Washington-Area Gentrification,

a Panel Discussion with Mayor Williams

Wednesday, October 15th, 6:30-8:30pm

The City Museum, 801 K Street, NW (Mount Vernon Square)

Gentrification – the influx of high-income individuals into

previously poor neighborhoods – is one of the most important

phenomena shaping 21st-century Washington.

Yet rarely is gentrification discussed with much respect for the

complex group of forces that it represents. This panel discussion,

with experts from the fields of government, development and community

activism, aims to promote a responsible and informative public

dialogue on this contentious issue.

Panelists:

· Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of the District of Columbia

· Al Eisenberg, former chair of the Arlington County Board,

current Vice

President for Government relations at the Washington Board of Trade

and

candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates

· Jim Abdo, president of Abdo Development, a builder of luxury

urban homes in

Washington’s Dupont, Logan Circle and Capitol Hill neighborhoods

· Maria Maldonado, Director of Housing Programs at Casa of

Maryland, an activist

organization for Maryland’s Latino communities

Erik Wemple, editor-in-chief of Washington City Paper and frequent

guest on

WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show, will moderate the discussion.

The event is hosted by the City Museum; The Next American City (a new

magazine

of urban affairs); the Loeb Fellowship of Harvard; and the Washington

City

Paper. It is free with museum admission: $3 adults, $2 students and

seniors.

About the City Museum of Washington, D.C.

Located in the historic Carnegie Library building, the City Museum of

Washington, D.C. is the only museum dedicated solely to the history

of the nation’s capital. The City Museum features a groundbreaking

multimedia show entitled, “Washington Stories;” changing exhibits

currently featuring: “Sandlots to Stadiums: A History of Sports in

Washington, D.C.,” and “Taking a Closer Look: Images from the Albert

Small Collection;” an archaeology lab (opening October 2003); and a

D.C. visitor information center. It is managed by the Historical

Society of Washington, D.C. The City Museum is located at 801 K

Street, NW. For more information call (202) 383-1800 or visit

www.citymuseumdc.org.

About The Next American City

This new national magazine asks, “Where will we go from here?” In a

rapidly changing urban landscape, how can businesses and developers

thrive? How can cities and suburbs expand their economies? And how

can our society successfully address social and environmental

challenges? The Next American City answers these questions with

clear and accessible stories on issues central to how our cities and

suburbs are changing — including but not limited to architecture,

planning and development, transportation, urban economies, housing,

environmental issues, labor issues and workforce development,

education, crime, and religion. The result: a thought-provoking

national magazine that engages not just the planner, architect,

developer, or policy analyst but also the

businessperson, school board member, artist, and community activist.

It’s a conversation that The New York Times correctly dubs a “subtle

plan to change the world.” Find out more and subscribe at

www.americancity.org.

For more information, contact:

Josh Olsen

josh@americancity.org

The Next American City

209 W. 108th St., #11

New York, NY 10025