April 17th, 2026
9:00am - 12:30pm
The LGBT Center
208 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
Jamie Rubin has over three decades of experience in affordable housing, disaster recovery, infrastructure, and clean energy across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He is Chief Investment Officer of Aligned Climate Capital and Chairman of the boards of NYCHA and the Regional Planning Association. Mr. Rubin served from 2013 through 2017 as a top official in New York State government — building and leading the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery to assist homeowners and small businesses while prioritizing long-term resiliency and environmental sustainability; overseeing the state’s affordable housing strategy as commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal and overseeing the executive chamber as Director of State Operations. He also served in the federal government as the New York director of President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery and Rebuilding Task Force, a senior advisor to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, and previously in the White House under President Bill Clinton, in the Office of the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as well as on the Obama-Biden presidential transition in 2008.
Join the 2025-26 Global Exchange Fellows to explore “big swings” to address New York City’s housing crisis, inspired by cities across the world.
New York City can unleash housing supply, build for demographic shifts, adapt homes for climate risk, plan for neighborhood mix, energize social housing, and embrace housing for all. Fellows will present case studies surfacing cutting-edge projects and courageous public policy from Tokyo, Mexico City, the Netherlands, Bangkok, London, and more. In breakout sessions, Fellows will engage with audience members to discuss how to activate similarly bold solutions in New York City.
What can New York City learn from global cities to create safe, dignified, and stable homes for every New Yorker? How can we adapt similar solutions for New York City?
Meet the Fellows
Meet the 2025 cohort of urban leaders who are surveying the world for courageous leadership on the housing crisis.
Guest & Accessibility Policies
This event is open to Urban Design Forum Members and their invited guests.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- The venue will have an entrance and elevators that are ADA-accessible.
- This event will have microphones and speakers.
- If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Face masks are encouraged, particularly if you have been recently exposed to colds, flus, or other illness. If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, a high-quality, well-fitting face covering is required at all times.
- Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances to accommodate guests with allergies or environmental sensitivities.
- If you have additional needs, we will do our best to accommodate. Please contact rsvp@urbandesignforum.org.
About Big Swings
Our 2025 Global Exchange initiative, Big Swings, seeks to build solidarity between leaders in New York and other cities taking “big swings” at their housing crises. By exploring the cultures and politics behind housing shifts around the world, we equip decision-makers to better advocate for reform and support a new generation of leaders to house every New Yorker.
Continuing Education
This event is been approved for 2.5 AIA CES credits.
Support
Lead Sponsor
We thank Global Circle members Akerman LLP, Apple Bank, Crescere Collaborative, Fogarty Finger, HKS, Jamie von Klemperer, KPF, Office for the Next Environment, Skylight, and Upside Collab.
Global Exchange is made possible with additional support from our Board of Directors, Circle Members, and company and individual members. Our programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
To learn more about supporting Global Exchange, please contact Miranda Bellizia, miranda@urbandesignform.org.
Image Credit: Shimpei Koseki, Urban Design Forum
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