APA Board Region II Update – Spring 2026 

Submitted by Ben Hitchings, FAICP, CZO 
APA Board Region II Director 

His name is not widely recognized, but he helped electrify the nation and catalyze an important step forward in American justice. And he did it by sitting down. Joseph McNeil reacted strongly to segregation in the Jim Crow South. “I did not believe for one minute that I was a second-class citizen, that I was inferior in any way,” he later said. So on February 1, 1960, McNeil and three fellow students from North Carolina A&T University asked to be served at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Greensboro, NC. “I couldn’t live the lie. We decided to take a stand,” he said. They ordered coffee, and were refused service, simply because they were black. This began a six-month campaign involving dozens of students, who remained non-violent in their protest. Their efforts inspired sit-ins at lunch counters across the South and around the country in support of the students. 

For the past year, I’ve been reflecting on what makes America, and how it relates to our work as professional planners. Joseph McNeil and his colleagues provide a telling example. Ordinary people, motivated by injustice. Engaging in a simple act of peaceful protest, protected by the U.S. Constitution, that sparked positive change. As professional planners, we have chosen a profession rooted in public service. We help create a safe space for public debate and for differing opinions. We help ensure that all participants have a voice, and that all voices are heard. 

Diane Nash was a student at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee when she heard about the Greensboro sit-in. Two weeks later, she participated in the first sit-in in Nashville on February 13, 1960. The movement spread to 55 cities in 13 states. At the time, Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “By sitting down, we are standing up for the very best in the American tradition.” After six months of protest, on July 25th, 1960, the Greensboro Woolworth’s lunch counter began serving all customers. 

Freedom of speech and non-violent protest against injustice – these are key pillars of American democracy. Today, the Greensboro Woolworth’s building is the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, and a portion of the lunch counter is in the Smithsonian. In his old age, John McNeil said “I walked away with an attitude that if our country is screwed up, don’t give up. Unscrew it. In retrospect, [it was] pretty good for a bunch of teenagers.” 

When we confront injustice today in America, we can draw inspiration from Joseph McNeil and his fellow students, and the courage and determination they showed in their fight against segregation. We can support the truly American act of peaceful protest. And if we do, we can more fully live our commitment to creating great communities for all. 

Visit for more information and a short video on the Greensboro sit-in.

APA Board Retreat

In February, the APA Board held its Winter Retreat in Clearwater, FL. It continued its work to strategize and oversee a wide range of activities designed to support members, maintain and build the strength and effectiveness of the organization, and help the profession navigate challenging times. Highlights included the following: 

• New Board members participated in a half-day orientation to review Board roles, responsibilities, and current APA priorities. 
• Board members prioritized future board development topics based on insights from a 2025 Board self-assessment and Board culture survey. 
  • The Board received reports on the progress of strategic initiatives and critical projects from APA’s current Scope of Work. The Component Collaboration project has delivered a first set of resources to component leaders to enhance clarity around existing policies and processes, and a new Leadership Hub centralizing all leader resources will launch this spring.
• APA’s new data systems launched in December, and a period of stabilization is now underway. 
• Leaders presented APA’s strategy for Navigating Uncertainty, building on committee recommendations that had been approved by the Board in December. This project reflects a multi-faceted approach to monitor and mitigate risk in a shifting policy landscape, deploy a communications strategy, surge member support, and advance advocacy and education efforts. As part of this initiative: 
  • A policy briefing was provided to inform the Board about emerging legislative and policy issues relevant to APA and planning. 
  • Legal counsel presented the Board with a report on the current state of not-for-profit organizations impacted by actions of the federal administration. The Board discussed considerations for exercising the fiduciary duty of care while supporting APA members. 
• The Board considered a request from the Divisions Council Executive Committee related to a public statement issued by a Division. While the specific request was denied, the Board expressed its support for continued dialogue with the Divisions Council on this matter. 
• The Board and Commission participated in a joint Foresight strategic planning workshop to prioritize disruptive trends from the 2026 Trend Report for Planners that were likely to impact the profession and APA. 
• The two groups also participated in an interactive workshop on how to continue to build a sense of community at APA. 
• The Board and Commission engaged in networking activities, including a reception with local leaders from the Florida Chapter and Clearwater area, and a walking tour in the city of Dunedin led by local planning leader Whit Blanton, FAICP, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas. 

Ben Hitchings, FAICP, CZO, is APA’s Region II Director. He welcomes you to contact him with your input and ideas.