Center for an Urban Future 2025 Gala
Wednesday, October 22nd | Tribeca Rooftop
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The Center for an Urban Future's 2025 gala marked a year where CUF's research helped spotlight several important opportunities to help create a stronger city, from the ensuring that more low-income and adult learners at CUNY are able to obtain their degrees to providing innovative ideas to make the city more affordable and appealing for young families.

We also celebrated three inspiring honorees:

URBAN VISIONARY AWARD
Presented to: Winston Fisher, Partner, Fisher Brothers; CEO, AREA15
Presented by: Rick Cotton, Executive Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Winston is a visionary champion for a better New York and one of the city's most innovative business and civic leaders. In addition to his leadership at Fisher Brothers and AREA15, he has played a vital role in promoting policies that strengthen and modernize New York's economy, upgrade the city's infrastructure, bolster the middle class, and expand economic opportunity—through his public service on the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and numerous civic and philanthropic organizations. The award marked 10 years of Winston's partnership—and leadership—with the Center for an Urban Future's Middle Class Jobs Project, which has inspired smart, actionable policies to strengthen the middle class and keep New York competitive in a fast-changing economy.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AWARD
Presented to: Louise Carroll, Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Presented by: Adolfo Carrión Jr., Deputy Mayor of New York City for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce
Louise has been a difference-maker in addressing New York City’s affordability crisis and strengthening communities across the five boroughs. As HPD commissioner, she oversaw one of the nation’s largest affordable housing initiatives, accelerated the city’s plan to create and preserve 300,000 affordable homes, and led the implementation of the highly innovative Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. Now a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, she continues to advance projects that expand affordable housing and create stronger, more resilient neighborhoods.

NEW YORK CHANGEMAKER AWARD
Presented to: Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director, New York Jobs CEO Council
Presented by: Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York
As executive director of the New York Jobs CEO Council, Kiersten has spearheaded public-private partnerships that have led to the hiring of more than 30,000 low-income New Yorkers in family-sustaining jobs at the city's leading companies. We are thrilled to honor the game-changing impacts she's had leading the Jobs Council and expanding economic mobility for thousands of New Yorkers.