Karen Abrams, David Lewis Lecture on Urban Design and Social Equity

Karen Abrams joined the City of Pittsburgh as the Director of City Planning in February 2022. In this role, she oversees the City’s work to establish and sustain a consistent approach to land use at the intersection of racial justice, social equity, and climate change. Abrams has a wealth of experience in grantmaking at the neighborhood, city, and regional levels, supporting small-scale vacant lot improvements, managing federal implementation grants, and infusing equity into all projects she is a part of.