Working Collaboratively for Resilient Communities

Session Summary: Abby Sullivan, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Philadelphia, presents an overview of the city’s resilience initiatives and how the Office of Sustainability is working with communities and City staff to prepare and mitigate the effects of climate change. Abby shares an overview of several projects that span different scales, from the neighborhood-level to citywide policies and programs. She highlights the process to update Philadelphia’s Climate Resilience Plan, which includes updated climate projections and vulnerability assessments and the launch of an equitable, inclusive public engagement process. She is then joined by Michelle Feldman, Executive Director, East Falls Development Corporation; Caleb Stratton, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Hoboken, NJ; Karen Thompson, Director of Planning, Policy, & Engagement, Delware River Waterfront Corporation; and Erica Smith Fichman, City Forester, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation for a panel discussion on collaborative efforts being taken in Philadelphia and the successes in Hoboken, NJ.