Plan Dulce Podcast

About Plan Dulce Podcast

Plan Dulce, a podcast by the Latinos and Planning Divison of the American Planning Association, is a space for elevating projects, issues and initiatives taking place within Latino communities across the U.S. and abroad.

Publisher

Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jul 2021

Latest episode

20 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Aug 2026

   ‘Pasamos la bolita’/ ‘we pass the hat’, there is trust, there is care and there is reciprocity: community-inspired leadership with Pamela Agustin-Anguiano (she/her)

   Plan Dulce Host Michelle E.  Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (she/her/hers) interviews Pamela Agustin-Anguiano (she/her), Coalition Director of Eastside LEADS, an intergenerational coalition of youth, adult, and 8 community-based organizations working together to preserve and develop deeply affordable housing, expand tenant protections, and stop the displacement of low-income residents in East Los Angeles. Pamela was born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, a city located along the California U.S.- Mexico border. At the age of 12 she moved to the Coachella Valley, California where she was struck by the economic and infrastructure divides in the region that were evident during her first drive between Mecca to her step-father’s job at a Country Club in Indian Wells. The beautifully manicured green lawns, larger roads, private gated communities, and smiling golf enthusiasts in their golf carts were a stark difference to the unpaved roads, dilapidated housing, and farmworkers toiling in the desert heat close to Mecca. At the time she wondered how could this be a reality in one of the most wealthy nations of the world? How can this be a reality for the families that she saw risk their lives crossing the All American Canal or the desert heat back in Mexicali? This question led her to pursue a double major in International Affairs and Latin American Studies at UC Riverside. But the answers to this question, and more importantly, the impact that local residents can have in shaping solutions to inequality were evident once she began working and organizing in East L.A., a place where residents fight together with support of many local organizations to achieve a more just and equitable L.A. Today, Pamela serves as the Coalition Director of Eastside LEADS, an intergenerational coalition of youth, adult, and 8 community-based organizations working together to preserve and develop deeply affordable housing, expand tenant protections, and stop the displacement of low-income residents in East Los Angeles. She directs strategic planning, campaign development, and fundraising for the Coalition. Under her leadership Eastside LEADS has won important tenant protection and housing policies in L.A. County and helped establish regional partnerships that fight for housing as a human right. Pamela also currently serves as the appointed Commissioner from LA County Supervisorial District 1 to the LA County Rental Oversight Commission. Links and Resources Eastside LEADS https://www.eastsideleads.org/ (https://www.eastsideleads.org/) Glendale Tenants Union https://www.instagram.com/glendaletenantsunion?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D (https://www.instagram.com/glendaletenantsunion?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D) -------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠ (https://latinos.planning.org/). The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. This episode was conceived, written, and produced by Haydee Urita-Lopez (she/her/hers), Michelle E.  Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (she/her/hers) and co-produced by Vidal F. Márquez (he/him). Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/) Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/) Youtube: Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3LKTlKm7V_adwuF62GpklA) LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/) X/ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠ (https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en) —

2. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Rooted in creativity; rediscovering the artist within with Shalem Aboody‑López (they/them/theirs)

   Plan Dulce Host Vidal F. Márquez (he/him) interviews Shalem Aboody‑López (they/them/theirs), Founder of Pueblo Studio about their journey of using artmaking and storytelling as a vehicle into their planning practice. Shalem Aboody‑López is a Cultural Strategist, Community Planner, and Artist working at the intersection of community power‑building, liberatory storytelling, and transformative public policy and planning. As founder of Pueblo Studio, Shalem integrates trauma‑informed, consent‑based, and art‑rooted practices to cultivate belonging and challenge dominant narratives that perpetuate harm. Their work combines photography, audio, and curated multimedia exhibits with policy and planning analysis to bridge art and civic transformation. With more than two decades of experience, Shalem facilitates participatory planning and narrative‑shift processes that center the visions and lived experiences of historically marginalized communities, particularly Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. A nationally recognized planner and justice‑centered facilitator, Shalem has supported communities to shape equitable environmental, transportation, and land‑use planning across California and the Pacific Northwest, advancing frameworks that connect storytelling to social change. Links and Resources https://pueblo.studio/ (https://pueblo.studio/) -------------------------------------- Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠ (https://latinos.planning.org/). The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community. This episode was conceived, written, and produced by Vidal F. Márquez (he/him) and Jennifer Lopez (they/them). Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/) Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/) Youtube: Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3LKTlKm7V_adwuF62GpklA) LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/) X/ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠ (https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en) —

3. 

