ADPSR believes design practitioners have a significant role to play in the well-being of our communities. The goal of our programs is to 1) raise professional and public awareness of critical social and environmental issues; 2) further responsive design and planning; and 3) honor persons and organizations whose work exemplifies social responsibility.

ADPSR was formed in 1982, as a 501c3 public benefit organization, to promote nuclear disarmament and correct the imbalances caused by military excesses overshadowing domestic needs. Throughout the 1980s, ADPSR initiated numerous peace projects including peace parks, conferences, traveling exhibits, and citizen diplomacy exchange programs with the former Soviet Union.

Since 1990 ADPSR has focused much of its effort on ecologically and socially responsible development. The New York and Chicago chapters have been offering non-partisan forums on various aspects of community development, with particular attention given to preserving a balanced ecology and social and economic equity. The Northern California Chapter has focused on ecological architecture and sustainable development. They publish an Architectural Resource Guide on ecological construction materials and established a Green Resource Center in downtown Berkeley. ADPSR NorCal has been conducting a monthly "Building Ecology Lecture Series" in San Francisco for more than 8 years, and also produces an annual tradeshow of ecological construction called the Green Materials Showcase. They also support research and testing of non-manufactured, natural building materials.

Other ADPSR projects include the facilitation of citizen participation in regional planning, low-income housing advocacy, support for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT), and the creation of online evaluation tools for monitoring the sustainability of community development. Four chapters have developed regional Green Maps, combining an international icon system developed by ADPSR member Wendy Brawer and HUD GIS tools, to encourage ecological awareness in their communities.

Nationally, ADPSR presents Lewis Mumford Awards every year in the categories of peace, environment, and development. ADPSR publishes a journal on the subject of sustainable community development—New Village—which it distributes nationally to members and non-member subscribers. There are currently four chapters of ADPSR in the United States—in New York, Chicago, Portland, and the SF Bay Area (Los Angeles, Boston and Salt Lake City are currently forming chapters). ADPSR Members-at-Large can join a National Forum listserve. ARCPeace is ADPSR's international affiliate.