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What We Do

V Fixmer-Oraiz

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We Are Bridge-Builders.

We believe that planning can be a force for positive change in our communities. As a field of practice, planning has a history of enacting policies and procedures that further disadvantage already marginalized communities. Here at Astig Planning, we practice environmental and community planning that acknowledges the resultant barriers and complexities of our society today. In order to serve our communities, we believe in creating plans that build bridges between decision-makers and community members that increase transparency, cultivate action, and deepen trust. 

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Community

Planning

Since 2015, we have worked with community members and leaders to create comprehensive and master plans in order to responsibly grow their towns or envision a project. We provide interactive settings for people to get out of their seats and meaningfully contribute to a plan that will shape their community. Our outreach style is aimed at attending community events, meeting people where they live/work/play, and making sure all of our materials are accessible, whether through translation or readability.

Environmental

Planning

Realizing that water runoff rarely falls along city and county boundaries, we have engaged in regional watershed planning efforts to improve the natural resources we need, in order to enjoy healthy lives and thriving ecosystems. We believe in fostering rural and urban partnerships to create plans that bridge the divide and generate trust. 

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Strategic Planning+ is a strategic planning process that utilizes a social justice/equity framework to analyze organizational practices, policies, and programs. Trained in Strategic Doing methodologies based out of Purdue University, and with years of strategic planning experience, our team offers resources, practices, and safer spaces to engage in a more meaningful and practical approach to creating organizational pathways forward.

Pronouns: They/Them

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CEO & Founder

Community & Environmental Planner

Bachelors Degree, Environmental Studies

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2011

Masters Degree, Urban & Regional Planning

University of Iowa

2015

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Email: vfixmeroraiz@astigplanning.com

My Story

My name is V Fixmer-Oraiz. I have been working in the environmental sector for over a decade. I came to Iowa after completing a Fulbright in the Philippines. Returning to the Philippines, I was able to reconnect with family members and friends while researching climate change impacts on rural bamboo farmers. Transferring my work to the Midwest, I completed my Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Environmental & Land Use Planning.
 
I founded Astig Planning to fuse community organizing techniques with planning frameworks. As a company aligned with a vision toward equity and sustainability, my work has focused on regional planning and community engagement. I have worked with municipalities and counties on comprehensive and master plans and have contributed to the completion of several regional watershed plans, including the English River and Middle Cedar River watershed plans. I am passionate about engaging with people on a range of issues impacting their community, such as stormwater and floods, economic development, racial equity and social justice, and expanding community services. I am a certified yoga teacher and offer classes focused on building community and connecting people.


Supervisor (Elected Official), Johnson County
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Member, APA Iowa Chapter's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
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Supporter, Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition

Adjunct Instructor- Global Health Studies, University of Iowa

Alumni, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

300-Hour RYT Certified Yoga Instructor

If you are interested in services currently offered, please reach out to me at vfixmeroraiz@astigplanning.com.

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