 August 2026 Newsletter Have you been wondering if CPI is doing a Fall course?The answer is yes!Applications are open until Sunday, August 30th at 11:59pm.Apply today or tell your friends!View the application  Thank you to everyone who attended Donna’s Third Act Celebration! It was a special afternoon celebrating Donna Carney and her many years of leadership at CPI. Check out some of the photos from the event.Citizen Planners are on the Move!  A new Citizens Planning in Action story has been posted. Check out what Katie Monroe is up to with SEPTA!J.J. Tiziou (Spring 2017) has an article about him published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, “City Limits” written by Trey Popp.Kadafi El-Kardah was named Citizen of The Week by the Philadelphia Citizen. Read about it here! Upcoming Events & Opportunities  Tree Forward Grants: Implementation of the Philly Tree Plan The Philly Tree Coalition is offering grants to community based organizations for projects that advance the goals of Tree Forward and support a healthier, more equitable urban forest. Most awards will range from $5,000–$35,000, with priority given to projects in high-need areas of Philadelphia. Apply by August 24 at 9 a.m.Lessons Learned Over 10 Years of BUILDING BETTER BLOCKSAugust 25, 11 AM Executive Director of Better Block, Krista Nightengale, discusses learned lessons from a decade of transforming streets and vacant lots into places people want to spend time. Along the way, Krista will challenge some common assumptions about economic development, walkability, community engagement, and what it really takes to create places people love. Register through zoom.  Funky Philly Facades: Neighborhood Signs, Sages and StorefrontsSeptember 9, 6-8:00 PM Explore the signs, storefronts, materials, and architectural details that give Philadelphia’s commercial corridors their distinctive character. This Preservation Alliance program takes a closer look at neighborhood identity and the everyday buildings that help define our city. Register here! Urban Resilience Forum: Building the Next 250September 24, 12-6 PM Join over 100 practitioners from across the real estate industry, including development, architecture, design, nonprofit, and government sectors, to share best practices for a more resilient and sustainable Philadelphia. What does it mean to build buildings, neighborhoods, and systems that continue to serve communities under changing climate and resource conditions? The program will highlight projects and studies that demonstrate how resilience can be embedded into the built environment today. It will focus on real examples of work that already incorporate resilience and adaptability, particularly at the intersection of building performance, energy systems, housing, and long-term stewardship. More information and registration here!  Public Space Enhancement Mini GrantHave an idea for improving a public space in your neighborhood? Applications for the Public Space Enhancement Mini Grant are now open. Learn more and apply by Saturday, October 3  PHDC Annual Housing FairSaturday, September 26, 10-3pm Connect with housing resources, City programs, lenders, legal services, housing counselors, and more at PHDC’s free annual Housing Fair! It’s a useful event for anyone interested in homeownership, renting, home repair, or housing opportunities in Philadelphia. Register through eventbrite! Designing the Future of Fairmount Park: Vision, Stewardship, and Partnership for Philadelphia’s Signature Public SpaceSeptember 9, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM, 320 South Broad Street The new CEO of Fairmount Park, Tony Sorrentino, will share his vision for the future of Philadelphia’s largest and most significant public landscape. He will explore how thoughtful leadership, design excellence, environmental stewardship, and community engagement can shape the park’s next chapter. RSVP here.  Trail Master Plan The City is developing a new Trail Master Plan to guide the future of trail planning in Philadelphia! Take the survey to inform the plan. Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a random drawing to win one of five $25 gift cards. The drawing will close on August 31st. Also the Youth Photo Contest for Trails has been extended! Learn more and submit your photos by October 1st.Job OpportunitiesFall 2026 internships with Department of Planning and Zoning:Comprehensive Plan InternCommunications InternCitizens Planning Institute InternLegislation Planning Intern PeopleShare: Community Resource Connector Southwest CDC : Community Engagement Specialist Office of State Rep Sierra McNeil: HD 195 District Office Resume Bank New Kensington CDC: Taking Care of Business Corridor Manager, Taking Care of Business Corridor Coordinator Kensington Corridor Trust: Controller Hexagon Studio Architects: Architectural Designer Intern with Office of Councilmember Gauthier The Common Wheel: Executive Director Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia: Manager of Business Attraction and Expansion Committee of Seventy: Senior Director of External Affairs Center City District: Urban Designer, Event Operations Team Lead, Community Service Representative Manager Whitman, Requardt & Associates: Transportation and Community Planning Leader Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office: Community Engagement Liaison, Program Coordinator, Juvenile Diversion Unit Power Interfaith: Part-time organizer Research & Information Analyst 1 (Public Safety) Consider making a tax-deductible contribution! Click “support this project” on the CPI page on the Philadelphia City Fund website.Donations will go towards scholarships, increasing support for CPI alumni, and expand CPI programming beyond the biannual course. citizensplanninginstitute.org |
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