Jeff Barg

Hometown: Philly.
Undergraduate Degree: University of Pennsylvania, B.A., American History, 2002.
Favorite City: The Illadelph.
Planning Concentration: Urban design.

How did you get interested in planning?

I've always been interested in cities and the challenges they face. Until relatively recently, I didn't really even know that planning was a profession. But the more I learned, the more I realized you can solve the city's problems even if you're not a politician. In fact, most of the time it's easier if you're not a politician.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?

I spent seven years as a writer and editor for Philadelphia Weekly, a citywide news, arts and culture publication.

Why did you choose Penn to study city planning?

I knew and loved Penn from my undergrad days, and the program's focus on real-world problem-solving appealed directly to my style of learning. But most of all, I couldn't leave my Philly cheesesteaks and Tastykakes behind.

What has been your favorite class so far?

Urban Design Methods in Research and Practice. (Don't be fooled by the dry title.) It was a great introduction to ways of thinking about space and place. After learning how spaces and places are studied, we set about coming up with specific recommendations for how to improve them. In short, it's exactly why I came to planning school: figuring out how to improve places from any perspective.

Are you involved in any planning related activities?

I contribute to the Planetizen blog Interchange, and I'm one of the co-representatives to the Southeast Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association. I also try to go to local zoning and planning meetings in my neighborhood when I can.

What are your career ambitions?

I'm open to both public and private sectors, for-profit and non-profit. Most important is that the planning I do engages the public and takes their opinions into account, and that it makes steps toward erasing existing inequalities in cities. Great cities are the future of the country, and the more we work now to make them better places to live, the better off everyone will be.