A Coffee with Ali Sutherland-Brown, Principal

Ali with her daughter Thea

We grabbed coffee with Ali Sutherland-Brown to talk about cities, storytelling, and what it's like to be a working mother. We got some great book and movie recommendations too!

Ali is a Principal at Karp Strategies. As the first employee after Rebecca Karp founded the firm, Ali has been instrumental in helping build the company into what it is today. With over 13 years of industry experience, she previously worked at the NYC Department of City Planning and the Institute of Urban Design. She is a proud Coro Leadership New York graduate and holds degrees in Urban Planning and History/American Studies from MIT and Princeton, respectively. While trained as an urban planner, she is also an ardent advocate for creative and adaptive communication: “A good idea doesn’t mean very much if you can’t communicate it well.” She is also obsessed with behavioral economics and organizational psychology. Karp Strategies could not have grown to where it is today without Ali’s fierce commitment to the company and its people and passion for the work.

How do History and American Studies inform your practice of City Planning?

There’s always context and history you have to appreciate. American Studies is an interdisciplinary subject, and it totally changed my perspective on the different lenses through which you can think about and experience a place. You need to know its streets, its maps, its music, its novels, and its people—just to name a few elements of what ‘place’ really is. This idea is central to my work, and I use it to examine creative ways of understanding. Beyond that, part of the reason I love this field is that while I may be an expert in methodology, I am not an expert about every place we work in. Humility is critical, and my job is to understand the expertise that already exists in communities. You can find all of that if you take an interdisciplinary approach.

How has your experience living in different cities guided your understanding of urban planning?

I didn’t really know what urban planning was in undergrad—I just always knew that I loved cities and had a strong reaction to space. Living in different cities made me realize how much I’m affected by the built environment. For example, when I was an undergrad, I really thought I was going to be a TV writer and producer. But when I spent a summer interning in LA, I realized I just couldn’t live in such a car-centric place. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Chicago, DC, LA, and Ottawa—they are all so different but fundamentally led me to this career. I do this job because I want to positively affect how we experience cities and highlight how place and space affect our physical and mental health.

Why is the craft of writing and storytelling important to your work?

Everything is fundamentally about communication—every job comes down to your ability to communicate well with the people around you. This allows you to get what you need from your job, motivate other people to do their jobs, and be satisfied throughout it all. Ultimately, there is no shortcut to having an open line of communication or establishing empathy with someone—and this is the #1 thing I try to bring to my leadership at the firm and to clients. Just have the conversation. Prepare for it, especially if it’s a tough one. And see the situation from the other person’s perspective before you ever show up in the room. Written communication is also incredibly important because one of our primary jobs as urban planners is communicating the content we’ve created. We’re not doing our jobs effectively if we are not, for instance, writing as crisply and cleanly as we can. ‘Storytelling’ doesn’t have an implication of falsehood, to me—it’s all about getting your message across.

What has been your favorite highlight of working at Karp Strategies?

Growing the company! As someone with a degree in Urban Planning, I never thought that half my job would be helping to build a company from scratch. To the extent that people become urban planners because they’re excited to build something—a park, a facility, a district, a city—this company is what we’ve built. And by ‘we,’ I mean everyone who works—or has worked—here has contributed to its DNA. This has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding experiences of my life. Making Karp Strategies the best company it can be is such an immense but rewarding challenge because if we can do that, then we can keep doing this great work.

Tell me a life-changing moment that helped shape who you are today.

Having my daughter—she’s two years old and is the best person I’ve ever met. Mostly, she makes my life much more complex, and also weirder and more wonderful than I thought possible (you can’t really anticipate the experience of dancing to Cookie Monster’s interpretation of a Swedish electropop beat until it happens to you). As this relates to work, historically in the US, there’s been a mistaken impression that working mothers are distracted and, therefore, less valuable as employees (I highly recommend Jessica Grose’s recent book on the subject). But working mothers are the most efficient and empathetic people you’ve ever met. Falling under the category of ‘cliche for a reason’: parenthood has changed my perspective on everything, including what work can and should be. And for what it’s worth, I’m immensely grateful to work somewhere that doesn’t just tolerate but celebrates my family and intense responsibilities at home.

