Event

This is Anna ‘20, Melina ’21, and Nick ’21. We are thrilled to announce a series of Virtual Chats between current URBS majors and URBS Alumni that we have planned for this academic year. We have an amazing list of URBS alum participating that span a number of graduation years and are working in various URBS-related industries. The first couple of chats planned for the remainder of this semester are taking place over Zoom on Friday, November 20th, 2020 and Friday, December 4th, 2020 from 2-3:30pm EST. Dates for the spring semester are the following Fridays from 2-3:30 EST: January 22nd, January 29th, February 12th, + February 19th.

If you are interested, please fill out THIS google form. Each chat will have 3 URBS alumni speakers and roughly 5-10 URBS majors. These chats are dedicated to undergraduate URBS students, where the alumni are here to share their experiences and answer your questions. Please submit any questions that you have for them on the google form.

Tentative Event Schedule (2-3:30 EST):

• 2:00-2:30pm - Brief self-introductions from each alumni speaker and current URBS students
• 2:30-3:00pm - Q+A period with prepared and submitted questions
• 3:00-3:30pm - Discussion

November 20th Alumni Panelists:

• Howard Kozloff ‘97 | President, Agora Partners

Howard Kozloff is founder of Agora Partners, a real estate development and strategic advisory firm focused on identifying and creating value-add opportunities, especially through the inclusion and improvement of parks, plazas, and other gathering spaces. Howard is also Co-Founder of HATCHspaces, a real estate development company focused exclusively on purpose-built life science facilities. In both capacities, Howard works at the intersection of urban planning and real estate development through a strategy of entrepreneurial planning. Previous positions include Director of HH Development Strategies and Director of Operations at Hart Howerton, and Development Manager at both The Martin Group and Macerich. Howard has been an adjunct professor at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and University of Southern California and currently lives with his wife, three kids, and dog in Los Angeles, CA.

• Yasmin Radjy ‘08 | National Political Director, Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Yasmin serves as National Political Director at Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) where she oversees the organization’s federal candidate endorsements, PAC activity, national political partnerships, and coordinated campaign efforts. She previously served as Director of Organizing and Training at PPAF and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Prior to her work at PPAF/PPFA, Yasmin served as Virginia State Director at MobilizeAmerica. She is also Co-Founder of Resistance School, a free online practical training program with over 200,000 participants from 50 states and over 20 nations. For the 2.5 years preceding the 2015 Iran Deal, Yasmin worked as Outreach and Field Director for the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and co-founded the organization's political arm, NIAC Action. She also worked as an Organizer for the nation's longest-standing community organizing network, the Industrial Areas Foundation, in Iowa and Texas, as well as for the 2008 Obama campaign in Ohio. Yasmin received her MPP from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and her BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Farsi.

• Sabrina Aponte ‘19 | Legislative Aide, Philadelphia City Council

Sabrina M. Cabaccan Aponte is a FGLI Chicago-native passionate about improving the lives of underserved youth and their families by increasing equitable access to necessary resources and using research-based practices to inform policy and practice in the fields of violence prevention and education. Sabrina participated in the BA/MSSP Submatriculation program at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Master of Science in Social Policy, a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, and a minor in Urban Education Policy, Research, and Practice. Sabrina is currently a Legislative Aide at Philadelphia City Council, and previously worked at the School District of Philadelphia's Office of Research and Evaluation. Outside of work, Sabrina is a Latin and Polynesian dancer, an alumni mentor for the University of Pennsylvania's premier Latin dance troupe Onda Latina, and a mentor through the Ben Connect Mentorship Program.

