20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum: Urban Leadership for the 21st Century

Event Recap: 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum at Penn IUR

The Penn Institute for Urban Research marked a major milestone with the 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum, themed "Urban Leadership for the 21st Century." Held in Philadelphia, the forum honored global leaders transforming cities toward a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future with the 2025 Lawrence C. Urban Leadership Prize. 

The gathering celebrated two decades of Penn IUR’s impact while spotlighting emerging and established leaders shaping urban life today. University of Pennsylvania President J. Larry Jameson opened the event with reflections on the Institute’s evolution. “What this Institute has accomplished in its first two decades is not only striking but impactful,” Jameson said. He applauded Penn IUR’s global partnerships, policy leadership, and commitment to both local and international urban challenges. 

This year’s Prize recognized three visionary urban leaders:

• Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, was honored for her bold efforts to digitize the city’s property tax system, enabling sustainable revenue generation amid rapid urban expansion. Her plan, #TransformFreetown, has become a model for cities globally. With support from the World Bank, it is now being scaled nationally and has been recognized by The Economist. Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership is rooted in environmental advocacy and climate resilience. “There will always be resistance to the things that make our cities better,” she said. “But the job of mayors is to stand strong, to bring development, and to fight climate change.” As co-chair of C40 Cities, she continues this mission on the global stage—and recently launched a presidential campaign in Sierra Leone.
• Patrick Harker, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, emphasized the centrality of hope and inclusive economic development to urban prosperity. “Without hope, the economy doesn’t grow,” he said. Harker highlighted initiatives such as the Anchor Economy Initiative and the Janet Yellen Award-winning ROCK Cohorts, which help communities translate research into action. His message: the Fed’s mission extends beyond interest rates to encompass regional development, partnerships, and pathways to employment.
• Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, shared his vision of cities as engines of equality. His tenure saw the development of world-renowned infrastructure including the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, green public spaces, and libraries in underserved areas. “Urban policy is ultimately about dignity,” he said, underscoring his belief that cities can level the playing field through inclusive design. 

Three outstanding undergraduate students, Nikita Bharati (C’25), Griffin Pitt (C’26), and Skyla Rimple (C’26), were also celebrated with the Nussdorf Student Awards for their dedication to urban research and leadership through Penn IUR’s student programs. 

A distinguished group of past honorees attended, including Henry Cisneros, Michael Nutter, Sheela Patel, and Jaime Pumarejo, showcasing IUR’s reach into urban spaces around the world. Co-directors Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter closed the forum with a call to continue Penn IUR’s mission: advancing research, leadership, and connection in pursuit of cities that serve all.