City of Oberlin Receives Norman Krumholz Equity Award for Oberlin Social Equity Plan
OBERLIN, OHIO – (October 7, 2025) – The City of Oberlin is excited to announce that it is the recipient of the 2025 Norman Krumholz Equity Award from the American Planning Association, Ohio Chapter, for its Social Equity Plan. This award recognizes a person, policy or community engagement process that exemplifies the professional ideas of Norman Krumholz, former Cleveland Planning Director and life-long champion of equity and human betterment. To be considered for the award, the submission needed to address how the achievements and actions of the Social Equity Plan further the cause of equity in planning and set new standards and/or push boundaries around the subject of equity.
Building on Oberlin’s long-standing commitment to social equity, the plan began in 2020 under the City Manager’s leadership and evolved through collaboration with community stakeholders, local nonprofits, Oberlin College, and consultants. Its development involved extensive research, data collection, resident engagement, and independent assessment, identifying housing, jobs, health, and education as top priorities.
City of Oberlin Community Liaison, Terri Richardson-Sanders, worked with the Social Equity Working Group to develop actionable strategies with defined objectives and responsibilities related to each of the 13 subjects of the plan. She states, “Like the Krumholz equity style of planning, Oberlin’s Social Equity Plan is a comprehensive, community-driven initiative designed to address systemic inequities and promote fairness, inclusion and equal access to opportunities for all residents.”
The Oberlin Social Equity Plan was approved by Oberlin City Council in May 2025 and provides a living roadmap for advancing equity, addressing systemic barriers, and fostering social justice in Oberlin, with a focus on measurable impact and sustained community engagement. Richardson-Sanders continues to work with a group of stakeholders to implement the Social Equity Plan within the community.
For more information about the City of Oberlin receiving the 2025 Norman Krumholz Equity Award, contact Community Liaison Terri Richardson-Sanders at 440-776-4898 or tsanders@cityofoberlin.com. To learn more about the Oberlin Social Equity Plan, visit https://www.oberlinsocialequityplan.com/.