Diana Benitez, Senior Planner at Canal Alliance, has been recognized as the Emerging Planner by the APA California — Northern Section, honoring her leadership in advancing equitable, community-driven planning. Through her work leading Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro, Diana has helped transform resident priorities in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood into actionable strategies that shape local planning and investment decisions. Her approach — grounded in community leadership, cultural competency, and cross-sector collaboration — demonstrates how planning can build real power and long-term opportunity for working-class communities
Read more about this recognition here: 2026 Northern Planning Awards – APA California — Northern
