Which planning approach focuses on ensuring that marginalized communities have a voice in decision-making?

Advocacy Planning is a notable approach within urban planning that specifically aims to amplify the voices of marginalized or underrepresented communities in the decision-making processes. This approach recognizes that traditional planning can often silence or overlook the needs and perspectives of these groups.

Advocacy planners actively seek to ensure that the planning process is inclusive, engaging community members in dialogue and empowering them to influence decisions that affect their lives. This method may involve formulating strategies to confront power imbalances and support equitable outcomes.

Through advocacy planning, planners employ various tactics such as grassroots organizing, outreach, and coalition-building to help marginalized communities articulate their concerns and priorities. This results in planning initiatives that reflect a broader range of interests and foster social justice.

Other approaches like urban design, comprehensive planning, and environmental planning do involve community engagement to various degrees but are not primarily focused on advocating for marginalized voices. Urban design centers on the physical layout and aesthetic aspects of spaces, while comprehensive planning involves long-range planning that covers various aspects (land use, transportation, etc.) but does not inherently prioritize marginalized communities. Environmental planning emphasizes sustainable development and environmental conservation without directly focusing on advocacy for underrepresented voices.