On Monday, May 17^th, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA) and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR) will host a panel discussion at the Academy of Natural Sciences on how to ensure that livability is a priority for Philadelphia. A livable community is a neighborhood where families are safe, can enjoy personal and environmental health, can select from a range of transportation, housing and education choices and have access to economic opportunities.

The panel will discuss how Philadelphia can take advantage of federal and local investment opportunities to improve the city’s quality of life for all its residents.

Schwartz and Blumenauer will be joined by Penn Design School’s Penn Praxis and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and the panel will be moderated by Harris M. Steinberg, FAIA of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design.

To provide the city’s perspective on the issue, the panel will include Alan Greenberger, Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning, Economic Development and Director of Commerce. The panelists will also include private developer John Gattuso of Liberty Property Trust; Shawn McCaney of the William Penn Foundation for the philanthropic perspective; and Tony Sorrentino of the University of Pennsylvania to provide the institutional perspective.

The program is cosponsored by the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Center for Environmental Policy as part of its commitment to support public awareness and involvement on sustainability and the environment.

For more information, contact Schwartz’s Philadelphia (215-335-3355) or Montgomery County Office (215-517-6572).

WHO:              Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz

Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Co-Chair of the Livable Communities Task Force

Harris M. Steinberg, FAIA of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design

WHEN:           Monday, May 17^th   

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Academy of Natural Sciences

1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy

Philadelphia, PA 19103

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