2021 WORLD
HERITAGE CITY
CELEBRATION September 9, 2021 6:00 p.m. Crystal Tea Room, Wanamaker Building Philadelphia A Virtual Fireside Chat with Andrea Mitchell moderated by Kristen Welker
Celebrating Philadelphia’s sixth anniversary as a World Heritage City, we join 330 other global cities in marking Solidarity Day of the World Heritage Cities.
Philadelphia joined the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) in 2015, thereby becoming the first “World Heritage City” in the United States. We gather to recognize all that has been accomplished through the World Heritage City Project.
KEYNOTE
Andrea Mitchell
NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Chief Washington Correspondent; Host, MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” Andrea Mitchell is the network’s leading voice on U.S. foreign policy and international diplomacy. Mitchell reports on intelligence and national security issues across all NBC News and MSNBC properties. A pioneer in her field, Mitchell is known for her tenacity and veteran analysis as she pursues answers, interviews newsmakers, and traverses the globe to report on the State Department. Mitchell started her career in journalism with KYW Radio and KYW-TV in Philadelphia.
Kristen Welker
Co-Anchor, “Weekend TODAY” and NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Kristen Welker whose political reporting appears across all NBC News and MSNBC platforms, including “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” “TODAY,” “Meet the Press,” and NBCNews.com. Welker, another Philadelphia native, began her career at WCAU-TV, NBC’s Philadelphia owned and operated station, where she anchored the NBC 10 weekend newscasts and started as a general assignment reporter in April 2005. She joined “Weekend TODAY” as co-anchor in January 2020 and has covered three presidential administrations for the network. During the 2020 general presidential election, Welker moderated the final presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and now-President Joe Biden in October 2020.
World Heritage City Celebration Co-Chairs Rev. Dr. Lorina Mashall-Blake
President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Vice President of Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross
Future Generation Co-Chairs
Layla El Tannir
Director of Business Development, Reading Terminal Market
PROGRAM
SPEAKERS
SCHEDULE
Welcome and Introduction of the Evening
Share your photos on social media @globalphila @globalphiladelphia @GlobalPhiladelphiaAsssociation #globalphila
Zabeth Teelucksingh
Executive Director, Global Philadelphia Association
Update on World Heritage City Project Robert J. McNeill, Jr.
Board Chair, Global Philadelphia Association Managing Partner, Deloitte
Co-Chair Remarks Lorina Marshall-Blake and Alan Greenberger
World Heritage City Celebration Co-Chairs
Presentation of Distinguished Journalism Award Keynote Remarks and Virtual Fireside Chat Andrea Mitchell and Kristen Welker International Musical Guests Qin Qian on the Erhu
Alan Greenberger
Head, Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism Fellow, Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation Drexel University
2
Divy Agnihotri
J.D., Class of 2021 Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Nasir Dickerson on the Kora with Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble Elliot Levin on the European Style Piccolo
3
KEYNOTE
Andrea Mitchell
NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Chief Washington Correspondent; Host, MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” Andrea Mitchell is the network’s leading voice on U.S. foreign policy and international diplomacy. Mitchell reports on intelligence and national security issues across all NBC News and MSNBC properties. A pioneer in her field, Mitchell is known for her tenacity and veteran analysis as she pursues answers, interviews newsmakers, and traverses the globe to report on the State Department. Mitchell started her career in journalism with KYW Radio and KYW-TV in Philadelphia.
Kristen Welker
Co-Anchor, “Weekend TODAY” and NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Kristen Welker whose political reporting appears across all NBC News and MSNBC platforms, including “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” “TODAY,” “Meet the Press,” and NBCNews.com. Welker, another Philadelphia native, began her career at WCAU-TV, NBC’s Philadelphia owned and operated station, where she anchored the NBC 10 weekend newscasts and started as a general assignment reporter in April 2005. She joined “Weekend TODAY” as co-anchor in January 2020 and has covered three presidential administrations for the network. During the 2020 general presidential election, Welker moderated the final presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and now-President Joe Biden in October 2020.
World Heritage City Celebration Co-Chairs Rev. Dr. Lorina Mashall-Blake
President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Vice President of Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross
Future Generation Co-Chairs
Layla El Tannir
Director of Business Development, Reading Terminal Market
PROGRAM
SPEAKERS
SCHEDULE
Welcome and Introduction of the Evening
Share your photos on social media @globalphila @globalphiladelphia @GlobalPhiladelphiaAsssociation #globalphila
Zabeth Teelucksingh
Executive Director, Global Philadelphia Association
Update on World Heritage City Project Robert J. McNeill, Jr.
