Otak Donates To University of Washington’s Equity Scholarship Fund
May, 2020
With an eye towards supporting urban planners and the role they play in creating diverse and inclusive communities, at the start of the new year, Otak donated to the University of Washington’s Urban Design and Planning Professionals Council Equity Fund. Money from this fund supports scholarships for urban planning students that come from diverse backgrounds and have a desire to bring their experience to their careers.
The scholarship is awarded by the Urban Design and Planning Professionals Council which is a volunteer group of planners from the greater Seattle region who mentor urban design and planning students. Mentors help students network, find internships, and provide career advice, while the full council offers events and activities to the students to showcase the careers of urban planners. The program boasts a 90% success rate in its alumni, securing planning-related jobs within one year of graduation.
Urban planners are in the unique position of helping to guide how we live, work, and play in our communities. Through their designs and ingenuity, planners can reflect the people who live in the communities and support their culture and very way of life. As the world continues to become more and more diverse, having cityscapes, parks and public places reflect that diversity is critical to creating more equitable societies.
UW, through this scholarship fund, is playing its part in ensuring a future generation of planners who can accept the challenge of creating spaces and places that welcome everyone. Otak is proud to support the University in this mission.