UEP’s Racial Equity in Policy and Planning (REPP) program has just finished its second year, supporting five fellows in each cohort of UEP’s 2-year MA/MS degree and building the broader learning community of students, alumni, practitioners, and community partners.
Our first cohort of five fellows graduated in May. The second cohort is doing a variety of internships this summer. We have recruited a third cohort who will start in the fall semester. Through REPP, UEP is attracting students who want to further develop themselves as racial justice change agents in policy and planning.
We have also grown the REPP learning community by holding REPP Gatherings in November 2023 and May 2024 and Winter Workshops in January 2024. These events have involved more than 100 UEP students, alumni, practitioners, and community partners. There is tremendous interest in learning practical skills for advancing racial equity and connecting with others in the field. They have also been great opportunities for students to network for internships and jobs.
To learn more, check out REPP’s Spring 2024 report.. Read the full report here!
The REPP program promotes racial justice in the public policy and planning fields. Dismantling and remedying the deep-seated historical inequities that policy and planning have contributed to means changing how policy and planning are practiced and who is doing the work. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color practitioners have been historically underrepresented in policy and planning, while their communities have been the most harmed by racial segregation and other social, economic, and environmental inequities that policy and planning have contributed to.
To accomplish this goal, the REPP Fellowship supports five students per year to complete UEP’s MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning / MS in Environmental Policy and Planning programs and supports their leadership in the field. Fellows are individuals who have already demonstrated a commitment to and have experience in advancing racial justice, and who exhibit potential to be racial justice change agents in the policy and planning fields. REPP fellows receive stipends, generous tuition scholarships, support to secure paid internships, and programming to build leadership skills, develop networks, and provide socio-emotional support.