Urban Planning Students Win Statewide Award for South Tucson Project

A team of Master of Science in Urban Planning (MSUP) students received the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA)’s Best Student Planning Project Award for their work with the City of South Tucson.

“This project focused on identifying opportunities to empower our community and strategies to control land, keeping it in the hands of our residents to prevent displacement from future development,” said Roxanna Valenzuela, mayor of South Tucson. 

The award-winning capstone, “Community Investment Strategy Toolkit for the City of South Tucson,” was developed during the 2024–2025 academic year in partnership with city leaders. The project focused on five key areas for guiding community investment: community identity, local economy, housing, heat resilience and safe, equitable transportation.

“Professor Arlie Adkins organized the project and served as the main connection with the City of South Tucson,” said Romina Narvaez, who accepted the award on behalf of her cohort. “The city was interested in updating its general plan, and our role was to provide a starting point for that process.”

Students collaborated with city officials and residents, grounding their recommendations in the lived experiences of South Tucson community members.

“Walking the streets, taking photos, documenting infrastructure and sitting down with community members reminded me why I wanted to become an urban planner,” Narvaez said. “It wasn’t just research—it was a chance to listen and learn from people who love where they live.”

Narvaez said the hands-on experience was invaluable. 

“I learned that every community is unique, and planning efforts must always be tailored to reflect the people who live there,” she said. “Planning is not only about maps and policies, but also about empathy, respect and building trust.”

Adkins praised the group for addressing complex planning issues while keeping community voices at the forefront.

“I’m beyond proud of the work the students accomplished in such a short period of time,” he said. “They took on a broad range of planning challenges facing South Tucson, yet managed to develop detailed, actionable strategies for each.”

The Community Investment Strategy Toolkit includes a GIS database, case studies and organizational connections to help the City of South Tucson take the first steps toward updating its general plan. The toolkit is designed not only for city officials, but also as a resource that residents can use.

Athba Alradaan, who contributed to the transportation section and design of the report, said accessibility was a priority.

“Through the design process, I worked to make the toolkit visually clear and accessible so that community stakeholders and residents could easily use it as a living resource,” she said.

Alradaan said the experience showed her the importance of connecting planning decisions to daily life. 

“Partnering with the City of South Tucson showed me how planning decisions directly impact daily life in a small community with limited resources but a strong cultural identity,” Alradaan said. “My hope is that the toolkit continues to guide the City of South Tucson in making investments that improve connectivity, resilience and equity while celebrating the city’s unique character.”

Selina Barajas is a fourth-generation Tucsonan who serves as the community investment advisor for the City of South Tucson. She said she was honored to work alongside the CAPLA students. 

“I appreciated how thoughtful they were, how respectful they were and how knowledgeable they were,” she said. “The fact that they went into the community, and not just one time, but time after time, just showed me that they really cared for this project beyond their graduation date.” 

The City of South Tucson helped with the project by providing meeting spaces, data and connections to city leaders and elders. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing the students out in the Tucson community or wherever they go,” she said. “I hope they know that they have a home here in the City of South Tucson that they could return to. I’m hoping that one day they return and possibly see some of their projects in action.”

Veronica Moreno, city manager for the City of South Tucson, said the students’ thoughtful approach was evident in the quality of their final product. 

“The project has helped build a bridge between the university and our city, showing what can be accomplished when academic resources and community priorities come together,” she said. 

Planning Director for the City of South Tucson Josue Licea spoke about the impact he predicts this project will have. 

“These innovative ideas, programs and policy recommendations have the potential to greatly benefit the community by providing a foundation of resources to promote a safe, healthy and sustainable living environment for all,” he said.

The project team included: Romina Narvaez, Athba Alradaan, Anna Schrauth, Kirsten Sinelli, Michael Garcia, Mahin Mehnaz, Shashank Marade, Stephanie Brennan, Siavash Habibi, Nigel Black and Annika Risser.