Voices of Impact

A Film by the California Planning Roundtable

Summary: Released on April 19, 2022, this film shares voices of individuals impacted by housing and land use policies enacted by federal, state and local governments and their successful community efforts for positive impact.

The civil unrest and demonstrations sparked by George Floyd’s 2020 murder reignited our awareness of the deep-rooted injustices that people of color experience in America’s cities and towns. Since then, the public dialogue has grown. People are engaged in an honest desire to understand systemic discrimination that denies communities of color equal access to housing, public services, and quality of life. As planners, we acknowledge that our profession has contributed to these struggles. This video features the stories of six individuals who have been impacted by conditions in their neighborhoods that may be traceable to urban planning decisions.

The California Planning Roundtable (CPR), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing planning practice and influence through innovation and leadership, identified this concern as one meriting deeper investigation - an investigation focused on listening to the stories of people in California who grew up or live in diverse communities of color. Through this investigation, Roundtable members sought to understand the consequences of past planning decisions and to help planners and decision-makers ensure that their policies and practices do not perpetuate past and present inequities.

This film features the unique stories of six individuals. They eloquently identify the injustices and share solutions to improve their quality of life and other communities who have also suffered unjustly because of intentional harm or neglect as well as efforts to make things right through emerging practices of equitable planning.

CPR sought to identify individuals from throughout the state to capture the full diversity of communities and these six stories are just the start. It is CPR’s hope to continue this project by conducting additional interviews/conversations in the future to capture many more stories and viewpoints from around the state. We also hope other communities and institutions will also be inspired to center their goals and work around those who have historically been under-represented and unseen, particularly in places of economic opportunity and wealth.

Watch Voices of Impact

Full Interviews

Press Release – April 19, 2022

2022 Discussion Guide and Interviewee Biographies

Initial project description – 2020

Meet Our 2021 Film Interns

Manu Multani

Manu M.

I am a first-generation Punjabi woman who is the first in her family to pursue higher education in the United States. My passion aligns with organizations that value social change. I seek to highlight the authenticity of our lives through visual storytelling. I am currently working on documentary film projects locally and globally.

  • PhD student in Anthropology and Social Change at California Institute of Integral Studies
  • Los Angeles City College student in Cinematography/Post-Production/Photojournalism

Joyce Yee

Joyce

I am a third generation Chinese American from Honolulu, Hawaii. My siblings and I were the first generation in our family to attend college. I seek to equitably engage communities in public decision-making processes, especially communities who have been historically underinvested in. Some of these processes include neighborhood assessments, visioning for general plans, area plans and urban designs. 

  • Recent graduate of the UC Davis masters program in Community Development
  • Currently a Teaching Assistant at UC Davis