Adriana Abizadeh, 31
MS public policy ’13
Executive director, Kensington Corridor Trust (Philadelphia)
Property by property, Adriana Abizadeh is leading the charge to revitalize a corner of Philadelphia, and in the process, she is creating a pioneering framework of steward ownership that could serve as a national model. She is executive director of the Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT), a nonprofit governed by local residents and business owners that buys parcels at market value along Kensington Avenue, the once-thriving main drag of a North Philadelphia neighborhood that has faced hard times, and places them in a trust to preserve affordability in the face of gentrification. Eventually, KCT plans to lease the developed properties at modest rates to small businesses, with an emphasis on women- and minority-owned enterprises. Since Abizadeh’s arrival in 2020, the trust has acquired seven lots and placed five more properties under agreement — greatly expanding from the two condemned buildings acquired in 2019, the year KCT was formed. The trust also partnered with a local community development corporation to create a new community garden and gathering spot on Kensington Avenue. To amass enough parcels to make a real impact, Abizadeh is focused on raising $20 million over the next three to five years. Last year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation cited KCT’s efforts to keep marginalized neighborhoods affordable. Meanwhile, Drexel’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab is studying the organization to assess best practices and scalability to other communities. A community organizer at heart with a penchant for public policy, Abizadeh previously focused on immigration issues as head of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund in Trenton, New Jersey; before that, she worked on community development and affordable housing in Camden, New Jersey. In May 2020, she was a Princeton YWCA Tribute to Women award recipient.
In her own words…
My Greatest Accomplishment: The cultivation of current and future women leaders, most of which have been women of color. Supporting and investing in the next generation of women leaders is something I am passionate about.
How Drexel Helped Me: While at Drexel I had the opportunity to learn about various sectors and how public policy impacted each of them. It solidified my interests in remaining in the nonprofit sector and engaging in policy advocacy to disrupt the systems that have intentionally left behind black and brown communities.
What Success Looks Like to Me: Success to me is when, as individuals and collectively, we all find and utilize our inner power for the collective good, knowing that we have the agency and autonomy to advocate for a better future. I’m motivated by my children and the desire to create a path for their lives that is easier than my own and that of my parents before me.
How the Past Year Has Influenced Me: It has rooted me back in gratitude for the things that so many in our society do not have access to, like housing and food. I’m also encouraged by the societal acknowledgement, albeit very late and amidst deep crisis, that we are failing our most basic humanity when we don’t support and advocate for the most vulnerable among us.
My Top Post-Pandemic Plan: Travel, travel, travel. I need get out and see the world again. I love learning about other cultures and visiting ancient ruins.