Become Accredited
To become a Just Communities Accredited Practitioner (AP), prospective candidates must complete the Just Communities Foundations Course and pass the Just Communities AP exam. The course and exam provides an in-depth understanding of the Just Communities Protocol and requirements for neighborhoods, districts, and campuses seeking to to become Just Communities Certified. This course is designed specifically for resident leaders; urban planning, design, and development professionals; sustainability consultants; and municipal leaders involved in all aspects of land use, infrastructure and real estate planning, design, and development.
Trista Harris
The Collective Impact Forum, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and FSG, invites you to the annual Collective Impact Action Summit, taking place April 29–May 1, 2025. The Summit is the biggest “collective impact” learning event of the year, bringing together backbone leaders, practitioners, funders, partners, and more to explore how we can shape our collective future.
Over three days, collaboration leaders gather to dream boldly, expand our vision and reimagine what is possible, exploring how community collaboration rooted in equity and belonging is an essential ingredient in shaping a world where everyone thrives. You will leave inspired by the imagination and innovation of practitioners all over the world united towards collective action.
Jennifer Juster
Jennifer Splansky Juster is Executive Director of the fielding-building initiative the Collective Impact Forum. She is one of FSG’s leaders in collective impact field building, has worked on multiple collective impact engagements, designed training opportunities for thousands collective impact practitioners, and frequently speaks on the topic. Jennifer has co-authored multiple publications on collective impact, including the report Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact and the articles “Centering Equity in Collective Impact,” “Committing to Collective Impact: From Vision to Implementation,” and “Essential Mindset Shifts for Collective Impact.”
Step 1: Take the Just Communities AP Foundations Course
The Just Communities AP Foundations Course immerses attendees in the approach and tools required to oversee a Just Communities initiative within a neighborhood, district, or campus. The course provides participants with the essential knowledge and perspective they will need to successfully pass the AP exam and become a Just Communities Accredited Practitioner (AP).
Step 2: Take the Just Communities AP Exam
To earn the Just Communities AP credential, you are required to pass an online exam with a score of at least 80%. After you’ve passed the exam, you are now an official Just Communities AP, valid for two years.
Self-Paced Online Learning
Our new online asynchronous course is perfect for busy practitioners and advocates eager to earn the AP credential at their own pace. We offer the following three affordable price-points:
Non-Profit Sector: $150.00
For those employed by government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Students & Resident Leaders: $50.00
For students, youth leaders, and self-employed neighborhood advocates.
Interactive Live Courses
In addition to the asynchronous course, we offer a live two-day course over Zoom for those interested in participating in a highly interactive learning environment. The next course is October 24–25 from 11:30 AM–3:00 PM EST (8:30 AM–Noon PST). Register HERE.
Custom Online or In-Person
For those seeking to bring the Foundation Course to your organization, we offer a customized one-day training for CBOs, developers, anchor institutions, and public agencies. Contact us at justcommunities@psequity.org to learn more.
Apply for an Accredited Professional Scholarship
Through the Accredited Professional Scholarship Program, we support motivated individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of becoming an Accredited Professional. PSE is deeply committed to ensuring that the AP program is accessible to diverse stakeholders, especially frontline resident leaders and practitioners of color who have been marginalized in white-dominated planning, design, and development professions. The goal of the AP program is to diversify and expand the number of people in positions to influence and drive planning and investments in their communities. The AP Scholarship Program covers the costs of an in-person or online Just Communities Foundations Course and the AP Exam.