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President’s Corner | Anne Broache, AICP, Chapter President | March 2026

Supporting Our Members and Communities

As planners across Washington continue navigating rapid—and at times unprecedented—change, I find myself returning to our Chapter’s core mission: providing leadership in the development of vital communities, advocating excellence in planning, empowering communities, and supporting planners’ education and professional development. Our vision is equally grounding: a professional network of engaged and diverse planners who foster understanding, participation, and leadership in promoting livable, sustainable communities for everyone.

Whether we’re responding to immediate challenges or preparing our communities for long‑term resilience, staying connected to our mission and vision, one another and the tools available through our professional network is more important than ever.

If you haven’t explored them recently, APA National offers a suite of online resources designed to support planners during these moments, including:

  • A resource hub focused on the shifting federal landscape
  • Information on reduced dues and Certification Maintenance (CM) credit exemptions for members in transition
  • Disaster recovery and resilience resources

APA also recently released its 2026 Trend Report for Planners, along with companion CM‑eligible trainings. The report highlights emerging forces shaping the planning profession and offers insight to help us prepare for an uncertain future. Trends identified for near‑term attention include: 

  • Community Rights, Culture, and Safety at Risk 
  • Institutionalizing and Weaponizing Disinformation 
  • Political Violence in the 21st Century 
  • Regulatory Rollbacks Pose Environmental Risks 

In addition, APA President Sue Schwartz, FAICP, invites all members to complete a six-question survey about the impacts they have faced over the past year. Your responses will help inform the support, tools, and resources that APA prioritizes going forward.

As always, APA Washington stands with our members and communities as they face uncertainty and change. I’m looking forward to gathering as a profession at our Annual Conference in Vancouver, Washington, October 7–9, 2026. Watch for our call for session proposals in the coming weeks, and consider sharing your insights, case studies, and lessons learned.

We also welcome new volunteers to join our committees and ongoing initiatives as we continue working toward our mission and vision. We hope you’ll get involved—your perspective strengthens our chapter and the communities we serve.