{"73454":{"#nid":"73454","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A \u0022Fresh\u0022 Conversation on the Future of Americas Cities \u0026 Metro Areas","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAdolfo Carri\u00c3\u00b3n, Jr., The White House\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe White House Office of Urban Affairs was created in response to President Obama\u0027s efforts to promote smart growth in urban cities. The issue of strengthening American cities is magnified due to the fact that the majority of the nation\u0027s population and assets are concentrated in those areas. For this purpose, the National Conversation on the Future of America\u0027s Cities and Metropolitan Areas was convened in Philadelphia, PA on July 23rd, 2009.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe effort focuses on creating a new vision for urban cities in America. Experts from diverse fields collaborated to propose solutions addressing current urban issues in the nation. A tour was organized to neighborhoods that exemplified the cause. The tour visited Parkside ShopRite at Park West Town Center. The supermarket is supported by the Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI), an effort that introduces fresh food to underserved communities. The shop demonstrated FFFI\u0027s success in providing employment opportunities and healthy groceries, and improving the economic and social setting of the neighborhood. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe panelist exchange of FFFI\u0027s local efforts lead to the discussion of similar endeavors at the federal level, such as the \u0022Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food\u0022 program by the Department of Agriculture. The Philadelphia Conservation was a fruitful kickoff to an ongoing series of community tours that bring together local innovators and Obama Administration staff to discuss potential community-based solutions to urban issues.\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"The National Conversation on the Future of America\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Cities and Metropolitan Areas was convened in Philadelphia, PA on July 23rd, 2009.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"National Conversation on the Future of America\u0027s Cities."}],"uid":"27293","created_gmt":"2009-08-20 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:10:46","author":"Joanie Chembars","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2009-08-04T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2009-08-04T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/blog\/A-Fresh-Conversation-on-the-Future-of-Americas-Cities-and-Metro-Areas\/","title":"Full Article"}],"groups":[{"id":"1260","name":"CQGRD - Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003EAmy  Danner \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECenter for Quality Growth and Regional Development\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amy.danner@coa.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EContact Amy  Danner \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-385-5125\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["amy.danner@coa.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}