Whose History Is It? The Democratization of Preservation

Harris M. Steinberg, FAIA, is the founding executive director of the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University and a distinguished teaching professor of architecture at Drexel’s Westpahl College of Media Arts and Design. Harris also serves as a special advisor to the president of Drexel University on urbanism. Prior to his appointment at Drexel, Harris was the founding executive director of PennPraxis, the applied research arm of PennDesign and an adjunct associate professor of city and regional planning.  

Harris led the award-winning 2006-07 public planning process to create a Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Riverfront.  The process upended decades of failed attempts to revitalize the waterfront and changed Philadelphia planning history. Harris also worked with the City of Philadelphia from 2010-14 on landmark park and open space planning projects including Green2015, More Park, Less Way, The New Fairmount Park, and Bartram’s Mile. 

Harris speaks nationally and internationally on the role of civic engagement in city planning. Nationally, Harris has served as a team leader for the American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assistance Team (SDAT) program. 

Harris chaired the Philadelphia Task Force on Historic Preservation for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney from 2017-18.  In 2018, Harris was awarded the Wyck-Strickland Award for his contributions to the cultural life of Philadelphia. 

Harris received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Architecture degree from Penn where he was awarded the Paul Phillipe Cret Prize for Architectural Design.  He is the recipient of the Young Architects Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA and in 2006 was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. 

In 1995, Dominique established Preservation Design Partnership as a planning and design practice focusing exclusively on offering high-quality professional services for clients with nationally significant historic sites and buildings.  Her work is at the forefront of addressing change at historic buildings and settings whether through design, the regulatory process, or the impacts of climate change and flooding at historic properties.  From small projects to multi-million-dollar undertakings, Dominique's work has maintained the highest standards of planning, design, and preservation, resulting in long-lasting relationships, some of which span over a decade of continuous involvement and service that has been recognized with several awards.  She has served on the Philadelphia Historical Commission, chaired the Architectural Committee and was a member of the Financial Hardship Committee.  She recently served as vice chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Historic Preservation in Philadelphia. 

Yue Wu, Neighborhood Planning and Project Manager at Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, spearheads the implementation of key neighborhood development strategies outlined in the 2017 Chinatown Neighborhood Plan. Thus far, Yue has led a wide range of community projects that focus on creating equitable opportunities for low-income residents and preserving Chinatown as a home away from home for immigrants in Chinatown and the Philadelphia region. She is also an advocate for cultural heritage preservation. Yue holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.

Betty Jane Turner, M.A., is a Germantown activist, educator, planner, researcher and a member of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Ms. Turner is Turner Consulting and Community Services principal and co-founder of Germantown Community Connection (GCC), a macro civic organization that serves as a bridge and a voice connecting community, business, institutions and government through community development, civic engagement, partnerships and planning. Ms. Turner currently serves as President of the Urban Resource Development Corporation, on the Greene Friends School Board of Trustees, and on the La Salle University President’s Community Advisory Council. Ms. Turner holds a Citizens Planner Certificate and serves as the director for urban affairs for Global Millenneum International. Ms. Turner is the recipient of the several awards which include: 20 Most Talented Women in Higher Education in Pennsylvania; Faculty Development and Leadership; Germantown Friends School Community Service; the Pillar of the Community from Germantown United CDC, the Historic Germantown 2018 Hall of Fame Award, the PA House of Representatives Community Citation, the North Central Community Council Champion Award of the Philadelphia Free Library and the PACDC 2019 Community Leader Award. Ms. Turner was recently selected to receive the AIA Philadelphia 2020 Paul Philippe Cret Award. Mrs. Turner has lived in Germantown for more than sixty years. She has 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandson who graduated from West Point in June 2020.

A native of Puerto Rico, Verónica has made Philadelphia her home over the past twelve years. She firmly believes in everyone's ability to participate in a greater conversation; one that affects the way we live, and the pursuit to improve it. While studying architecture at Temple University, Verónica honed her passion for urban affairs into the creation of Building Relationships in Communities [BRIC]; a collective that creates stronger neighborhoods through inclusive projects and fostering relationships between traditionally separate communities. At Philadelphia LISC, Verónica is responsible for providing programmatic and administrative support to Equitable Community Development, Affordable Housing, and Economic Development. She serves as a continuing education instructor at Temple University and as chair for the Design Advocacy Group’s Equity Task Force.