Designing Our Future: Sustainable Cities & Urban Planning Artwork

The Connector

The Connector podcast from The Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State University, explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina.IEI is a nonpartisan public policy organization focused on the state’s vibrancy and economic competitiveness working with leaders in business, education and public policy to discuss issues with profound implications for North Carolina’s future prosperity.

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The Connector

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Cities & Urban Planning

June 24, 2025 • Institute for Emerging Issues • Season 2 • Episode 10

How can we empower the next generation to shape sustainable cities? In this special episode of “The Connector,” IEI’s 2024-2025 Hunt Intern Katherine Helms speaks with three urban planning experts: NC State University Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor and Faculty Scholar Dr. Kofi Boone, City of Raleigh Senior Energy & Sustainability Strategist James Hardin and McAdams Principal and Vice President of Urban Planning Mitchell Silver. They explore the crucial role education and community engagement plays in fostering sustainable urban living, discuss how students can get involved, and share emerging trends and technologies in sustainable urban design. This episode also features questions about urban planning from NC State students shared by IEI interns Jenny Browne, Crystal Leung and Nathan Yilma.

This discussion is part of IEI’s ongoing series related to the 2025-2027 Emerging Issues Forums exploring North Carolina’s future-forward infrastructure, with particular focus on energy, water and housing.

The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.