Bridging Talent and Climate Innovation: How Nature-Based Jobs Can Become Pathways for Economic Mobility
Featuring updated data on the state of nature-based jobs in New York City and key resources.
Building Pathways to Careers Through the Arts
For many young adults, the path from school to a stable career is unclear. Arts-based workforce programs offer a different entry point. Rooted in disciplines from theater and film to design, fashion, music, and digital media, they draw in young people who might never walk through the door of a traditional workforce program. They pair […]
Beyond Point A to Point B: Ambar Wortham on Designing Transportation Around People
“When you learn about someone’s commute, you learn about their life.” For Manager Ambar Wortham, transportation planning is about more than moving people from point A to point B; it’s about understanding the systems, places, and daily experiences shaping how they move. Business Development Manager Susana Pereyra sat down with Ambar to discuss her path […]
Strategic Planning Works Better When It’s Built Together
A strong Strategic Plan should do more than define where an organization wants to go. It should help leaders make decisions, align staff and stakeholders around shared priorities, and create a practical roadmap for turning goals into action. At Public Works Partners, we believe the strongest plans are built with organizations, not simply for them. […]
The Data is Only as Good as the Trust Behind It: What Motivates Residents to Participate in Community Data Efforts
By Adi David Residents in many communities have been asked for input before: a survey about neighborhood safety, a focus group about a new development, an interview for a needs assessment tied to an initiative they never hear about again. They give their honest perspective each time. Each time, nothing visible comes of it. So […]
Freedom Within a Frame: Why Wellbeing Depends on Autonomy and Structure
By Adi David The debate over hybrid work is rarely just about where people sit. It’s a proxy for a deeper organizational question: how much autonomy should employees have over how they do their work, and how much structure does the organization need to function well? Remote days offer flexibility and control; in-office expectations offer […]
Growth With Intention: A Decision Matrix for Nonprofit Leaders
Download Playbook Growth feels like success, but scaling too fast or in the wrong direction can quietly undermine the mission it’s meant to serve. Public Works Partners’ Growth With Intention Decision Matrix gives nonprofit leaders a clear, structured way to pressure-test any expansion decision before committing. Organized around three critical lenses—strategic alignment, organizational capacity, and […]
Fan Zones, Foot Traffic, and Equity: Who Really Benefits When the World Comes to NYC?
The Excitement is Real, but so are the Questions By Adi David The world has come to New York City this summer, and the excitement is palpable. The FIFA World Cup is one of the largest sporting events on the planet, and for a few weeks this June and July, NYC will be at the […]
The Public Housing Resident Engagement Playbook: From Resident Outreach to Resident Partnership for Stronger Communities and More Successful Housing Investments
Download Playbook Successful public housing initiatives depend on more than compliance. They require trust, partnership, and meaningful resident participation. Public Works Partners helps housing authorities, planners, and community organizations design engagement strategies that build credibility, strengthen relationships, and drive better project outcomes. Our Public Housing Resident Engagement Playbook offers a practical roadmap for moving beyond […]
From Finals to Fieldwork: A Conversation with Public Works’ Graduating “Cohort”
Over the past year, Seth Satterlee, Sher Gallo Netto, Hannah Ford, Laura Muñoz, and Thea Pan have been balancing a lot. You honestly wouldn’t know it from talking to them because they rarely make a big deal out of it, but this group has been doing the absolute most both inside and outside of work. […]
What Portland Taught Me About Designing for Health and Equity
By Jordan Cosby, WEDG In March, I traveled to Portland, Oregon, for the ULI Health Leaders Network Cohort 9 Introductory Forum—a three-day experience focused on how the built environment shapes health, equity, and well-being. Through site visits, workshops, and conversations with peers across disciplines, the program reinforced the role we play as planners, designers, and […]
Announcing Our Community Meeting Set-Up Guidelines!
Public Works excels at conducting community meetings that run smoothly and meet our high standards for engagement. Drawing on our extensive experience conducting community engagement, this guide serves as a resource to help agencies and partners run community meetings and workshops effectively. Our Community Meeting Set-Up Guidelines provide practical standards and recommendations, with the goal […]
