The Abele Lecture: Angela D. Brooks

Named after the pioneering architect Julian Francis Abele (BArch 1902), the Abele Lecture re-centers the voices of Black practitioners and practitioners of color who are reshaping the built environment.

This year’s lecture will feature Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, Philadelphia’s Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer. Brooks will reflect on her journey as a national leader in urban planning, affordable housing, and zoning reform. Trevian Ambroise (MCP'24) will moderate the conversation. Join us for an engaging dialogue followed by a brief reception.

Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, serves as the Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer for the City of Philadelphia. Formerly, she served as the Director of the Illinois office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing and is the Immediate Past national president of the American Planning Association. With over two decades of experience in urban planning, affordable housing, and community development, Brooks has established herself as a leading voice in housing policy and zoning reform.

In her previous role at the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Brooks oversaw training, lending, technical assistance, and systems change work throughout Illinois, managing a $10M office budget and implementing racial equity frameworks through system change work. Her leadership was instrumental in implementing the Illinois Supportive Housing Institute training developers to create permanent supportive housing in Illinois.

As the Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer for Philadelphia, she leverages her extensive experience to address the city's housing challenges and urban development needs.

Brooks previously served on influential boards and commissions, including the Chicago Board of Zoning Appeals, the Illinois Affordable Housing Advisory Commission, City of Seattle Planning Commission and King County Washington Boundary Review Board. She also served as the co-chair of the national Housing Supply Accelerator, working with communities nationwide to address housing needs. Her expertise in housing policy and zoning reform.

A native of Seattle, Brooks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Jackson State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. She has dedicated her career to ensuring every human has a safe, decent, affordable place to not only call home, but to thrive. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Brooks is a kidney donor and passionate advocate working to increase minority organ donors.

Trevian Ambroise is a planner focused on fostering inclusive and equitable development for a more just city. He completed his bachelor's in history at the University of Louisiana, then pursued a Master's in City and Regional Planning at the Weitzman School of Design. While studying at Penn, he co-led the Black Planners Society and was the founding chair of the Abele Lecture. Currently, Ambroise serves as the Zoning and Planning Aide for Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, where he champions equitable development and informs policy in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

If you require any accessibility accommodation, such as live captioning, audio description, or a sign language interpreter, please email news@design.upenn.edu. Please note, we require at least five (5) business days’ notice.