The Planning Methods I course is one of the first classes Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) students take when they begin the program. The fall 2024 class worked with the Rosewood Initiative, a nonprofit in East Portland that fosters collaboration and belonging in the community.
One of the Rosewood Initiative’s current efforts is the Rosewood Community Hub, a place where community members can access resources, get help with workforce navigation, or just hang out. The Planning Methods I class teamed up with the nonprofit to explore the feasibility of turning the Community Hub into a Resilience Hub. This expansion would encompass all current services offered while also adding the provisions of shelter and resources in the event of climate-related hazards, such as extreme heat or cold.
The students grouped into five teams. Each team focused on one neighborhood in the service area of the Rosewood Initiative and analyzed the existing conditions of the neighborhood. To do this, they conducted site analyses, field observations, and interviews in the neighborhood, and they researched existing resilience hubs. The final deliverables at the end of the course from each team were a survey questionnaire for community engagement, a PowerPoint presentation, and a final report on the neighborhood.
The Rosewood Initiative will use the findings of the students to inform and plan the next steps. Students in another course, the MURP Workshop, have picked up the project and will continue to make progress toward the Resilience Hub this school year.
The Planning Methods I course is intended to introduce students to fundamental research methods and techniques used in planning. “Students gain hands-on experience in some of the key skills of fieldwork and collecting and analyzing qualitative data, including archival data analysis, field observations, and interviews,” explained Dr. Yu Xiao, the Toulan School professor who taught the course in fall 2024. “They also were given an opportunity to practice teamwork skills and hone professional writing and oral presentation skills.”
The MURP Program is offered by the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at PSU. The program is known for its flexible, engaging curriculum that allows students to gain real-world experience and directly impact the community. For more information, visit the MURP website.
Photo: the mural on the side of the Rosewood Initiative building