Board Chair, Global Philadelphia Association Managing Partner, Deloitte
Co-Chair Remarks Lorina Marshall-Blake and Alan Greenberger
World Heritage City Celebration Co-Chairs
Presentation of Distinguished Journalism Award Keynote Remarks and Virtual Fireside Chat Andrea Mitchell and Kristen Welker International Musical Guests Qin Qian on the Erhu
Alan Greenberger
Head, Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism Fellow, Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation Drexel University
2
Divy Agnihotri
J.D., Class of 2021 Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Nasir Dickerson on the Kora with Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble Elliot Levin on the European Style Piccolo
3
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE INITIATIVE:
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
INTERNATIONAL SPONSOR
WORLD HERITAGE SPONSORS
PATRON SPONSORS Ann and David Brownlee
Rafael A. Porrate-Doria Jr. and Christie Porrata-Doria
HERITAGE SPONSORS
Surma and Kaushik Daphtry
Anne and Barry Eiswerth
Dr. Harold and Linda Yaffe MEDIA PARTNERS
Susan and John Smith 4
Losenge and Osagie Imasogie 5
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE WORLD HERITAGE INITIATIVE:
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
INTERNATIONAL SPONSOR
WORLD HERITAGE SPONSORS
PATRON SPONSORS Ann and David Brownlee
Rafael A. Porrate-Doria Jr. and Christie Porrata-Doria
HERITAGE SPONSORS
Surma and Kaushik Daphtry
Anne and Barry Eiswerth
Dr. Harold and Linda Yaffe MEDIA PARTNERS
Susan and John Smith 4
Losenge and Osagie Imasogie 5
Looking Back on 2020 and Mostly Virtual Programming: With the help of our sponsors, here’s what we accomplished: Pandemic Pivot.
GPA mirrored the city of Philadelphia’s resilience during 2020 in many different ways: we held the 2020 Globy Awards and the World Heritage City Celebration virtually; we maintained relationships with our fellow World Heritage Cities across the globe; we ramped up our pool of volunteers and interns; and we promoted our partners’ events, disseminated Covid directives, and created new GPA content.
As we emerge from the Pandemic, here are some of the highlights: GPA maintains Organization of World Heritage Cities Relations and support of Mayor Kenney who is on that organization’s board for a third year. Mayor Jim Kenney is one of eight board members and joins mayors from all over the world. In this time of many challenges, our city’s rich and diverse heritages provide a critical perspective on global concerns.
Education partnerships in Philadelphia schools and teacher professional development opportunities. In partnership
GPA created our World Heritage Global Foods to showcase our city’s exciting international restaurants and our teams’ culinary heritage skills and interests.
with, GPA’s Education Advisory Committee, we will continue to introduce our program, “Learning about Local & Global Heritages,” through professional development workshops and other means.
GPA worked with partners to create Heritage Storytime. A series of monthly
Continued support of Philadelphia’s Unity Cup and FIFA 2026 soccer bid.
Global Foods.
episodes presented virtually for children in grades K-8, each focused on a heritage-related theme featuring a book read-along and complementary learning materials. All can be found on our learnphillyheritage.org website.
A Virtual World Heritage Week.
During World Heritage Week, May 24-28, GPA celebrated virtually through social media on five different days, each focused on Sustainable Development, Happy Hour and Quizzo, Heritage Stories, Culinary Heritage, and National Historic Landmarks.
Spotlight on Philadelphia’s global community with web and newsletter.
GPA kept the spotlight on our city and region’s global connections through regular publication of our SDG Newsletter, Insider Newsletter, and EIJP Newsletter, in addition to frequent posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and active publicizing of members’ events, news, and resources.
6
We all know that Philadelphia is “one of the world’s great sports cities” and GPA has supported the Philadelphia International Unity Cup and the city’s 2026 FIFA bid. GPA also maintained participation in additional public partnered events such as Juneteenth, World Refugee Day, Welcome America, and the Latin American Book Fair.
Year-round spotlight on Philadelphia’s 67 National Historic Landmarks (NHL). On April
18th we celebrated International Day for Monuments and Sites all over the city.
Interns, articles and raising awareness.
GPA’s interns, drawn from our region’s universities, communicate across Facebook, Twitter and in other ways to ensure that we remain aware of important local events.
Successful Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Campaign. We continue with new
sponsorships, hosts, locations and nonprofit partners for the painting and installation of murals across the city. SDG 1, SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG 10, SDG 11 and SDG 16 are all in development.