Fast Facts:

Last TV show I binge-watched: Yellowjackets

Restaurant (delivery) I’d recommend to close friends: Mint Heights

Best concert I’ve ever experienced: Belle & Sebastian

A book that changed me: Anything by Lauren Groff and James Baldwin, Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie), Priestdaddy (Patricia Lockwood), Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Joan Didion), Why We're Polarized (Ezra Klein), The Image of the City (Kevin Lynch)

A movie I’d pay to see again and again: Charade, Rear Window

My heroes are: Nora Ephron, Barack Obama, Kathryn Bigelow, Lorne Michaels, Jean Michel Basquiat, Daniel Kahneman, Holly Whyte

Unlocking the Power of Economic Impact Analysis at Karp Strategies

What we do

At Karp Strategies, we understand that economic development is about people, communities, and creating sustainable growth. Our clients come to us with questions such as: What is the contribution of a certain business or an industry to a region’s economy? What are the characteristics of the jobs created or supported in different sectors as a result of an investment or a policy change? What are the potential supply chain and value chain dynamics of a certain facility? How does an increase in resident population or workforce size impact household spending in a region? These are complex challenges that require a nuanced understanding of the local economy and a clear-eyed view of the trade-offs and risks involved.

That's where our Economic Impact Assessment services come in. Using input-output modeling (I-O) tools like IMPLAN, Lightcast, RIMS II, and JEDI, we help our clients map out the ripple effects of their investments and initiatives across sectors, industries, and communities. Our goal is not just to measure the economic impacts but to help our clients design strategies that align with their values and priorities. We choose the most appropriate tool, or combination of tools, for our client’s needs based on their industry and reporting requirements. Then, work closely with them to evaluate the potential benefits and costs of different projects or initiatives, estimate their return on investment, and identify potential risks and trade-offs.

We also know that hard data only takes you so far—our assessments always include thorough quantitative and qualitative methodologies. For example, we might use IMPLAN to execute our quantitative analysis, while our qualitative study relies on a review of stakeholder interviews and other forms of desktop research. In alignment with our core tenets as a firm, we examine every project from a holistic perspective incorporating data, people, and places. Our rigorous and transparent analysis enables our clients to engage with stakeholders and partners, communicate their value proposition, and ultimately, build a strong case for their economic development strategies.

But we don't stop there. Our approach to economic impact assessment is grounded in our commitment to grassroots economic empowerment. We believe that data and analysis are only valuable if they can be translated into meaningful action—and that communities should be central to and involved in that action. That's why we work with our clients to identify ways to involve stakeholders in the decision-making process and to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared widely and equitably. Our economic impact assessments are an essential component of building broader community, economic, and workforce strategy and planning that help our clients build more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economies.

Economic Impact Assessments in Action:

Below are some examples of the economic impact assessments we’ve conducted for clients ranging from private-sector developers specializing in large-scale mixed-use projects to offshore wind developers and manufacturers seeking to embed a new industry into an existing ecosystem. Karp Strategies’ analyses inform our clients’ strategic decision-making processes—grounded in data and informed by conversations with those most affected by the project at hand.

Tackling the economic impacts of various developments: affordable and market-rate housing, commercial retail space, and/or outdoor public amenities. Developers in New York City engage Karp Strategies to execute economic impact assessments to estimate the direct, indirect, and induced impacts a new development will have on jobs, labor income, and tax revenues during the construction process, as well as the project’s longer-term operations phase. This has allowed them to quantify and communicate the positive economic effects of their developments to decision-makers, internal stakeholders, and the broader community. By presenting a comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits and costs of a project, Karp Strategies helps developers build a strong case for their investments and address concerns from community members and elected officials.

Leveraging workforce and fiscal impact analyses to understand New York City life science hiring trends and industry gaps. Karp Strategies was hired to conduct an analysis of the life science sector in New York City and recommend ways to optimize workforce development and community investment. Through a series of mixed methods analysis that included economic and fiscal impacts assessment, expert interviews, and desktop research, we quantified the contributions of the life science industry to New York City’s economy and mapped the key characteristics of the current life science workforce. Karp Strategies then compiled a comprehensive key findings and recommendations report that identified potential opportunities for advancing equitable access to future life science jobs and strategies for filling existing industry gaps through future investments. Click here to learn more about this project.

