Preparing Philadelphia’s Leaders for a Critical Transition
Services: Project Management / Stakeholder Engagement / Program Design
As Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration took office in 2024, her team and newly elected members of Philadelphia City Council needed a clear understanding of Philadelphia’s municipal finance and policy landscape. This knowledge was essential to support a smooth transition, navigate complex policy and budget decisions, and identify opportunities for innovation.
The Pew Charitable Trusts hosted the City Budget and Policy Workshop series for incoming senior leadership and City Council members, with support from Rvesta Consulting and Anavi Strategies.The series was designed to equip elected officials and senior staff with the tools, shared knowledge, and collaborative space needed to make evidence-based decisions that advance equity, efficiency, and innovation in city government.
Held in-person from mid-November 2023 through mid-January 2024, session topics spanned municipal finance, public policy, infrastructure, performance management, economic development, and housing. Each workshop featured local and national experts, panel discussions, and facilitated small-group working sessions. Intended to complement other transition and onboarding programs, the workshops created targeted opportunities for cross-office coordination, exploration of innovative approaches, and the cultivation of a citywide culture of data-driven, equitable policymaking. With strong participation from council members and the mayor’s team during a critical political transition, the series became a valued forum for collaboration and learning.
Participant Feedback:
“[The program] provided a format where we could have necessary discussions about issues facing the city without fear of judgment and/or finger-pointing. Developing a shared understanding of those issues is essential to figuring out how to address them.”
“Whether it’s community organizations or community members, no one’s talking to us about revenue streams and expenditures and coordinating funding for projects. It was so valuable to be able to talk about things like fiscal responsibility and what’s on the horizon, which I really appreciated”
Continue Reading:
New Philadelphia Leaders Mean Opportunities to Address Pressing Policy Challenges, The Pew Charitable Trusts 2024
