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DUSP Dinners Showcase Alumni of Color in Action

Michael Johnson CP '97

Changing communities is the business of graduates of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP). This spring, a dinner series showcased the work of four alumni who have made an impact—an L.A. housing advocate, an Aspen Institute policy and social change expert, a political scientist working on Latin American policy, and a New York economic development executive.

The DUSP Alumni of Color Dinner Series, which focused on how planners of color can serve minority communities, welcomed Michael Johnson CP '97, assistant vice president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, in March. Johnson's talk focused on bringing personal values into professional work. He urged students to consider place and community in selecting jobs after graduation. Johnson's childhood experience as a public housing resident shaped his values, research, and work. His volunteer work—introducing junior high students in Brooklyn to the urban planning field—is part of his efforts to balance his personal values and occasionally conflicting professional obligations.

Johnson's advice to DUSP students: Inspire people, and be inspired by people. Remember that planning is about building communities and enabling neighborhoods to live up to their potential.

Karen Fulbright-Anderson CP '85

Karen Fulbright-Anderson CP '85, the second Alumni of Color Dinner speaker, earned master's and doctoral degrees from DUSP. She is chair of policy programs and director of the Institute's Roundtable on Community Change at the Aspen Institute. She said her career, which includes stints at the Ford Foundation and teaching at the New School of Social Research, is a product of serendipity, social networks, the desire to not be bored, and of opportunities to work with likable people.

The Roundtable developed the theory of change, which encourages clarity about comprehensive community initiatives and produced a series of publications, which have been influential in the community development field. Under Fulbright-Anderson, the Roundtable is applying the theory of change to issues of racial equity and developed a seminar series to bring together business, government, and non-profit sectors.

Ramón Borges-Méndez CP '88

Ramón Borges-Méndez CP '88, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts' John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, earned a master's and PhD from DUSP. He emphasized the importance of applied research since the needs for education and health care are urgent. His work includes consulting for international organizations and his research focuses on public policy issues ranging from Latino poverty and community development in Massachusetts to decentralization in Latin America.

Borges-Méndez encouraged students to read original sources and contemporary literature written about the periods they are studying. Learning from authentic sources was a valuable part of his MIT education that still helps him identify the originators of economic theories and ideas, he says.

Dora Leong Gallo CP '92, who gave the final talk in April, is CEO of A Community of Friends (ACOF), a Los Angeles-based supportive housing developer. Leong Gallo decided early on to work in public service. While working in a real estate office during high school, she was unable to find an affordable apartment for a single mother and her two children. She has been committed to expanding affordable housing since then.

Dora Leong Gallo CP '92

Leong Gallo described the satisfaction of opening a new housing development and watching formerly homeless residents move into new apartments. ACOF excels at serving the difficult to house population of homeless individuals and families with mental health issues. ACOF has developed 28 buildings and manages in-house services such as mental health services and job counseling that encourage the reintegration of the formerly homeless into mainstream society.

DUSP students who want to lead organizations should take classes in the practical aspects of leadership, like organizational behavior and business management, she recommended. ACOF is a business that is mission-driven and nonprofit. She manages dozens of employees and buildings, as well as development and service contracts, risk, liabilities, and insurance for ACOF.

Beyond the practical, Leong Gallo said integrity and being consistent in behavior and work product are critical. She believes in building partnerships and building the capacity of others. And she has modeled these values in her career choices and work at ACOF.

The series was conceived by members of the Students of Color Committee and organized by Shiben Banerji with support from Kristy Wang and Mary Jane Daly, director of professional development. DUSP, the Graduate Students Office, and Dean Adèle Santos sponsored the series.

Photos and reporting: Lillian Lew-Hailer

April 26, 2006