Chicago Metro Section
The Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS) is a sub-section of the statewide Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. The APA-CMS covers topics relevant to seven Chicago counties: Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Kankakee, and Grundy.
Chicago Metro Section Executive Committee
- Section Director - Justin Keller, AICP, Elevate
- Assistant Director - Valerie Berstene, AICP
- Secretary - Sam Shore, AICP
- Past Director - Brandon Nolin, AICP, Village of Morton Grove
To contact the Chicago Metro Section, please contact us.
Executive Committee Documents
Want to stay up to day on the CMS' activities? Make sure you receive updates from the CMS by joining the listserv.
CMS Programs
The CMS collaborates with local planners to develop a calendar of monthly programs each year to provide educational and professional development opportunities for fellow planners, students, and affiliated professionals. Some of the CMS monthly programs are co-sponsored with affiliated organizations, such as CMAP, UIC, DePaul, and the Chaddick Institute, which reinforces APA-IL’s capacity to form partnerships that help promote the planning field and form connections with other related fields, such as development, real estate, architecture, and design. In addition to its monthly programs, CMS also works with local student organizations to sponsor networking and mentoring activities, which help up and coming planners break into the planning work world.
Chicago Metro Programs, News, & Events
08/05/2025On Demand APA-CMS Webinar - Engaging Diverse Communities (CM | 1.5)Join the APA-CMS for a panel discussion on conducting community engagement in a culturally competent manner. Members watch & earn CM for FREE! Read More |
07/28/2025Pockets of Joy: Discovering People Spaces in RavenswoodThe Lakota Group, 2024-25 Tier I Sponsor, led APA-CMS attendees on a tour through Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood. Read More |
06/19/2025Recording Available! Olmsted's Riverside: Embracing Nature in City Planning (and a Nice Walk)Listen to the Chicago Metro Section presentation in historic Riverside, IL Read More |
03/27/2025Watch On-Demand: Cannabis in the Chicago Suburbs webinar (CM | 1)Join the APA-IL Chicago Metro Section as they focus on suburban communities, from what their ordinances look like to what the impacts have been. Bring your curiosity, bring your questions, and let’s dive in. Read More |
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