Thank you to all the speakers, sponsors, and attendees who participated in the 2021 Assembly!

The RPA Assembly, May 3-7, 2021

The challenges we’ve all faced in the past year have shown us how interdependent the tri-state region is and how unprotected our most vulnerable residents are. How we collectively respond to shifting trends will determine whether we thrive as a region or exacerbate divisions and inequities. From adjusting to working from home to fixing broken institutions, transformational change will require interconnected responses in transportation, culture, education, housing, technology, and health.

Regional Plan Association has long taken an interdisciplinary approach to the challenges and opportunities facing our region. This experience and knowledge are necessary to create a more equitable, prosperous, and resilient future. Please join us for the 2021 Assembly as we gather experts from across the country to explore and plan for our region’s health, economy, housing, climate, open spaces, and infrastructure.

Sessions

Awards

2021 John Zuccotti Award - Rick Cotton

RPA’s highest award for leadership in the region is named after John E. Zuccotti, a long-serving member of the RPA Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Presented each year at RPA’s annual Assembly, the award recognizes a leader who has made extraordinary contributions to the built environment of the tri-state metropolitan region.

Learn more

Presented to

Rick Cotton

Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Speakers

Rohit Aggarwala

Chief Climate Officer and Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Daniel Aldana Cohen

Assistant Professor of Sociology & Director, Socio-Spatial Climate Collaborative, UPenn
Peggy Shepard

Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Donnel Baird

Founder, BlocPower
Zabe Bent

Director of Design, NACTO
The Honorable Earl Blumenauer

U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District
Sara Bronin

Thomas F. Gallivan Chair in Real Property Law & Faculty Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Law at UConn
Tamika Butler

Founder + Principal, Tamika L. Butler Consulting, LLC
Don Chen

President, Surdna Foundation
The Honorable Henry Cisneros

Chairman & Co-CIO American Triple I Partners, Partner & Vice Chairman, Siebert Wlliams Shank & Co. LLC A Shank Williams Cisneros Company
The Honorable Sheena Collum

Village President, South Orange, NJ
Dave Daly

President, PSE&G
Katie Dykes

Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Pat Foye

Chairman & CEO, MTA
The Honorable Pete Harckham

New York State Senator (D - 40)
The Honorable Andy Kim

US Representative for the Third Congressional District of New Jersey
Katy Knight

Executive Director, Siegel Family Endowment
Dr. Tiffany Manuel

President and CEO, TheCaseMade
Dr. Cecilia Martinez

Senior Director for Environmental Justice, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Jose Ortiz, Jr.

CEO, New York City Employment and Training Coalition
Dr. Herminia Palacio

President & CEO, Guttmacher Institute
Damon Rich

Partner, Hector
The Honorable Donovan Richards

Queens Borough President
Tiffany-Ann Taylor

Deputy Director of Freight Programs, Education & Research for Freight Mobility Unit, New York City Department of Transportation
Kevin Thorpe

Chief Economist, Cushman & Wakefield
Jed Walentas

Principal of Two Trees Management
Claire Weisz

Principal-in-Charge, WXY Design Studio
Diane Yentel

President & CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition
Scott Rechler

CEO & Chairman, RXR Realty; Chairman, RPA
Polly Trottenberg

Deputy Secretary, US Department of Transportation
The Honorable Cory Booker

US Senator for New Jersey
Janette Sadik-Khan

Principal, Transportation, Bloomberg Associates
Ernest Tollerson

Board Chair, Riverkeeper
Maria Torres-Springer

NYC Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development
Tom Wright

President & CEO, RPA