A Year of Transition for Philadelphia

With a new slate of policymakers, including a recently inaugurated mayor and City Council president, Philadelphia is in a unique position to apply fresh ideas and new approaches to address many of the entrenched issues facing the city. On Wednesday, April 17, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WHYY hosted a live webcast featuring expert insights on the current state of Philadelphia. The event included panel discussions on immigration, housing, and job access—and the policies and approaches that can help the city seize new opportunities and tackle persistent challenges.

The live webcast marked the release of Pew’s 2024 “State of the City” report, which includes comprehensive data on public safety, jobs, the economy, housing, public health, and more—and benchmarks Philadelphia with other major cities.

Three Pew Center for Arts & Heritage fellows—Yolanda Wisher (2015), Denice Frohman (2022), and Ryan Eckes (2016)—performed at the event. Susan K. Urahn, Pew’s president and chief executive officer, and William J. Marrazzo, WHYY’s president and chief executive officer, provided opening remarks. And Sarah Glover, WHYY’s vice president for news and civic dialogue, led a closing discussion with Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Pew’s senior vice president for Philadelphia and scientific advancement.

Agenda

Welcome and opening remarks

• Susan K. Urahn, president and CEO, The Pew Charitable Trusts

• William J. Marrazzo, president and CEO, WHYY

Panel discussions

Immigration

Moderator:

• Maiken Scott, host and creative director of “The Pulse,” WHYY

Panelists:

• Kersy Azocar, president and CEO, Greenline Access Capital

• Anuj Gupta, president and CEO, The Welcoming Center

Housing

Moderator:

• Amanda Fitzpatrick Abdur-Razzaaq, reporter, WHYY

Panelists:

• Jim Burnett, co-founder, Black Squirrel Collective

• Maria N. Gonzalez, president, HACE

• Brian A. Hudson Sr., former executive director and CEO, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Access to jobs

Moderator:

• Carmen Munir Russell-Sluchansky, multiplatform reporter, WHYY

Panelists:

• Carlos Aponte, founder and executive director, We Love Philly

• Theresa Y. Singleton, senior vice president and community affairs officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Closing discussion

• Donna Frisby-Greenwood, senior vice president, Philadelphia and scientific advancement, The Pew Charitable Trusts

• Sarah Glover, vice president, news and civic dialogue, WHYY