ABNY uses its signature programs–Power Events, special briefings, educational events, Young Professionals programming, ABNY Women events, and special projects–to bolster civic engagement for all New Yorkers.
ABNY Member Events offer an opportunity for elected and government officials, as well as civic and business leaders, to present the ideas and policies they believe can help advance a better New York.
The ABNY Young Professionals network cultivates unique opportunities, online and in person, for the future leaders of New York City to explore the importance of civic engagement and learn about the critical issues facing our city and state.
ABNY Women uses its platform for women to explore, discuss, and foster change in the workplace and beyond through a series of events and talks by female leaders.
ABNY special projects build on the foundation created by the Census 2020 effort and work with community-based organizations to support and strengthen the most vulnerable New Yorkers and communities across the city and state.
To view photos from our past events, please visit the ABNY Flickr page here.
Senator Schumer took the ABNY stage to discuss the year ahead in Washington, the impact of the government shutdown, and the ways in which actions at the federal level impact New York.
Senator Schumer took the ABNY stage to discuss the year ahead in Washington, the impact of the government shutdown, and the ways in which actions at the federal level impact New York.
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver discussed his personal and professional journey, his current position of overseeing nearly 30,000 acres of parkland, and his vision for New York.
Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President and Director of National Programs for the Trust for Public Land, and former commissioner of the NYC Parks Department, presented on public private partnerships as a means to revive parks and communities in cities. Chris Levendos, Vice President of Network Engineering and Operations at Crown Castle, followed with a presentation [...]
ABNY hosted an informative discussion on the changes to the 2020 Census and the ways the City and the State are working to ensure an accurate count. Assemblymember Marcus Crespo, Council Members Carlina Rivera and Carlos Menchaca, Director of the Census for NYC, Julie Menin, and Head of the Population Division at the Department of [...]
ABNY hosted an informative discussion on the changes to the 2020 Census and the ways the City and the State are working to ensure an accurate count. Assembly member Marcus Crespo, Council Members Carlina Rivera and Carlos Menchaca, Director of the Census for NYC, Julie Men in, and Head of the Population Division at the [...]
For this installment of the ABNY University series, Michael Aaron McKenna Miller, Senior Advisor at Assemble, political consultant, and digital marketing expert, outlined successful campaign strategies as applied to political and grassroots lobbying campaigns.
Governor Cuomo spoke about the region’s infrastructure challenges and the need for increased funding and changes to the way that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates.
Governor Cuomo spoke about the region's infrastructure challenges and the need for increased funding and changes to the way that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates.
ABNY hosted a lively discussion between Young Professionals (YPs) who debated the merits and drawbacks of the Amazon HQ2 deal in Long Island City. Group discussions were facilitated by experts Maria Doulis, Citizens Budget Commission; Purnima Kapur, formerly of the Department of City Planning (DCP); Regina Myer, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership; Sarni Nairn, Lyft; and Matthew [...]
The YPs joined Frances Bronet, President of Pratt Institute, at the Manhattan campus where she discussed her career, Pratt's mission and current initiatives, and her insight into civic engagement and leadership.
Jeff Barker, Metro Segment Executive and New York State President for Bank of America, shared his journey to his current role and provided the YPs with insight into life at Bank of America.
ABNY partnered with the Regional Plan Association (RPA) and the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management to host a breakfast meeting where Senator Schumer shared his vision for infrastructure and underscored the importance of the Gateway Program.
ABNY partnered with the Regional Plan Association (RPA) and the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management to host a breakfast meeting where Senator Schumer shared his vision for infrastructure and underscored the importance of the Gateway Program.
YPs were invited to join David Van Zandt, President of the New School, to discuss the university's distinctive vision to use its 100-year legacy of "new" to respond to dramatic shifts in the education landscape.
The deans leading the schools of engineering at three of the City's prestigious universities: Gilda Barbino, City College; Jelena Kovacevic, New York University; and Mary Cunningham Boyce, Columbia University shared their experiences as the first female deans at their universities as well as their visions for the future of their respective institutions in a panel [...]
Director of DCP and Chair of the City Planning Commission Marisa Lago held a candid conversation on her career path and experience as the City Planning Commission Chair.