Planning for the growth of offshore wind—a nascent industry. Karp Strategies is dedicated to the development of the clean energy industry as a key means to create thriving economies and a sustainable future. That involves helping developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) craft informed and impactful workforce development and supply chain strategies. As part of several teams vying for NYSERDA’s third solicitation, Karp Strategies developed projections for the economic and workforce development impacts of the proposed projects—including estimates for the number of projected jobs, Minority- and/or Women-owned businesses who may participate, and jobs accessible to those residing in designated disadvantaged communities. Our quantitative assessments, coupled with our additional economic and stakeholder research and strategy, directly informed our clients’ New York Jobs and Workforce Plans and OEMs’ Supply Chain Investment Plan(s).

Karp Strategies approaches each unique context to deliver content expertise, produce a strong and focused product, and employ stellar project management throughout our work to unlock the full power of economic impact assessments. If your investment, project, or advocacy requires a formalized analysis of overall economic impact, please do reach out to us at info@karpstrategies.com and tell us more.

Healthier Natural Waterfronts Reflect Community Well-Being

Proposed wetland restoration for Middletown, CT. Rendering courtesy of Cooper Robertson.

Waterfront ecosystems serve many essential environmental functions and benefit people and communities. For example, wetlands can help filter pollution from stormwater runoff, improve water quality, reduce erosion, and provide habitat and food for diverse species. As climate change makes some regions wetter and warmer, wetlands can also help mitigate tidal and rain-based flooding. Many studies show that increasing public access to water bodies and healthy waterfront ecosystems can provide mental and physical health benefits, such as reduced stress and improved concentration and memory. However, there are many societal barriers limiting equitable access to healthy waterfronts, such as zoning, structural racism, and misconceptions about designing for flood risk mitigation. Here are a few ways urban planners can help drive more equitable access and protect and restore healthy waterfront ecosystems.

Waterfront Access for Community Well-Being

Public waterfront access directly correlates to public health and well-being, especially in urban areas, including decreasing climate risks. Recent case studies in Amsterdam and Barcelona revealed that climate resilience and promoting social equity were the most valued aspects of public water spaces (by those attending the public workshops hosted for the study). These benefits depend on public awareness of waterfront access and increase as more people utilize them. Similarly, as more people access the waterfront and recognize its value, there is potential for public programming aimed at ecological remediation and education efforts.

Waterfront Alliance's WEDG Standard for Resilient, Sustainable, and Accessible Waterfront Development

The Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) certification provide guidance for equitable and environmentally friendly design along waterfronts, including public waterfront access and a unique category for natural resources. The goal for WEDG is to help reduce citywide flood and environmental risks, as well as drive economic value. It grants credit to redevelopment projects that plan to minimize impacts and improve biodiversity, with an emphasis on avoiding impacts to existing natural resources (i.e. preservation), as well as habitat restoration.

Community-Driven Solutions

Green engineering along the waterfront and public waterfront access are examples of mechanisms that foster the positive correlation between ecological health and communal well-being. This relationship is self-sustaining in that as an ecosystem grows and becomes more vibrant, it attracts engineering mechanisms and public efforts that will help it grow more so, thus attracting even more buy-in.

Especially in urban areas, waterfront access has not always been available to historically marginalized communities. Environmental racism negatively impacted community health and hampered preservation. Increased access to waterfronts is especially beneficial to marginalized communities through mitigating urban heat effects and flooding from extreme rainfall. It's important to make every effort to restore waterfront habitat, no matter how polluted the surrounding area is, because realistically, most urban waterfronts are highly contaminated.

Both the mechanisms of public waterfront access and green engineering should serve the natural and built ecosystems surrounding a site so ecological and human communities can flourish alongside each other. To this end, incorporating green engineering in waterfront designs should also lean on equitable community engagement. This approach is meant to ensure stakeholder input into a project’s vision, design, and implementation to create a welcoming and equitable waterfront for all.

Register for the Waterfront Conference on May 8 in New York City to learn more about equitable access at our waterfronts and creating a healthier environment.