09/15/2026
Day 2 Highlights & Keynote at #APAIL26!
This is your somewhat panicked reminder register for the 2026 APA-IL State Conference: Connected Through Planning! Believe it or not, the conference is almost here! In just 3 weeks, we'll see you at the registration desk.
2026 APA-IL State Conference
September 30 – October 2, 2026
Hilton Orrington/Evanston
1710 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
#APAIL26
Connected Through Planning: Celebrating planning as the constant connector tying professions, ideas, and communities together.
Highlights of Day 2 - October 1st
Kick off the month of pumpkin spice and sweater weather during Day 2 of APAIL26.
Keynote Speaker: Rashanah Baldwin
Join social architect, broadcast journalist, and recognized community leader Rashanah Baldwin for a keynote on reshaping community narratives to drive urban development. Learn how storytelling and grassroots organizing transform underserved neighborhoods into thriving hubs of opportunity.
Other session highlights include:
- Goldilocks & The 3 Municipalities. Chicago Alderman Daniel La Spata will discuss efforts to undo the harms in existing transportation systems and move the needle towards greater equity.
- 2026 Ethics Cases of the Year. We've got scoop on the real inquiries and complaints APA received over the last year. Bring your popcorn and let's earn Ethics CM!
- Join Conversations with Emerging Planners to see how different career paths play out - bring your questions!
- Grab lunch with the Membership Committee and hear what the APA-IL has accomplished over the last year.
- Planning for Neighborhood- and Community-Scale Energy Solutions. Case studies from community groups, institutions, & municipalities demoing how planners link energy, sustainability, and local action with practical models and implementation strategies.
Mobile Workshops include:
- π£ Bird- and Nature-Friendly Urban Design IRL!
- ππ£ Planning for Inclusion: Suburban Supportive Housing
- ππ£ From Quick Wins to Big Moves: Implementing One Howard Street
- ππ£Breaking the Code: Twelve Homes, One Lot for the Missing Middle
- π£π₯ Sweat the Small Stuff: Creating Unconventional Third Places Through Public-Private Partnerships
Thursday Night at Westfield Old Orchard
Make the connection between neighboring inner-ring suburbs Evanston and Skokie, and catch the free shuttle to regional draw Westfield Old Orchard mall on Thursday evening to experience activated, pedestrian-centered public spaces and the beginning of a transformation from what was once shopping-centric to a future as a live-work-play destination.
- Mall Tour Mini Session: The Evolution of Old Orchard (1 Hour, free!) Join Maegen Akers (General Manager, Westfield Old Orchard) and Johanna Nyden, AICP (Village of Skokie) for a guided walking workshop. Discover how shifting retailer trends, changing consumer habits, and private-public vision are shaping the future redevelopment of Westfield Old Orchard. (CM | 1.0)
- Puttshack Social Event ($60) Mini-golf has leveled up! Mix and mingle with fellow professionals at this low-stakes, high-enjoyment social outing. Enjoy 2 full hours of unlimited, high-tech mini-golf where automatic scoring keeps track of your game while you focus on the fun. We’ll have a spread of tasty bite-sized food to keep you fueled, along with a cash bar. Limit: 65 participants.
- Free-Form Fun - Snag dinner with colleagues, hunt for deals, or just get your steps in while taking in the vibes of this open-air mall.
How important is it that I select my sessions when registering?
Very. We put sessions in rooms based on YOUR choices when registering. If attendees don't select sessions when registering, we won't have accurate estimates.
Rooms at the Hilton Orrington can get crowded fast so this year you'll notice a sign on the session room door that indicates the room is full.
How can I see the sessions I selected?
- Find your confirmation email, sent by contact@cgiresults.com.
- Find your Reference # in the email.
- Click on the Modify Registration button.
- After entering your email and reference #, click through the screens until you get to the session selection page.
Don't forget to:
- Get connected: volunteer for half a day to build your connections and receive free registration for that same day. Sign Up to Volunteer »
- Students, check with your department or student organization for funding.
- Show how your organization is Connected Through Planning by putting your brand in front of Illinois’ top planning professionals. Download the prospectus or email Shelly Greenwood at CGi if you're interested in sponsorship.
Questions?
Don't hesitate to connect with us:
- 2026 Conference Chair: Kate Portillo, AICP
- 2026 Sponsorship Sales: Shelly Greenwood at CGi
- APA-IL Executive Director: Paula Freeze