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APA Los Angeles Summer Speaker Series- Pride, Identity and Impact in Planning
June 25, 2026 – 12:00 PM at Virtual
APA Los Angeles virtual panel with LGBTQ+ planners: personal narratives, professional paths, & planning’s role in equity and systems change.
Join APA Los Angeles for our inagural 2026 Summer Speaker Series, entitled “City of Angels: Celebrating the Beauty and Resilience of Los Angeles”. This summer speaker series brings together urban planners across Los Angeles County to celebrate the beauty of LA—found in its people, places, cultures, and climate. Through three monthly gatherings, the series highlights how planning can honor identity, uplift communities, preserve cultural legacy, and prepare the city for a changing future.
We’re thrilled to kick off the series in honor of Pride Month with a virtual panel entitled “Pride, Identity and Impact in Planning”, where a moderated panel will discuss the role of LGBTQ+ planners have in shaping our communities; personal stories, professional journeys, and community impact, and planning as a tool for equity, creativity, and systems change.
To register click here.
Meet our panelists:
Ari Ventura (They/Them) is a queer transmasculine non-binary Transportation Planner at PFehr & Peers with a specialty in GIS & Data Analytics. They hold a B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Urban & Regional Planning from UCLA. Beyond the workplace, Ari founded and facilitates a quarterly trans planners of LA meetup for trans planners, students, and community organizers to share their experiences and concerns as they navigate careers and/or advocacy in the greater LA region.
Mark Muenzer (he/him) is the Director of Community & Economic Development for the City of Cathedral City, bringing 25 years of experience leading planning, housing, and economic development initiatives across the country. His work has focused on expanding affordable housing, revitalizing commercial corridors, and guiding major community plans in cities including Chicago, Evanston, Menlo Park, Redwood City, and Culver City. Mark has also served as a lead negotiator on high‑profile development projects with institutions such as Northwestern University, Meta, Stanford, Sony, Amazon, and Apple. He holds a Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Political Science from Gannon University.
Dr. Thomas O’Brien is Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) at California State University, Long Beach and Director of the CA Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP) Center. He also serves as Deputy Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium, a partnership of CSULB and the University of Southern California. He previously served as Executive Director of the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) also at CSULB. His teaching and research focus on logistics, supply chain management, and goods movement policyas well as transportation workforce development.
Dr. O’Brien is Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Intermodal Freight andTruck Transportation Committee and President of the Board of the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce; and a Board member of the Los Angeles Transportation Club, and National Transit Institute. He is a past President of the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC). Dr. O’Brien has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Development and a Ph.D. in Policy, Planning, and Development from the University of Southern California. He is a former Eno and Eisenhower Transportation Fellow.
Ethan Shafer (they/he) is an Urban Planner with the City of Colorado Springs, where they focus on creative placemaking and building inclusive, connected communities. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, they serve as the Vice Chair of the LGBTQ and Planning Division, helping lead initiatives that strengthen engagement, communication, and inclusive programming. Ethan brings a background in advocacy, community-building, and the arts to their work, with a commitment to fostering belonging across the planning profession.
James A. Castañeda, AICP (he/him) is a Planning Manager at Somos Group, where he leads complex land use projects and guides a multidisciplinary team in delivering high‑quality, community‑centered planning solutions. With over 15 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, James brings deep expertise in land use analysis, entitlements, community engagement, and strategic advising. He currently serves as President‑Elect of APA California and has held numerous leadership roles within APA at both the state and regional levels. James holds a B.S. in City and Regional Planning from New Mexico State University.
Jasmine Williams, AICP (She/They) is an Urban Design Manager at Studio One Eleven. Jasmine Williams is a Gender Queer Blaxican Urban Designer and certified planner with a multidisciplinary background in urban planning and architecture. Her experience spans both public and private sectors, giving her deep insight into planning processes and project implementation. Jasmine’s work includes project management, community engagement, and design. She has managed projects such as the Los Angeles Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program, the LADOT Mobility Hubs Program, the Phoenix Land Reuse Strategy, and DTLA Alliance’s DTLA Reimagined Study. Her expertise spans conceptual design, Specific Plans, TOD Plans, Master Plans, placemaking studies, capacity studies, and design guidelines. Jasmine holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Arizona State University.
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