7
Looking Back on 2020 and Mostly Virtual Programming: With the help of our sponsors, here’s what we accomplished: Pandemic Pivot.
GPA mirrored the city of Philadelphia’s resilience during 2020 in many different ways: we held the 2020 Globy Awards and the World Heritage City Celebration virtually; we maintained relationships with our fellow World Heritage Cities across the globe; we ramped up our pool of volunteers and interns; and we promoted our partners’ events, disseminated Covid directives, and created new GPA content.
As we emerge from the Pandemic, here are some of the highlights: GPA maintains Organization of World Heritage Cities Relations and support of Mayor Kenney who is on that organization’s board for a third year. Mayor Jim Kenney is one of eight board members and joins mayors from all over the world. In this time of many challenges, our city’s rich and diverse heritages provide a critical perspective on global concerns.
Education partnerships in Philadelphia schools and teacher professional development opportunities. In partnership
GPA created our World Heritage Global Foods to showcase our city’s exciting international restaurants and our teams’ culinary heritage skills and interests.
with, GPA’s Education Advisory Committee, we will continue to introduce our program, “Learning about Local & Global Heritages,” through professional development workshops and other means.
GPA worked with partners to create Heritage Storytime. A series of monthly
Continued support of Philadelphia’s Unity Cup and FIFA 2026 soccer bid.
Global Foods.
episodes presented virtually for children in grades K-8, each focused on a heritage-related theme featuring a book read-along and complementary learning materials. All can be found on our learnphillyheritage.org website.
A Virtual World Heritage Week.
During World Heritage Week, May 24-28, GPA celebrated virtually through social media on five different days, each focused on Sustainable Development, Happy Hour and Quizzo, Heritage Stories, Culinary Heritage, and National Historic Landmarks.
Spotlight on Philadelphia’s global community with web and newsletter.
GPA kept the spotlight on our city and region’s global connections through regular publication of our SDG Newsletter, Insider Newsletter, and EIJP Newsletter, in addition to frequent posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and active publicizing of members’ events, news, and resources.
6
We all know that Philadelphia is “one of the world’s great sports cities” and GPA has supported the Philadelphia International Unity Cup and the city’s 2026 FIFA bid. GPA also maintained participation in additional public partnered events such as Juneteenth, World Refugee Day, Welcome America, and the Latin American Book Fair.
Year-round spotlight on Philadelphia’s 67 National Historic Landmarks (NHL). On April
18th we celebrated International Day for Monuments and Sites all over the city.
Interns, articles and raising awareness.
GPA’s interns, drawn from our region’s universities, communicate across Facebook, Twitter and in other ways to ensure that we remain aware of important local events.
Successful Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Campaign. We continue with new
sponsorships, hosts, locations and nonprofit partners for the painting and installation of murals across the city. SDG 1, SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG 10, SDG 11 and SDG 16 are all in development.
7
Special thanks to the following businesses and organizations who have become three-year investors in the World Heritage City Project in addition to sponsoring this Celebration tonight: Brandywine Realty Trust Kosh and Surma Daphtary Deloitte LLP Drexel University Anne and Barry Eiswerth Ernst & Young Green and Spiegel LLC Susan and John Smith Temple University Urban Engineers Villanova University
SAVE THE DATES 7th Annual Globy Awards Luncheon on December 13, 2021, at The Westin Philadelphia The 7th Annual World Heritage City Celebration on September 8, 2022 where we are pleased to announce that we will honor MSNBC Anchor and Correspondent Ali Velshi!
Thank you to the World Heritage City Celebration Committee! David Boardman Ann and David Brownlee Neel Daphtary and Heather Meluskey
Jonathan Lovitz and Steve Sosna Karen and Rob McNeill
Michael Newmuis Rafael A. Porrata Doria, Jr. and Christie Porrata-Doria Pat and David Nogar Anne and Barry Eiswerth Tammie and Ken Fulmer
Ira and Leslie Richards
Josh Greenberg
Trudy Rubin
John L. Jackson Jr.
Jim Scherrer
Jabari Jones
Susan and John Smith
Janet Klein
Evan Urbania
Jazmin and David Kron
Daisy Van den Hooff
Kelly Lee
Wendy Verna
Richard Lee and Jeffrey Plourde
Harold and Linda Yaffe
We request that all guests wear a mask, except while eating and drinking.
Complimentary parking vouchers will be distributed upon exiting the garage.