2023 students FLiP over potential planning careers!

Our Future Leaders in Planning (FLiP) summer student leadership development program introduced high school students from throughout Hillsborough County to urban planning as a potential career in an intensive program May 30 – June 2. A big hit with the students, mentors, and parents alike, FLiP offered a broad exposure to planning from both public and private sector perspectives across many planning-related fields. The students flourished while networking with professionals, collaborating in teams, and honing their presentation and public speaking skills.

A huge thanks to our incredible partners – Hillsborough County Public Schools, ULI Tampa Bay, Sun Coast Section of APA Florida – without your enthusiastic support for FLiP, this program would not be possible. Thank you to our many content contributors for allowing us a peek into your planning-related world. You provided great insight and mentorship. Thank you for giving us a lift, literally, to HART MetroRapid, TECOline Streetcar, USF Bull Runner, Port Tampa Bay/Pirate Water Taxi, and the School District.

Day 1 highlights | Plan Hillsborough & Planning Commission perspectives with Executive Director Melissa Zornitta, FAICP | Walking tour of USF Tampa Campus highlighting USF’s award-winning Master Plan with Campus Planning Manager, Chaddy Hanwisai, CDT, LEED Green Associate | GIS in Urban & Regional Planning with Planning Commissioner Steven Fernandez, MA, GISP, CCM | Lunch at Top of the Palms courtesy of ULI Tampa Bay | WalkBikeDrive Tampa Bay presentation with CUTR’s Brentin Mosher | Saga City planning introduction with CUTR’s Tia Boyd | Educational Pathways to a career in Urban Planning with MURP Program Director and former Planning Commissioner Dr. Evangeline Linkous, AICP

Day 2 highlights | Intro to transportation planning with TPO Assistant Executive Director Gena Torres | Amazing breakfast buffet at Fred’s Market in Plant City (thank you to Fred’s for extra hospitality and the Sun Coast section of APA Florida) | Environmental walking tour of the McIntosh Preserve with Chris Foster, Plant City’s Environmental Land Management Supervisor | Introduction to planning for rapidly growing Plant City with planners Robyn Baker, AICP, Planning & Zoning Coordinator and Director of Planning & Zoning, Julie Ham | Visit Plant City Railroad Viewing Platform & Tower and Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum with museum director Bennie Lubrano | Private tour of the historic Bing Boarding House African American Museum with Bing family descendant Janelle Johnson | Planning for MacDill Airforce Base with base planner and Planning Commissioner Tony Rodriguez

Day 3 highlights | Reimagining the Marion Transit Parkway including a walking tour and hands-on planning exercise led by mentors Casey Bauer, Tampa Downtown Partnership Planning Coordinator and REAL Building Consultants’ Taylor Ralph, President and Sean Baraoidan, Senior Project Manager | Lunch courtesy of ULI Tampa Bay | Tampa International Airport Tour with Planning Commissioner Hemant Saria and behind the scenes tours of the airfield, TSA and the baggage system with Eric Segrue, Systems Automation Manager

Day 4 highlights | Streetcar tour through Water Street and Channelside | Boat tour of Port Tampa Bay with Chris Cooley, Port Director of Environmental Affairs | An introduction (and awesome snacks, thank you THEA!) to the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority’s mission and planning projects with Brian Ramirez, Anna Quinones, and Judith Villagas followed by a walking tour of the land beneath the Expressway, the subject of the FLiP afternoon planning activity | Lunch and snacks provided by ULI Tampa Bay and Sun Coast section of APA Florida | Presentation on Tampa General Hospital’s wellness initiatives and how to activate healthier communities by TGH’s Audrey Serrano | Team planning activity to imagine how land beneath the expressway could be used to enhance and connect the vibrant and historic neighborhoods surrounding it with mentors Casey Bauer (TDP), ULI Tampa Bay’s Taylor Ralph, Sean Baraoidan, and Jerid Jones, and Melissa Zornitta | Closing comments from mentors and Planning Commission Chair Nigel Joseph who presented the students with their FLiP 2023 Certificates presentations

Friends and family gathered to observe the incredible closing presentations from the team planning activity. View FLiP 2023 pictures on Facebook.

A shout out to our amazing students! Our future is in great hands… #inspiringfutureplanning #FLiPlanning

We are looking forward to FLiP 2024!