New York City Economic Development Corporation
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Types
Climate Justice/Energy Equity, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy
Year
2022
Location
New York, NY
Summary
Working with Smart and Sustainable Cities, Gardner worked to develop human-centered systems and processes that internalize and replicate equity advances recognized during the Offshore Wind project.
Goals
Gardner's work included a case study to help EDC “tell the story” of their community led initiative, and highlight areas of potential improvement for the future, revisiting a Racial Equity Tool that had been developed for EDC previously and iterating on it to build a more fluid and functional Social Responsibility Tracker.
Solutions
Gardner used his understanding of Game Theory to assist internal stakeholders. As part of a Capstone Project team with interns, Gardner built a "Zero Displacement policy template" to offset the increase in property values that result in government investment and often disrupt the lives of low-income residents.
Potential Impact
Gardner worked with the Innovation arm of EDC as an advocate for more outreach and support to marginalized communities, giving them access to start-up best practices coming out of UC Berkeley, including Open Innovation and Business Model Innovation, and broadening the scope and accessibility of diversity outreach and training to include neurodiversity and other impacted minorities.