Urban ReVision BIPOC Mentorship Studio Logo with and a public eye graphic with a skyline in it

Theme of Cohort 4: Design Sprint

Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio is a hands-on program for BIPOC youth, aged 18-30ish, who are passionate about shaping their cities. The program aims to enhance diversity in city-shaping professions and bolster the capabilities of young BIPOC individuals facing potential barriers in accessing and influencing professional civic spaces across Metro Vancouver. The program will take place in-person in Vancouver from mid-October to mid-December 2025.

About the Program

Even in a diverse region like Metro Vancouver, the fields of urban planning and community development often miss the powerful perspectives and deep desires of BIPOC communities. Urban planning and community development have historically been used to uphold systems of colonialism and white supremacy, but they also have the power to create a more equitable future. By fostering meaningful mentorship relationships within the BIPOC city-shaping community, we can ensure diverse perspectives are valued and drive more inclusive and just opportunities within these fields.

Urban ReVision is built on a dynamic, three-pronged approach that combines mentorship, project-based learning, and hands-on workshops. This integrated model ensures you:

  • Gain foundational knowledge and skills of the urban planning field – including careers, education pathways and sectors – through engaging and interactive workshops

  • Meet BIPOC mentors and guests who are in various stages of their professional planning career

  • Work on a real-world project with a local planning firm to address today’s pressing urban challenges

  • Be a part of a community dedicated to fostering connections, learning and mutual support

Knowledge to Action

Our Knowledge to Action framework breaks down barriers by building skills from the ground up—no prior experience needed. Through hands-on learning and real-world experience, participants gain the confidence and tools they need to take meaningful action.

Step 1: Learn

In this program, you will learn about the traditional and non-traditional paths of city-shaping, with a focus on urban planning and civic governance careers. Our sessions will dive into key fields such as land development, urban design, and community engagement. You'll get to learn directly from our BIPOC mentors and guest speakers, whose perspectives will be central to our dialogues. Throughout the program, you'll have opportunities to connect with these industry mentors to learn more about their fields.

We will be exploring questions, such as:

  • What is urban planning and civic governance?

  • What are the strengths and challenges of working within urban planning and civic governance?

  • How do civic action and urban planning connect, and how do they impact various aspects of our cities and communities?

  • What does it mean to be a BIPOC planner and community member taking civic action on unceded lands?

  • How can we promote a more inclusive and intersectional perspective in urban planning and civic governance that considers diverse identities within our cities?

Step 2: Explore & Ideate

You will work collaboratively in teams of 4-5 (you’ll have a chance to sort yourselves into project teams at the start of the cohort) to investigate an urban challenge presented by a project partner and practice key skills like creating a power map, doing an environmental scan, conducting community engagement, and using design thinking tools and methodologies.

Step 3: Apply & Create

At this stage, you will have time during our program sessions to work together, seek feedback from the community partner and your peers, and to gain skills in presenting and communicating your project to diverse audiences. With the ideas that were developed, your group will have the opportunity to develop your project and present it to your partners and the wider community at a Community Showcase in December!

So am I eligible?

BIPOC youth that are aged 18-30ish and based in Metro Vancouver can apply. No previous experience in urban planning or civic governance is needed to participate in this program — in fact, we welcome BIPOC youth of any and all backgrounds, and strongly encourage applications from those without expereince in this field to apply.

We are committed to fostering just, inclusive and accessible spaces for all youth, especially those from communities experiencing social, economic and other barriers. This includes (and is not limited to) youth who identify as disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, and newcomers. We strongly encourage applications from individuals belonging to these communities.

We only have room for a limited number of people in this program. If you are selected for this program, you will receive an honorarium for your time and participation in the program.

Please feel free to email Joanne (joanne@cityhive.ca) with any questions regarding the program or application process, and if you would like to further discuss how we can best support your program journey.

Session Dates

All sessions are in-person in Downtown Vancouver @ SFU Dialogue Classoom. 

Learn Module

  • Weekend Retreat:

    • Session 1: Saturday, October 18 (10am-3pm)

    • Session 2: Sunday, October 19 (10am-3pm)

  • Session 3: Thursday, October 23rd (6-8:30pm)

  • Session 4: Thursday, October 30th (6-8:30pm)

Explore & Ideate Module

  • Session 5: Saturday, November 1st (10am-3pm)

  • Session 6: Thursday, November 6th (6-8:30pm)

  • Session 7: Thursday, November 13th (6-8:30pm)

Apply & Create Module

  • Session 8: Saturday, November 15th (10am-3pm)

  • Session 9: Thursday, November 20th (6-8:30pm)

  • Session 10: Thursday, November 27th (6-8:30pm)

  • Session 11: Saturday, November 29th (10am-3pm)

  • Session 12: Thursday, December 4th (6-8:30pm)

End-of-Program Celebration: Thursday, December 11th (TBC)

FAQs

  • The program sessions will take place from October 18th, 2025 to December 11th, 2025, where the cohort will meet weekly on Thursday evenings. There will also be one Sunday session and four Saturday sessions during this period.