   20 May 2026

   ¡Serie de Empoderamiento para Profesionales Administrativos! Encontramos la Luz en medio de la intersección del compromiso cívico, el desarrollo profesional y el autocuidado Flora “Angie” Melendez

   Nos preparamos para concluir la serie de Empoderamiento de Profesionales Administrativos de abril, reconociendo el trabajo esencial que realizan los empleados administrativos, incluyendo secretarias, asistentes y personal de apoyo. Además, retomamos esta serie destacando los múltiples roles clave que desempeñan como enlace para fomentar redes de apoyo comunitario en el lugar de trabajo, en diversas comunidades y con sus familias. Para nuestra Serie de Empoderamiento de Profesionales Administrativos, Michelle E. Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (ella) y Haydee Urita-Lopez (ella) de Plan Dulce entrevistan a Flora “Angie” Melendez (ella), Asistente Ejecutiva III del Departamento de Planificación de la Ciudad de Los Ángeles. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Una advertencia para nuestros oyentes: esta entrevista aborda una historia personal relacionada con el suicidio. Si usted o alguien cercano está enfrentando problemas de salud mental, angustia emocional, inquietudes relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol o drogas, o simplemente necesita alguien con quien hablar, puede encontrar ayuda en la Línea de Vida para el Suicidio y las Crisis (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Angie ha sido la asistente administrativa ejecutiva del director de planificación del Departamento de Planificación Urbana de la ciudad de Los Ángeles desde 2019 y ha estado al servicio de la ciudad de Los Ángeles durante casi 37 años. Comenzó en 1989 trabajando durante dos años con la entonces concejal Gloria Molina, la primera Latina elegida para el Ayuntamiento, seguida de 10 años con la concejala Rita Walters, la primera mujer Afroamericana elegida para el Ayuntamiento, y casi 12 años con el concejal Ed Reyes, urbanista de profesión. Posteriormente, dio el salto y se incorporó a la administración pública, comenzando como auxiliar administrativa en el Departamento de Recreación y Parques, donde fue ascendida a auxiliar administrativa sénior. En 2016, fue ascendida a secretaria en el Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles y, en 2019, a asistente administrativa ejecutiva en el Departamento de Planificación Urbana. Angie ha desempeñado este cargo durante casi siete años, donde cada día sigue creciendo y aprendiendo en su puesto, y además está encantada de compartir lo que ha aprendido con aquellos que actualmente están iniciando su trayectoria en la administración pública. Angie lleva casi 19 años casada con su esposo, Tony Melendez, conductor jubilado de UPS pero miembro del sindicato Teamsters (y seguidor de los Rams). Juntos han criado a tres hijos maravillosos: dos varones y una hija: Josué, Andrés y Belén. Ahora, brindan apoyo y cariño a seis nietos encantadores de entre 2 meses y 8 años, que los mantienen muy ocupados y con espíritu joven. LA City Planning https://planning.lacity.gov/ (https://planning.lacity.gov/) Government Jobs https://www.governmentjobs.com/ (https://www.governmentjobs.com/) -------------------------------------- Plan Dulce es un podcast de miembros de la ⁠División de Latinos y Planificación de la Asociación Americana de Planificación (https://latinos.planning.org/). La información, las opiniones y las recomendaciones presentadas en este podcast son solo para fines informativos generales. ¿Quieres recomendarnos a nuestros próximos invitados y estar al día de los últimos episodios? ¡Queremos saber tu opinión! ¡Síguenos, calificanos y suscríbete! Tu apoyo y tus comentarios nos ayudan a seguir compartiendo historias inspiradoras y enriquecedoras de nuestra maravillosa comunidad, tan diversa cultural y profesionalmente. Este episodio fue concebido, escrito y producido por Haydee Urita-Lopez (ella/suya), Michelle E. Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (ella/suya) y coproducido por Vidal F. Márquez (él/su). Conectar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/) Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/) Youtube: Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3LKTlKm7V_adwuF62GpklA) LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/) X/ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠ (https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en)

Who has been a guest on Plan Dulce Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Andres David Veliz
• Alex Shippee
• Marcos Molina
• Jennifer Lopez
• Norma Sánchez

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

679,368

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

12 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

60

Contact Plan Dulce Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Plan Dulce Podcast