Here's the amazing work of subscribers to The New Urban Order

Meet your fellow subscribers and take the reader survey

Hi Readers,

As we near the end of the year, I wanted to first say thanks for reading this Substack – this has been a great experience for me, and I hope you as well!

In 2024, I am hoping to test out some new ways of engaging this audience — a podcast and events, for example. But before I do that, I want to learn more about who my readers and subscribers are, and what you all want.

About a week ago, I reached out to paying subscribers to find out who they are and what they are up to. I’ve shared a few of their comments below.

But I also want to learn more about what you’re looking for in this publication. Please click here to take this 5 question survey, which should take you a few seconds to complete. 

Here are some of the fantastic people who are paying subscribers of The New Urban Order. Feel free to add something about you and your work in the comments section below!

• I founded an architecture and design firm called ISA (is-architects.com) that specializes in missing-middle housing, workplace, adaptive reuse and creative spaces in Philly and across the U.S. A new initiative of ours, Meantime, is working as a pop-up brokerage for emerging entrepreneurs and creatives to find under-utilized spaces to amplify local economic loops and activate street life. I teach a graduate-level urban housing design studio at the Weitzman School at the University of Pennsylvania.

• I lead ULI’s Homeless to Housed (H2H) initiative. With this all-new program we are exploring real estate solutions to the growing humanitarian and economic crisis of homelessness. The initiative works by spotlighting best practices through research, technical assistance, and awareness-building activities. ULI’s members bring knowledge, expertise, and experience in real estate development, finance, and operation. This knowledge and know-how, combined with ULI’s mission to create vibrant, sustainable communities, makes it the right organization to assist communities meet the needs of unhoused individuals and families.

• I write Carbon Upfront! which I started to promote my new book, The Story of Upfront Carbon, coming from New Society Publishers in May. Shortly after I started the Substack I was laid off from Treehugger.com, so now the Substack is my main gig, along with promoting my book, and raising awareness about the importance of embodied or upfront Carbon in everything. My previous book, Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle, documented my year of trying to reduce my carbon emissions to below the level we have to average by 2030.

• I write Supernuclear about coliving and generally living near friends. I believe the social fabric of cities is their most important asset, and living more densely is good for the environment, society, and collective health. At Supernuclear, we document best practices and lessons learned from people who live with friends, grandparents, guests, or anyone beyond their 'nuclear' family, from a castle turned creative commune in France to a couple who make their spare room available to friends in need.

• I'm the executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Albany, NY and a small cities enthusiast. I've started writing about housing, neighborhoods and small cities on my new Substack called Neighboring. And I've just started Brave New Home! Happy to have found this community.

• I am supporting the work of Lynn Auerbach and Connect Africa Foundation. Founded as a non-profit in 2005, Connect Africa is a grass roots organization that helps villagers in different regions of Uganda who are struggling to support the children under their care. In Uganda education is not free, and CAF is committed to educating students from nursery school through university or vocational training.

• I lead the Housing & Community Solutions practice at Guidehouse, working with federal, state, and local housing agencies, financial institutions, developers, and health systems. We build solutions to address critical challenges in affordable housing, homelessness, and community resilience, including helping to effectively deliver services and maximize the impact of public funds (for example, the $25B authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act for housing and community development)

I also happen to know several other subscribers who are working in urban think tanks, for local philanthropies, leading public space organizations, teaching in academia, and pursuing all sorts of other fascinating vocations.

I hope you’ll take the survey and share a bit about yourself in the comments!