  • Each week we will meet for 2.5 hours between 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for participants to eat – yes, we will provide food and beverages! Weekend sessions will run from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    In addition to program time, you should anticipate spending 2-5 hours each week (outside program sessions) during the Explore & Ideate and Apply & Create modules, working on project-related tasks.

  • Our programs are free to you! There is ZERO cost to join Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio. We will offer honoraria to all participants. Please contact us for more information.

  • The Urban ReVision program is designed and delivered by a team of young BIPOC facilitators including one CityHive staff member, a co-lead facilitator, and support facilitators.

  • We’re grateful to work with a number of phenomenal BIPOC professionals working across the sector who support this program with their time, energy, and advice. Each cohort has a slightly different mix of mentors working in the fields of planning, engagement, local and Indigenous government, etc.

  • You can apply using the link at the top of this page. You will have the opportunity to complete a written application using the link above. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any issues with a written application; we will assist you.

    Applications are open until October 5th, 2025 at 11:59PM.

  • Due to the place-based nature of the program and its in-person workshops, we require all participants to be located in Metro Vancouver for the duration of the program.

  • We bring together a diverse group of 20-25 youths with various backgrounds. You will meet other BIPOC youth participants who are just as eager as you to explore the realms of urban planning, civic governance and action, community engagement, policy, and advocacy. You will also meet a diversity of BIPOC mentors and community members working in traditional and non-traditional planning and civics settings, and who are in different stages of their career, local government officials, thought leaders, and subject matter experts!

  • Our program sessions are pretty jam-packed. Our sessions are hands-on and interactive – and encourage active participation. We like to say that you’ll get out what you put in. We make sure to utilize body breaks throughout the sessions.

    We blend content delivery and workshops with dialogue, group discussions, breakout sessions, peer-to-peer learning, guest speakers, and dedicated time to connect with your mentor. You can expect that we will deliver a presentation and invite you into conversation with your peers as we learn together.

  • The program is designed for you to get what you put into it. This is a project-based program where you are expected to work collaboratively with your peers and a community partner. This may require community engagement, critical thinking and some investigative research to understand the problems of urban issues better. You can expect to spend between 2-5 hours each week working on homework or project work (in addition to program session time).

Testimonials

  • “Collaborating with like-minded individuals from 18-30 years old in different stages of their life is a blessing. I genuinely could connect with many people’s hopes and aspirations for a better city. And despite our many similarities in our visions for the future, it’s so amazing to see how many different fields and backgrounds we come from. This cohort never failed to be an inclusive and kind space for people to grow and learn. I’m so proud of my peers – wherever they go off to next, I’m sure I’ll see them around.”

  • “This program has connected me to so many changemakers in a city that felt very vast and disconnected. I’ve been able to build strong friendships, and learn about different career potentials by the BEST mentors and facilitators.”

  • “I’m so glad I applied for this program. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with like minded young BIPOC, make connections and really feel like being part of a community. I was able to learn so much in such a short time about planning, our civic systems and how I fit into them as a citizen. I highly recommend signing up for the program if you’re interested in learning about and improving our built environments and make some great friends along the way”

  • “This program surrounded me with the inspiration I needed to pursue a career in urban planning by showing success through representation of BIPOC leaders. I had an excellent time learning about everything urban planning looking through the lenses of the BIPOC experience. I was a blank slate before I entered this program and now I will carry these lessons and look back fondly through my journey towards a career in urban planning”

  • “It was a great program to learn about civic work and planning. What networking means and why it is important. The mentorship was great. Many of us are confused about what to do and this program was a great to know that your journey doesn't need to be linear! The best part of professional journey is by trying everything.”

  • “As a working professional in a small business, I don’t often get to connect with people in a similar age range to me. I am so grateful for this program for allowing me to meet others and learning more about what issues young people care about.”

  • “I had an amazing time with CityHive. I got to be in such a rich environment filled with diverse opinions and learn from people in the industry. I have left CityHive with a heightened passion for urban planning and engaging communities for climate action. It helped me connect to the grassroot level of work and feel a sense of hopefulness.”

Thank you to our Urban ReVision partners & supporters!

Funders:

Sponsor:

Cohort 4 Project Partners:

Want to learn more?

Contact Joanne

Joanne manages CityHives’s programs and brings her experinece as a certified Urban Planner to this program. You can connect with her by email at joanne@cityhive.ca

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