Jeremy Nowak Memorial Lecture, The Citizen and the City: Creative Urban Solutions for All

On October 3, Penn IUR hosted a memorial lecture for path-breaking social innovator Jeremy Nowak, entitled “The Citizen and the City: Creative Urban Solutions for All.” The event was a reflection and conversation about Nowak’s enduring work. As founder of the Reinvestment Fund, Nowak pioneered the framework of “new localism,” coordinated Philadelphia's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, and championed the financing of community development as a solution for struggling neighborhoods. Integrating public, private, and non-profit expertise to create shared social and financial good, his work serves as a precedent and template for achieving collective urban prosperity.

Patricia Smith, President and CEO, The Funders' Network, spoke about Nowak’s work and his emphasis on the role of government as part of the solution for improving cities. “[Nowak] often talked about this concept of smart subsidy, which I think at its essence meant: use public resources, which are very scarce, to stimulate and activate market development in a way that is equitable,” said Smith. “[Nowak’s] ark of thinking was to create a sustainable change. You needed organized communities—remember, he started out as an organizer of people. You needed organized capital, where you are bringing the money to bear in a way that makes sense in communities. And then he really built his career working with mayors, thinking about organizing the capacity of cities to deliver these resources in a way that made sense.”

In addition to Patricia Smith, the event’s speakers included Ira Goldstein, President, Policy Solutions, The Reinvestment Fund, and Governor Edward Rendell. Across their respective fields, all three speakers have advanced similar causes with their missions of igniting positive urban growth for the benefit of all.