CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman: Making Change Is Relationship Building

This episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast series
introduces listeners to CMAP executive director Erin Aleman, the
first woman and first planner to head up the Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning. Erin knows about the challenges inherent in
working in large jurisdictions, but she’s learned from her work
that small actions can have a big impact. She and host Courtney
Kashima, AICP, get into the nitty-gritty of urban planning: how
CMAP’s local technical assistance (LTA) program came to be and how
it focuses not just on transportation but also housing; how the
organization's On to 2050 Plan revolves around three core
principles: inclusive growth, resilience, and prioritized
investment. They zoom out from talking about the technicalities of
planning to explore how an influential college experience taught
Erin to approach all residents from a place of respect — a lesson
she carries with her even today.