Habitat for Humanity International’s Post

Grateful to be part of Professor Samir Mayekar's class at Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago - 'The Modern Urban Economic Development Playbook.' It was an enriching experience assisting in a course that delved into crucial aspects of inclusive economic development post-pandemic, i.e., to view economic development through a tri-sector lens for what’s gained by government, philanthropy, and business. My 15 years of working across the for-profit, public, and nonprofit sectors perfectly aligned with the coursework and helped me appreciate why this course is essential for policymakers. This course reiterates the importance of collaborating with various stakeholders and their indispensable role in shaping a city's future. Kudos to Samir for designing such a comprehensive curriculum that covered: - traditional and modern economic development tools for policymakers, - understanding economy of a city, - significance of zoning, - turning around decades of disinvestment, - how to create and operationalize an economic plan, - future of downtowns and post-pandemic new normal, - why arts and culture is an economic tool, - the role of corporates in community development and much more. Did I mention the fantastic speakers who shared practical insights about how to make things happen? The best part of the course was the final presentations, in which the various student groups created a comprehensive vision for an urban economic development project based on the above principles. The judges' engagement with the students is highly appreciated, and it was a unique experience for the students to present to "real-world" practitioners! I highly recommend this course for the current and future students at the University of Chicago! Working with Meghan Hanan and engaging with exceptional students whose active participation in the class made these ten weeks truly rewarding. Looking forward to applying these insights in future endeavors. #ModernUrbanEconomicDevelopment #MUED #InclusiveGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #CityPlanning 🌆📚

Another great commencement speech giving major Seaker vibes. I especially appreciate his comment that the best way forward through problems is: 1) Be an Active Listener 2) Engage in Courageous Dialog 3) Assume Positive Intent Great advice that reflects what it means a Seaker and work with The Seaker Group Seak on Danny Meyer! #strategicgrowth #growthmindset #cre #restauarants

Our fall newsletter is out! Learn more about Gary Marchionini's time as Dean and his plans for the future, read about recent student accomplishments, and get to know new faculty members. Let us know what you think! https://lnkd.in/dZW873qw

Storytelling is at our core 🎥 And marketing should = storytelling. We've helped Southern College of Optometry tell many stories through film 🎥 but I'm always proud of our work to tell the students' stories and what their journey is like. The students always come into the interview sessions a bit nervous, but they leave having told a solid story about their journey, which really connects with prospective students of the school. Prospective students don't want to hear a bunch of fluff from the staff. They want to hear honest stories from the students that are a few steps ahead of them. Embrace storytelling within your marketing, and it will do wonders, I guarantee it. ___ If you need help with content creation and storytelling, send me a DM. We can help you strategize, film, edit, and create content on a regular basis.

Brian Raines thoughtfully explains the continuing challenges faced by those of us who come to the profession from atypical circumstances. He also exemplifies the life-changing power of higher education. As we continue to grapple with the many challenges facing higher ed, it is essential to stay focused on stories like Brian's. I often wonder what the world would be like had we not spent most of human history excluding people from education and limiting their potential based on accidents of birth. While we will never know what we could have created, it is clear to me that destroying a system that in a very short time has created incredible intellectual capital, improved the human condition immensely, and overall made our world a better place is foolish. Yes, higher ed needs to be made better. We need to prioritize student success and support, we need to embrace meaningful intellectual diversity, we need to be better citizens of the spaces we occupy. However, there is no scenario in which those shortcomings warrant the wholesale destruction of the best system of education the world has ever known. Many of us on the inside know this and are fighting to protect one of our country's most valuable assets. Those of you on the outside need to join us in the fight. The world's most creative and successful economy was built on the foundation created by higher education. Destroy the foundation and the structure will crumble.

What can TV shows and movies teach us about conflict in family businesses? A lot! Marco Mismetti visited my D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University family business class yesterday ("Examining Family Business Dynamics Through Film") to help us analyze families in shows like The Godfather, Bob's Burgers and CAKE BOSS SA and to teach the class about effective conflict management. Thank you Marco for a great day! I look forward to working together on our conflict in family businesses research! #entrepreneurshipeducation #familybusiness

I had a great time at the ULI Austin breakfast panel discussing UT-Austin's real estate development. It was a fascinating overview of UT's thinking. One thing not really mentioned was the push-and-pull that UT taking a more active roll in real estate development will have with the private market. It seems nearly certain UT will utilize the power of the private market for the construction and delivery of any new housing (i.e. P3s) ....but what of the eventual impact on the broader student housing market, particularly the concentration of housing investment in West Campus? I see UT's involvement (as well as comments made of the Housing Scholarship Pilot Program being a model which may be expanded in the future, thus potentially eventually creating a significant mass of units at a lower rate) as indicative of a need for a strategic pivot on the basic idea behind West Campus. This is why I have previously proposed that it is time to think of the future of West Campus as an Uptown District including high-end condos, in support of downtown (to go with Project Connect) rather than something so concentrated on purpose-built student housing. A mix, or "town and gown" model is probably the best future for that neighborhood. This means continuing the trend of increasing land values, allowing the energy of private equity investment to continue unabated. This proposal is a part of the same larger model as the Scholarship Pilot Program, and indeed an Uptown District supports and is symbiotic with the Pilot Program. As such a process would necessarily play out over a 5-10+ year period, UT could continue to gradually expand its own portfolio of housing for its students and increase the stipends available through the Pilot Program without adversely affecting the private market, which by then would begin to deliver a product with higher-end tech workers in mind. The long-term, gradual approach seems the most prudent. There is another symbiosis at play here, which is that a successful Uptown district housing tech workers would protect the tremendous investment that has been made in downtown commercial real estate from economic downturns (San Francisco, anyone?) A revision to the design guidelines of West Campus could also include greater requirements that the first floor of buildings be accessible to the public, rather than lobbies as so many of those buildings are. Having a more natural street life in that neighborhood should correlate with lower crime.

In the spirit of our school's commitment to empowering students for success, I'd like to commend our Executive Director, Dr. Stauffer, for his article highlighting the importance of partnerships in preparing our high school students for the future. The article captures the collaborative efforts between various educational partners, including local businesses, educators, counselors, administrators, and industry representatives, to ensure that no student is left behind in their pursuit of valuable skills and opportunities. Dr. Stauffer emphasizes the important role of Career and Technology Centers in providing high-quality education that equips students with practical, hands-on learning experiences. By partnering with local businesses and industry, our centers bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, preparing students for success in college, postsecondary training, the military, or the workforce. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on the alignment of curriculum with industry standards, the provision of industry-standard tools and equipment, and the opportunity for students to earn nationally recognized certifications. These initiatives not only enhance students' understanding of their chosen fields but also cultivate a skilled workforce that contributes to the prosperity of Berks County. The article highlights the importance of early engagement and informed decision-making for students, facilitated through career presentations, campus tours, and open house events. By fostering positive relationships and collaboration with local partners, our school ensures that students are well-prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow's workforce. Dr. Stauffer's article supports the commitment of our school and community to empowering the next generation of skilled workers and leaders. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about these opportunities to reach out to the Berks Career and Technology Center or the Reading/Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center. Together, we are shaping a bright future for our students and our community.

President of Montclair State University, Jonathan Koppell, joins Steve Adubato to talk about the recent merger with Bloomfield College and the importance of higher education. Go watch this episode of State Of Affairs now: https://lnkd.in/eNcKZUeB #CIANJ #steveadubato #stateofaffairs

An innovative approach to engaging student and family in financial literacy and wealth planning process!