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Open.Ed: Think Global, Act Local: Climate Action in an Uncertain Time

Join us for a livestream conversation to explore the exciting progress being made in climate action and sustainability, both locally and nationally.

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Hear from leaders committed to advancing this work across various fields, including policy, research, technology, and design. While acknowledging the challenges in this space, our focus will be on celebrating the victories—both large and small—that give us hope and inspiration. This discussion aims to introduce our children to bold, transformative ideas and the dedicated individuals working to bring them to life, helping to foster optimism for a sustainable future.

Featuring

Moderator: Adam Freed

https://associates.bloomberg.org/about/

Adam helped lead New York City’s sustainability efforts from 2008-2012, serving the Acting and Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. As part of PlaNYC, the City’s long-term sustainability plan, New York City planted one million trees, created more than 240 new community playgrounds, enacted the nation’s most aggressive green buildings legislation, achieved the cleanest air quality in over 50 years, announced the largest expansion of its recycling program in 25 years, launched a $2 billion green infrastructure program, and lowered its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 14%. At Bloomberg Associates, he works with mayors to craft and implement sustainability strategies and actions covering a wide range of issues, including energy, GHG mitigation, climate resilience, housing affordability, green infrastructure, air quality, and solid waste.

Prior to joining Bloomberg Associates, Adam was the Deputy Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Global Water Program, where he worked to help cities around the world have safe, sustainable, and reliable water supplies. In addition to his time with City government, Adam was an Assistant Comptroller in the Office of the New York State Comptroller, where he led the review of large-scale economic development projects and crafted corporate governance strategies for the $150 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund.

Adam Freed

Principal, Bloomberg Associates

https://nyclimateexchange.org/about-us/

Victoria Cerullo most recently served in roles across New York City
government as Senior Advisor to the First Deputy Mayor, Deputy Director of
Strategic Partnerships, and Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of
Climate & Environmental Justice. She began her career in the Bloomberg
Administration, first as a Director in the Mayor's Community Affairs
Unit, Legislative Representative in the Office of City Legislative Affairs, and
Chief of Staff to the NYC Parks Commissioner. Victoria was also part of a
team assembled by Mayor Bloomberg to manage Superstorm Sandy recovery.

Her roles in philanthropy and the private sector have spanned sustainability,
news, financial products, operations, and government innovation. Victoria
received her MPA from Columbia University's School of International and
Public Affairs.

Victoria Curello

Director of Urban Engagement, The New York Climate Exchange

https://www.sdclgroup.com/about-us/

Lolita Jackson MBE is the Executive Director of Sustainable Cities and is the link to governments around the world, also working on media relations, COP, UN and climate and business network engagement.

Lolita previously worked for the NYC Mayor’s Office for 15 years in a variety of roles. She last served as the Special Advisor for Climate Policy & Programs, where she was the climate diplomat for NYC and lead for the administration regarding global work on divestment and climate finance. Prior to her appointment to that role, she was Deputy Director of External Affairs for the NYC Housing Recovery Office, Director of Outreach for the NYC Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency [the post-Hurricane Sandy resilience team], lead for operational city agencies for the Second Avenue Subway and Barclays Center construction projects, and Manhattan Director of Community Affairs. Prior to her tenure in the NYC Mayor’s Office, Lolita worked for Morgan Stanley Investment Management for 12 years as a Vice President and helped manage a $10 billion product line. Lolita is a Visiting Fellow at Penn Perry World House, a global think tank, in the areas of climate diplomacy and climate finance, and is an inaugural member of the Perry World House Policy Advisory Board. Lolita is the Chair of the British American Project U.S. Advisory Board, a fellow of the US-Japan Leadership Program, a Trustee and Executive Committee Member of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, Trustee Emerita of Children’s Aid, a member of the Saint Andrew’s Society of NY, President of the Penn Alumni Class of 1989, and immediate past U.S. Chair of the Royal Society of Arts. She is also a professional singer, appearing on four continents and at Carnegie Hall.

Lolita is an alumna of the Penn School of Engineering, majoring in Applied Science with a concentration in Chemical Engineering.

Lolita Jackson

Executive Director, Sustainable Cities

https://sidewalkinfra.com/about

David leads policy for SIP, building public-private partnerships to deliver value to national, regional, and local governments and communities.

Over two decades at the intersection of the public and private sectors, David has built cross-sector programs to support innovation. He was previously Principal at HR&A Advisors and co-founder of the Broadband Equity Partnership, where David designed digital and social infrastructure to close the digital divide. Before that, he co-founded the Connected Communities practice at Intersection, developing technology strategies for neighborhood-scale real estate developments. David’s public sector leadership includes serving as Vice President for Urban Innovation & Sustainability for the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Earlier in his career, he was an analyst at the Federal Reserve, following experience as a telecommunications entrepreneur.

David holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA in Economics from Williams College.