Real estate developer Harry Macklowe offered ABNY YPs the unique opportunity to view and to discuss his proposal for a new building which would be the tallest in Midtown Manhattan.
Patrick Orecki of the Citizens Budget Commission provided an analysis of the New York State budget process and an update on the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Council Member Powers discussed his path to public service and his legislative vision for New York City and his district compromising the East Side and Midtown Manhattan
In honor of Earth Day, YPs worked with Hudson River Park Friends Green Team to participate in gardening and maintenance projects. Volunteers engaged in a team building activity to connect to the park and nearby communities.
YPs gathered to watch the Netflix documentary, Knock Down the House, featuring four women running for Congress in the 2018 elections. Viewers then participated in a lively discussion after the film.
Jessica Yager, former Executive Director of NYU's Furman Center and current Vice President of Policy and Planning at Women In Need, led an informational discussion regarding State rent regulations and proposals to change current laws.
NY1's Grace Rauh gave insight into New York City politics. Through her lens as a journalist, she led a discussion on issues facing women in the workplace and in positions of leadership.
Generation Citizen hosted "Civics Day " where students from public high schools citywide presented their action projects to YPs and other community leaders.
ABNY convened a discussion on the future of employment and economic development opportunities in NYC with Jonathan Bowles, Center for an Urban Future; Purnima Kapur, formerly of DCP; Gail Mellow, LaGuardia Community College; Seth Pinsky, RXR Realty; and NYC Council Member Ritchie Torres.
YPs participated in a guided debate on proposals to change the current NYC specialized high schools admissions policy. Small group discussions were facilitated by Micah Lasher, Sidewalk Labs; Jeanette Moy, Public Health Solutions; Gitte Peng, Queens Public Library; and Dennis Walcott, Queens Public Library.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul reflected on her experiences leading up to becoming Lieutenant Governor, the challenges of being a working and traveling mother, and balancing it all.
Moses Gates, Vice President for Housing and Neighborhood Planning at RPA and Angela Pinsky, Executive Director at ABNY, talked about the recent legislative changes to rent regulations and implications for New Yorkers.
ABNY gathered policy experts to break down the impact of the 2019 legislative session on NYC. Topics and speakers were: climate change with Miles Farmer, NRDC; micro-mobility with Assemblymember Nily Rozic; prevailing wage with Zachary Steinberg, REBNY; sports betting with Katharine Neer, Greenberg Traurig; drivers' licenses for undocumented immigrants with Steve Choi, New York Immigration [...]
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York invited YPs on an exclusive tour to learn more about the bank's roles and responsibilities in the public and private sectors and to catch a glimpse of the world's largest accumulation of gold.
The YPs toured the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm and spoke with Gwen Schantz, Co Founder and Chief Creative Officer, about the farm's development and how to promote sustainable living and local ecology through food, education, and events.
Governors Island's Vice President of Public Affairs, Sarah Krautheim, and Director of Operations Planning and Sustainability, Mollie McGinnis, led a tour of the one-time military base. They shared the island's history, from its transformation into one of NYC's top summer destinations to its plan to keep the island open year round.
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop discussed his experiences in government, the path to his current position, and some of SBS's ongoing initiatives.
First Deputy Comptroller Alaina Gilligo provided an inside look at the Comptroller's office. She explained how the office safeguards the city's fiscal health, roots out waste, fraud, and abuse in local governments, and ensures that municipal agencies serve the needs of all New Yorkers.
Barnard College President Sian Beilock discussed her critically acclaimed book, Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting it Right When You Have To. She showed attendees what happens to our brains when we experience performance anxiety and provided tips for how to combat it.
Commissioner James P. O'Neill highlighted the challenges in sustaining the city's historic crime reductions amid an evolving political climate and examined public safety as a responsibility shared by everyone who lives and works in the nation's safest big city.
ABNY examined the Charter Revision proposals put forth on the November ballot. Gail Benjamin, Chair of the NYC Charter Revision Commission and Carl Weisbrod, Charter Revision Commissioner and Senior Advisor of HR&A, led a discussion moderated by Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies.
Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), David A. Hansell, outlined the functions of ACS and the efforts to bring the child welfare system into the 21st Century.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of L&L MAG MaryAnne Gilmartin discussed her career path, her high-profile real estate projects, and her vision for NYC development.
Public Advocate Williams took the ABNY stage for the first time as Public Advocate. He shared his priorities for the City and his vision for how the Public Advocate's Office can help accomplish those goals for residents.
In partnership with the NYC Campaign Finance Board, ABNY held a policy brief to explain Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Dr. Carlo Prato, assistant professor of Political Science at Columbia University, and Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, helped the YPs better understand how RCV works.
Silvercup Studios offered ABNY an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour with Chief Executive Officer Alan Suna. Mr. Suna led the ABNY Members and YPs through various soundstages and discussed the future of the film industry in NYC.
YPs rode the NYC Ferry from Wall Street to Bay Ridge, with Anastasija Kuprijanova, Manager of Business Development at Hornblower. Ms. Kuprijanova talked about the features and amenities offered, as well as the management and launch of the NYC Ferry service.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams discussed his path to office and how his personal experiences shaped his perspective on issues such as health, education, and public safety.
ABNY held an exclusive tour of the Port Authority's New Jersey Marine Terminal. Michael Bozza, General Manager of the New Jersey Marine Terminal, gave a "Port 101" explanation and guided tour of the facilities.
Along with Tech:NYC and RPA, ABNY held a presentation to announce The David Prize, a monetary prize for five visionary New Yorkers working to create a better and brighter city. Executive Director for The David Prize, Erika Boll, explained the application process and criteria of the prize.
Panelists explained Environmental, Social, and Governance investing and finance, institutions' goals on these key themes, and the current regulatory environment and its implications. Vicki Cerullo, Bloomberg LP, moderated the conversation with Michael Garland, Office of the New York City Comptroller; Mark Hays, J.P. Morgan Asset Management; and Valerie Smith, Citi.
Sulin Carling, Senior Planner in Economic Development and Real Estate at DCP, presented on recent retail trends and storefront vacancies across the city in the context of shifting technology, economic forces, and consumer preferences.
ABNY with New York Counts 2020 and in partnership with Labor Counts! hosted the NYC Census Summit 2019 which brought together nearly 400 leaders and organizers from community-based organizations, government, and the private sector, all working to get out the count. NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, NYC Census Director Julie Menin, Council Member Carlina Rivera [...]
In partnership with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, ABNY hosted an event to celebrate the world renowned museum's 150th anniversary. President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Weiss addressed the museum's successes, its role as a global cultural institution, and its approach to navigating the challenges of evolving responsibilities in philanthropy. He then participated in a [...]
ABNY Executive Vice President Melva Miller presented a one-pager to help the borough Chambers of Commerce to engage their membership around the 2020 Census and outlined a series of actions businesses can take, including everything from posting on social media to designating Census Days to encourage participation. Attendees learned how businesses not only stand to [...]
ABNY and the NYC Employment and Training Coalition co-hosted an event at Hunter College to highlight how City and business leaders can come together to raise awareness about the Census job application process, requirements, and training. Workforce development leaders who attended the program received additional information on positions available to job seekers in their communities [...]
Carolyn Grossman Meagher, Director of Regional Planning at DCP, presented the "Geography of Jobs" report analyzing regional growth constraints as the economy expands faster than the housing supply. A panel discussion followed with Jonathan Bowles, Center for an Urban Future; Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive; Ruben Dfaz Jr., Bronx Borough President; Ingrid Gould Ellen, NYU; [...]
Governor Cuomo previewed the 2020 infrastructure and transportation agenda and unveiled the creation of the Empire Station Complex and improvements to the areas surrounding Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.
Michael Burger, Executive Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, discussed the history of climate change court cases and how the issue has been litigated, both in the U.S. generally, and in New York specifically. Following the presentation, Ellis Calvin, Data Research Manager with the Regional Plan Association and [...]
Borough President Adams spoke about his priorities for New York City and his vision for the future, covering topics from criminal justice to educational and economic opportunities for all communities.
Ms. De Constanzo discussed her career path and her policy work addressing climate pollution, energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and clean transportation.