COVID-19 Recovery: Alan Mallach, Smart Growth America, and More Share on the Future of Cities

COVID-19 is proving to be more than a crisis for America’s cities, towns, and counties. The unexpected synergy of a pandemic, elections, climate change and social unrest is causing many municipalities to reimagine the future. As long-established systems, practices, and populations change, every neighborhood must answer the big question: “What does the future look like for my, and other American, communities?”

This Thursday, three leading community development experts will join Community Progress for an interactive webinar to share the groundswell of innovative answers, struggles, and opportunities facing municipalities.

COVID-19 Recovery – The Future of America’s Communities & Today’s Equity Opportunity

Thursday, September 24, 2020 12:00-1:00 pm ET | Watch the Replay

When any crisis emerges, it always presents us with an opportunity to shape more equitable American communities. How we respond, whether through large stimulus packages or local code enforcement decisions, can have long-lasting impacts and define the challenges residents will face in the future. The COVID-19 Pandemic is no different and requires us to not only respond to the immediate dangers but also pursue strategies that bring forth long-lasting equitable outcomes.

Join this webinar to hear and share perspectives on:

• How cities will fundamentally change as a result of COVID and how to plan for that change,
• Early indicators for understanding and anticipating neighborhood conditions,
• Major issues and opportunities facing national and local leaders, and
• Urgent community development opportunities for contributing to long-term economic recovery and equitable outcomes across the United States.

Meet the Speakers

Alan Mallach, Senior Fellow, Community Progress

Author, Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst: Addressing the Aftermath Of The COVID-19 Pandemic In America’s Struggling Neighborhoods

Alan Mallach is a senior fellow at the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), America’s nonprofit leader for turning “Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places.”

Mallach is a city planner, advocate and writer, nationally known for his work on housing, economic development, and urban revitalization. He has worked with local governments and community organizations across the country to develop creative policies and strategies to revitalize cities and neighborhoods.

A former director of Housing & Economic Development in Trenton, New Jersey, he has spoken on housing and urban issues in the United States, Europe, Israel and Japan, and was a visiting scholar at the University of Nevada Las Vegas for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Brandi Mack, Executive Director of Community Engagement, Designing Justice + Designing Spaces

Brandi Mack is the community liaison at Designing Justice + Designing Spaces, an Oakland-based architecture and real estate development non-profit working to end mass incarceration by building infrastructure that addresses its root causes: poverty, racism, and the criminal justice system itself. She is also a holistic health educator, permaculture designer, and motivational speaker.

Christopher Coes, Vice President for Land Use and Development, Smart Growth America (SGA)
Co-Author, “Emergency Stabilization & Economic Recovery Recommendations”
Co-Author “The National Opportunity Zones Ranking Report”

Christopher Coes is the Vice President for Land Use and Development at Smart Growth America (SGA), and is a nationally recognized leader in leveraging public policy, the private sector, and community assets to build equitable, sustainable communities.

For the last ten years, he has led SGA’s built environment programs – LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors, the National Brownfields Coalition and TOD Finance and Advisors, Inc., a for-profit subsidiary of Smart Growth America – which has resulted in major federal policy victories including securing over $20 billion in new transit-oriented development and local infrastructure financing and the reauthorization of the EPA’s brownfields program.

Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO, Community Progress (moderator)

Dr. Akilah Watkins is President and CEO for the Center for Community Progress, America’s nonprofit leader for turning “Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places.”

A 25-year national thought leader, conference speaker, and nonprofit executive, Dr. Watkins’ work began at the age of 14 when she led efforts to convert a vacant lot and abandoned home into a community center in Roosevelt, New York. Since then, she’s served as an executive leader for non-profits and community development initiatives which includes work with the Obama administration, NeighborWorks America, the Ford Foundation, and hundreds of municipalities throughout the U.S.

Today, Dr. Watkins’ work as an equity advocate includes leading work in more than 300 communities in 48 states at Community Progress. Collaboratively, Community Progress works to grow strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods.

Connect with Dr. Watkins today by following @DrAkilahWB on Twitter and LinkedIn.

When any crisis emerges, it always presents us with an opportunity to shape more equitable American communities. How we respond, whether through large stimulus packages or local code enforcement decisions, can have long-lasting impacts and define the challenges residents will face in the future. The COVID-19 Pandemic is no different and requires us to not only respond to the immediate dangers but also pursue strategies that bring forth long-lasting equitable outcomes.

Join this webinar to hear and share perspectives on:

• How cities will fundamentally change as a result of COVID and how to plan for that change,
• Early indicators for understanding and anticipating neighborhood conditions,
• Major issues and opportunities facing national and local leaders, and
• Urgent community development opportunities for contributing to long-term economic recovery and equitable outcomes across the United States.

To view more events, visit communityprogress.org/resources/events.