Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities

??? NYC is Building for Belonging! At the Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities Conference, we joined Commissioner Dan Garodnick of the NYC Department of City Planning & Laura Rog of NYC Service to discuss how we’re making NYC more affordable and accessible so that every neighborhood and every borough thrives. From expanding affordable housing to increasing access to healthcare, benefits, and vital resources, we’re working every day to ensure NYC remains one of the best places to live and raise a family. ?? #FutureOfCities #BuildingForBelonging

???? This past weekend, I’ve had the opportunity to take part in the transformative Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities conference, which was nothing short of inspiring. I engaged in thought-provoking discussions on the future of sustainable and equitable urban development. My biggest takeaway? The power of public-private partnerships. ?? Real, meaningful impact happens when cross-sector collaboration between businesses and government create solutions that aren’t just sustainable, but scalable. Here’s some innovative solutions I was inspired by: - Nadia Sesay and Bedrock Detroit's novel collaboration strategies between private real-estate firms and government in new urban developments. - Josh (Changhyun) Bahn’s initiative at Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group (UIG) and impact investing in urban development, driving economic revitalization in growth cities. ??? A motto that struck me: Mastercard’s “Doing well by doing good” — an important reminder that fiscal success and social impact can go hand in hand. (Thank you Victoria Din for all your wonderful insight!) And thank you Maggie Kervick for your reminder to keep pushing, learning, and continuing to grow and innovate: reflecting all the inspiring work taking place as Khiel’s Global Head of Sustainability. ?? I’m grateful to my advisors for making this experience possible. ?? This experience has only strengthened my passion for sustainable business and urban policy, which I'm excited to implement in future roles. #FutureofCities #Sustainability #UrbanPlanning #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact

[Philadelphia, PA] Great day at the Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities 2025 conference today, connecting with City-Building and #AffordableHousing experts from across North America at University of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Khulan Enkhbold (MUCP School of Cities, University of Toronto 2023) for the invitation to attend..! EVENT - https://lnkd.in/gV-P5mrD

Fireside Chat IV: Promoting Innovation Through Life Sciences Industry The life sciences industry is at the forefront of transformative breakthroughs in healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. This panel will explore the essential role that real estate development plays in fostering innovation within the sector. Panelists will dive into the concept of innovation districts—designated urban areas that integrate life sciences companies, academic institutions, and startups to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and economic growth. Attendees will gain insights into how developing knowledge communities around life sciences hubs can revitalize cities, attract global talent, and drive sustainable innovation. ??Moderator: Anthony Sorrentino, AVP, Office of EVP, University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania ?? John Grady, Senior Vice President, Wexford Science & Technology, LLC ?? Sara Merriman, Director, Life Science & University Partnerships, Brandywine Realty Trust University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design The Wharton School

UPDATE! Join us for Fireside Chat?#1: Cultivating Resilience Through Regional Economies, where we’ll dive into how producing basic needs locally is decentralizing our economy, fostering a more equitable future, and addressing the climate crisis. ???? We’ll explore: ??? Connecting cities to local farms to supply our stores, restaurants, schools, and hospitals. ?? Transforming city lawns into gardens for a greener urban life. ?? Beyond food: Discover opportunities in local energy, textiles, building materials, and plant medicine. ?? Moderator: Valery Yakubovich, Executive Director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management at The Wharton School ?? Speakers: Judy Wicks, Founder, White Dog Cafe / Sustainable Business Network If you’re passionate about food systems, sustainability, and the future of cities, this conversation is for you! ?? The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design #Urbanagriculture?#food?#Sustainability?#BuildingForBelonging?#FoC2025?#FoC?#WhartonWeitzman?#UniversityofPennsylvania?#Upenn?#Penn?#Wharton?#Weitzman

Excited to return to my alma mater this week for the Wharton Future of Cities conference! Looking forward to sharing insights on our group’s investing in urban development, and connecting with others passionate about building better cities.

We are excited to announce our closing keynote will be a conversation between Erika H. James, Dean of The Wharton School and Jeff Blau, CEO Related Companies, . The housing affordability crisis has reached a critical breaking point in U.S. cities, with soaring rents and home prices outpacing income growth for millions of families. This closing keynote will discuss the main drivers of this crisis, explore innovative solutions such as housing policy reforms and financing programs, and envision how cities can adapt to ensure they remain vibrant and livable for future generations.?

We are thrilled to announce our opening keynote speakers, Dan Garodnick, Chair and Director of the New York City Planning Commission and Nithya Raman, Office of Councilmember Nithya Raman for the 4th District of Los Angeles City Council! Dan and Nithya’s insights will help ground the conference in our theme of “Building for Belonging”. Dan served as a member of the New York City Council for 12 years where he spearheaded the largest housing preservation deal in NYC history. Nithya, a proud urban planner, focuses her initiatives as councilmember around renters rights, homelessness, transit and urban mobility, small business development, the environment and more. Panelists will delve into both the visible and invisible infrastructure—such as housing, transportation, public spaces, and digital systems—that shapes our urban landscapes. They will examine how planning processes, policy decisions, and community engagement strategies can be reimagined to ensure that all communities, particularly marginalized and underserved groups, benefit equally from the opportunities cities have to offer. #BuildingforBelonging #FoC2025 #FoC #UniversityofPennsylvania #WeitzmanWharton #Penn #Weitzman #Wharton?

Urban agriculture isn’t just about growing food—it’s a powerful tool for building resilient communities, strengthening local economies, and rethinking sustainability. ????? Join us for Fireside Chat #1: Cultivating Resilience Through Urban Agriculture, where we’ll dive into how community-driven food production is reshaping cities and fostering a more equitable future. ???? We’ll explore: ??? How urban agriculture enhances food security & economic resilience ?? The role of slow food and sustainability in urban living ?? Real-world initiatives proving local food systems can transform communities ?? Moderator: Valery Yakubovich, Executive Director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management ?? Speakers: Judy Wicks, Founder, White Dog Cafe / Sustainable Business Network & more! If you’re passionate about food systems, sustainability, and the future of cities, this conversation is for you! ??

?? Tech Demo: Treepedia - Xiaojiang Li, Project Lead Treepedia maps urban tree canopy by analyzing street-level greenery rather than counting individual trees. Using the Green View Index, a scalable metric, cities can measure and compare their green cover. In collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Treepedia helps cities track and enhance their urban forests. Get your tickets and learn more about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/dDQXU3H #UrbanMapping?#UrbanSpatialAnalytics?#TreeCanopy?#BuildingForBelonging?#FutureOfCities?#FoC2025?#Wharton?#Weitzman?#UniversityOfPennsylvania