Conversations on The Block

David Giffen, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless, about one of the most urgent challenges facing New York City: homelessness. Our conversation went beyond the numbers and focused on the human impact of housing insecurity, the policy decisions that have shaped the crisis, and what meaningful solutions must look like.

Joshua Mandel -Vice President and Head of Development for major JFK Airport redevelopment projects, including the newly expanded Terminal 8 and the highly anticipated New Terminal One, he sits at the center of one of the largest infrastructure transformations happening in America today. But beyond steel, concrete, and billion-dollar investments, this conversation is also about community impact — MWBE opportunities, workforce development, local business inclusion, mentorship, and ensuring that Southeast Queens benefits directly from the economic engine growing in its backyard.

Afua Atta-Mensah – NYC Chief Equity Officer & Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice.

This conversation focuses on the City's approach to advancing racial equity, the role of government in addressing long-standing disparities, and the importance of creating systems that provide fair access and opportunity for all New Yorkers. The Commissioner

provides listeners with a better understanding of how equity initiatives are being incorporated into the City's planning and decision-making process.

Sadia H. Zapp, Managing Director of Communications and Content at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation discusses her work with helping translate groundbreaking scientific research into information women can understand and use. In 2022, seven years into her tenure at BCRF, Sadia was diagnosed with Stage 2 HR+/HER2- breast cancer at age 36, turning her professional commitment to research into a personal reality. Today, she remains deeply dedicated to advancing breast cancer prevention and treatment through BCRF’s marketing and communications strategies.

DJ Scratch is widely recognized as one of hip-hop's most accomplished DJs, celebrated for his extraordinary turntable skills, production work, and lasting influence on the culture. The program celebrated the close of Black Music Month by highlighting DJ Scratch's remarkable career as a turntablist, producer, and influential figure in hip-hop culture.

A.U. Hogan’s lived experience centered on fatherhood, community leadership, and the importance of positive role models. Hogan’s discussed his decades of work mentoring young people and helping families impacted by violence, drawing from his experience as a leader with Life Camp. Hogan reflects on the responsibilities of fathers and male mentors in shaping the next generation. He emphasized the value of presence, consistency, and community engagement, noting that strong relationships can help young people navigate challenges and make positive life choices. This discussion explored how families, schools, and neighborhood organizations can work together to create safer and more supportive environments for youth.

Eli Dvorkin serves as Editorial and Policy Director at the Center for an Urban Future, where he leads the organization's research agenda and helps shape policy solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing New York City and New York State.

While affordability is often discussed through the lens of housing costs, the Center for an Urban Future has challenged leaders to examine what it calls "the other side of affordability."