December 4th Alumni Panelists:

• Scott Millstein ‘92 | Executive Director, Coro New York Leadership Center

Scott Millstein has worked in senior leadership roles in the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the Coro New York Leadership Center, New York City’s premier leadership training program and a community of 3,000 alumni across business, government, schools, and nonprofits that is shaping the city’s future. Under his leadership, Coro developed a new strategic vision, expanded its programs, developed new partnerships with government and corporations, and greatly increased alumni engagement. Prior to joining Coro, Scott worked for 10 years at Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, which helps more than 350,000 victims of crime and abuse each year. Scott served as Safe Horizon’s Chief of Staff, and then Chief Operating Officer, leading strategy and managing day-to-day agency operations. He also served as the organization’s Interim CEO in his final year. Early in his career, Scott worked for New York City government in staff roles at the Department of Homeless Services, the Parks Department, and the Mayor’s Office. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (URBS 1992) and holds a graduate degree in public policy from Columbia University. He lives in New York City, the city he loves, with his wife and two sons.

• Brittany Giroux Lane ‘08 | Director, City Solutions, What Works Cities at Results for America

Brittany is the Director of City Solutions at Results for America, supporting Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities Initiative. She works with cities to surface and spread successful policy solutions, with the goal of improving the lives of more residents in more cities by scaling what works. Additionally, she serves as Co-President on the Board of Directors at People Powered, a global hub for participatory democracy - the direct participation of community members in making the policy decisions that affect their lives. Previously, Brittany led the OGP Local Program at the Open Government Partnership, working on improving transparency, accountability, and civic participation in 20 local governments. She piloted then institutionalized this program, working with municipal officials and civil society to co-create and implement ambitious policy reforms such as participatory budgeting, whistleblower protections, citizen’s assemblies, etc. towards more responsive, engaged cities. Prior to OGP, Brittany worked at the World Resources Institute and the Urban Institute on issues of urban planning and governance in the Global South. She has worked in 15 countries and has collaborated with international organizations such as UCLG, C40, Urban 20, the World Bank, etc. Also, she worked in Philadelphia to bring bicycle sharing to the city through activism, design, and planning.

• Adam Cohen ‘16 | 2nd Year Law Student, University of Maine School of Law

Adam Cohen is a second-year law student and Economic Justice Fellow at the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, ME. While in law school, Adam works part-time with the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, where he is leading the creation of Maine’s first comprehensive database of eviction filings across the state, which is being used to guide the state’s response to COVID-19 related housing challenges. Additionally, he serves on the City of Portland’s Community Development Task Force, which recommends updated priority needs and allocation process revisions to inform the City’s 2021-2026 Consolidated Plan for annual allocation of $3 million in federal community development block grant funds. Prior to law school, Adam spent three years in Washington, D.C., working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, a nonprofit association of thirteen of the country’s largest, most innovative nonprofit affordable housing developers. Adam graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a degree in Urban Studies. He is a 2015 recipient of the Harry S Truman Scholarship and a 2017 recipient of the Humanity in Action John Lewis Fellowship. 

Spring ‘21 Alumni Panelists:

January 22nd:

• Hillary Kane ‘99 | Director, PHENND
• Kim Bernardin ‘16 | Real Estate Transactions Associate, New York City Economic Development Corporation
• Mary Dever ‘19 | Masters in Social Services student, Bryn Mawr College

January 29th:

• Kevin Levy ‘08 | Associate Attorney, Reed Smith LLP
• Kelechi Akusobi ‘16 | Development Officer, Michaels Organization
• Jamie Grobeski ‘19 | Field Organizer, NextGen PA & Environmental Protection Specialist, EPA

February 12th:

• Manon Vergerio ‘14 | Co-Founder, Landlord Watch
• Gabrialla Lott ‘19 | Research Analyst, HR&A Advisors
• Lucy Corlett ‘20 | Program Development VISTA, Office of Immigrant Affairs, City of Philadelphia

February 19th:

• Meg Hess-Homeier ‘11 | Enrollment & Planning Analyst, Seattle City Schools
• Rachel Zurier ‘14 | Operations Manager, Bryant Park Corporation

Here is the google form again if you are interested in participating in any of these chats with URBS alumni. They are excited to speak with us and share their career paths and experiences!

We’ve also been working on an Alumni Mentorship program with the help of Scott Millstein URBS ‘92. More information on that here!

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you this semester!

Anna, Melina, + Nick