Long Beach City Planner Wins Prestigious Scholarship

The City of Long Beach announced that Lucia Cappuccio, an assistant planner in city's Department of Economic Development and Planning, has been awarded the prestigious Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship from the Long Island Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). This scholarship covers her costs to attend in the APA’s National Planning Conference this April in New Orleans, Louisiana. The APA’s annual conference includes workshops and seminars concerning new issues, challenges, and trends that are motivating planners worldwide to plan smarter.

“I believe strongly in inclusive, equitable, and resilient community planning, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the residents of Long Beach,” said Cappuccio. “Receiving this award is a tremendous honor, and I am very much looking forward to the professional development opportunities offered at this year’s conference.”

Lucia Cappuccio graduated summa cum laude from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and media studies. In addition to her work as an assistant planner for the city, Cappuccio is currently completing her masters in urban planning at Hunter College and working as the library assistant for the Council on Foreign Relations. She has previously worked as a New York City Service Civic Corps member at NYC Emergency Management, a John D. Solomon Fellow at NYC Department of Social Services, and a community engagement intern at StoryCorps.

“We are extremely proud of Lucia,” stated City Council President Anthony Eramo. “She has done a phenomenal job in Long Beach’s economic development & planning department, and we’re thrilled that this scholarship is allowing her to participate in the APA’s annual conference.”

Photo: City of Long Beach