Serving in the Spotlight: A Conversation on Purpose and Values

Saturday, April 25, 2026

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET

Location: HPCC, Room 140A-F

CM: 1

Moderator and Speaker(s)

Jason L. Jordan

Public Affairs Director
American Planning Association
Chicago, Illinois

Speaker(s)

Sue Schwartz, FAICP

Planning Director/ President APA
City of Greensboro Planning Dept
Greensboro, North Carolina

Public administrators-including planners-sit at the center of some of the most consequential decisions facing communities today. In this joint conversation, James-Christian Blockwood, CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, and APA President Sue Schwartz explore what it truly means to be a public servant and how the disciplines of public administration and planning intersect in practice.

Drawing on leadership experience across government and planning, they will examine how planning functions and public administration frameworks align in purpose, values, and responsibility-particularly when navigating difficult conversations that carry high public visibility and impact. The discussion will focus on how professionals who manage, design, and implement public policy can prepare for and lead through moments of conflict, uncertainty, and scrutiny while remaining grounded in ethics, transparency, and service.

The session will highlight the essential role public servants-especially those working in planning and administrative leadership-play in building community trust, bridging the gap between government institutions and the people they serve, and strengthening democratic processes at all levels.

Closed Captioning

Learning Objectives:

Articulate the shared values, ethical foundations, and responsibilities that guide public service, including planning practice within public administration.
Apply strategies for preparing for and leading difficult public conversations in planning and administrative roles, particularly in moments of conflict, uncertainty, and high public scrutiny.
Describe how public service professionals build community trust and strengthen democratic governance by bridging government institutions and the communities they serve.