Finding Tomorrow’s American Dream in Today’s East Mount Airy/Live Broadcast

Join WURD, Next City and Philadelphia’s Ninth District Councilwoman Cherelle Parker for the second event in Next City’s Philadelphia in Flux series.
New data and reporting produced as part of the series will drive a moderated, interactive discussion about East Mount Airy’s recovery from the mortgage crisis and the future of the city’s middle-class neighborhoods. Audience participation will be encouraged and the conversation will be live broadcast.
This event is free and open to the public. Drinks and appetizers will be served. You must RSVP to attend – click here!
MODERATORS:
Solomon Jones
Host, “Wake Up With WURD”
Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning journalist who has been featured nationally on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” CNN Headline News, in Essence magazine and in a Verizon advertising campaign called “Realize,” which spotlighted entrepreneurs who overcame adversity to succeed.
Ariella Cohen
Editor-in-Chief, Next City
Ariella Cohen is an award-winning journalist with 11 years of experience reporting on urban change, politics and policy. Prior to joining Next City, she co-founded New Orleans’ first online investigative news outlet, The Lens, and worked as a staff reporter for the Brooklyn Paper in New York. She has reported on disaster recovery, urban development and city politics in Port au Prince, Jerusalem and in cities across the U.S. She prefers the bus.
PANELISTS:
Emily Dowdall
Chief of Development and Policy Implementation, The Reinvestment Fund
Emily Dowdall oversees business development for Policy Solutions, as well as conducting research and working with clients to apply the results of that work in support of their efforts to make data-based decisions around the effective application of resources and programs. Prior to The Reinvestment Fund, she held the position of officer with the Philadelphia Research Initiative (PRI) at the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Cherelle Parker
Ninth District City Councilwoman
Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker proudly serves the Ninth Council District in the City of Philadelphia. This region spans throughout northwest and northeast Philadelphia communities that include Mt. Airy, West Oak Lane, East Oak Lane, Olney, Lawncrest, Lawndale, Burholme and Oxford Circle.
Sandy Smith
Journalist
Next City contributor Sandy Smith is an associate editor at Philadelphia magazine. Over the years, his work has appeared in Hidden City Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer and other local and regional publications. His interest in cities stretches back to his youth in Kansas City, and his career in journalism and media relations extends back that far as well.
More panelists to be announced.
This event series is brought to you by Next City in partnership with WURD Radio, and with the support of the William Penn Foundation.