American Planning Association

Conference: 2018 National Planning Conference

Venue: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

City: New Orleans

NPC18 begins on Saturday morning with an opening keynote featuring Derreck Kayongo. The founder of the Global Soap Project, which recycles used hotel soap and redistributes it to impoverished populations around the world, will tell his courageous story of survival, social entrepreneurship, and humanitarianism—and share the life lessons he learned along the way. Also worth noting:

Get in the zone. Back for its fourth year, the Tech Zone is the place for attendees to try out cutting-edge tools, see the latest technological advances in planning, and hear about new research in the planning pipeline. Attendees can also bring their tech-related questions and have quick, one-on-one consultations with APA Tech Doctors.

Get to know NOLA. Attendees can get a closer look at New Orleans by taking a tour led by a fellow planner. The three-hour bus tour will highlight the history and unique character of various neighborhoods, as well as planning highlights and other points of interest.

Get to learning. During the four blocks of Fast, Funny, and Passionate sessions, attendees will hear several bite-sized presentations that will make them both laugh and think. Each day’s sessions focus on a different interest area, such as planning for inclusiveness and how communities engage with both the natural and built environment.

To keep up with other conference happenings, head to Twitter (#NPC18), Facebook, or Instagram.

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