Wharton-Fields, a Senior Fellow, has more than 15 years of experience in community development and urban planning. Her current work is focused on the Opportunity NYC project, a new demonstration program designed to reduce inter-generational poverty in New York City. She has also worked on the Neighborhood Jobs Initiative and Jobs-Plus, two neighborhood-based employment projects, and the Work Advancement and Support Centers demonstration, where she has had a lead role in providing technical assistance to the sites. Her career began as a city planner for Boston’s public housing and regional transportation authority and economic development agency. She was also employed by the architectural and planning firm of Carr, Lynch, Hack and Sandell, where she assisted with the resident-engagement aspects of large-scale, mixed-use redevelopment projects. In New York City, Wharton-Fields served as Director of Development for the New York City Housing Partnership and as a project manager at the New York State Urban Development Corporation. She also led a regional consensus-building project, called “One New Jersey,” for New Jersey Future, the statewide planning organization. As a consultant to the Conservation Company and Community Development Associates, she led strategic planning, organizational assessment and development, and research projects. She currently serves on the Board of the National Housing Institute/Shelterforce Magazine. Wharton-Fields holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Williams College and a Master of City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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