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Anna Friedman

Director, Policy & Programs

Anna Friedman is Director of Policy & Programs at Resilient Cities Catalyst. In this capacity, Anna advises and collaborates with communities, cities, and partners to develop comprehensive resilience strategies and priority resilience projects. Anna also leads RCC’s California Resilience Partnership, a multimillion-dollar public philanthropic effort to advance high-impact projects that tackle California’s complex resilience challenges in regions across the state.

Anna previously worked at 100 Resilient Cities, partnering with and advising cities across the United States and Canada to develop and implement urban resilience strategies. She provided strategic support advancing key equity-focused projects and designed and delivered technical trainings and topical convenings for city staff and partners to address resilience challenges and spread best practices.

Before joining 100 Resilient Cities, Anna launched and implemented innovative economic development and education policies in New York City government, working as Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs at the New York City Economic Development Corporation and as the Special Assistant to the NYC Schools Chancellor. In these roles she oversaw strategic communications about the Mayor’s economic development priorities and managed priority projects, communications, and relationships in order to advance the Chancellor’s bold education reform agenda in the country’s largest system of schools. She also supported stakeholder engagement for the Mayor’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency following Hurricane Sandy. Anna began her career in NYC government as a New York City Urban Fellow.

Anna graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, an interdisciplinary major in social sciences. She also holds a Master in Public Affairs degree, with a Certificate in Urban Policy, from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs.