Opening Plenary – Design Matters: Shaping a Better Future for Our Cities

Welcome – Leslie S. Richards, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

Called to Impact, Poem by Emmanuella R. Myrthil, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

Keynote –  Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, NCARB, SEED, LEED AP BD+C, 2024 President, American Institute of Architects, Director of Strategic Relationships, HOK, Chicago, IL

This is a vital moment to focus on life in cities, to dream, design, and build a welcoming future for the estimated 2.5 billion additional people coming to urban centers over the next 25 years. In this Mpact Keynote, Kimberly Dowdell, architect and advocate for equitable development and design excellence, highlights the essential role of design in preserving and creating vibrant, healthy, resilient and equitable urban spaces. Drawing on insight from her work on revitalization in Detroit and in leading global initiatives at HOK, Dowdell explores how Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) and the AIA’s Chief Architect Initiative can optimize urbanization around the globe. Learn about innovative design strategies that can bridge gaps in accessibility and sustainability, ultimately fostering resilient and interconnected communities that will thrive for generations to come. Kick off Mpact Transit + Community 2024 with this foundational idea: community engagement, planning and design can shape a better future for our cities in 2050 and beyond.

Closing – Dorval R. Carter, Jr., President, Chicago Transit Authority / Mpact Board Member, Chicago, IL