Taking Care of New York, with David Prize Winner Karen ‘Dawn‘ Blondel

Karen ‘Dawn’ Blondel is a pioneer in civic engagement, with a focus on sustainable economic development and environmental resiliency. She is one of the 2023 recipients of the David Prize, which recognizes New Yorkers with ideas for extraordinary change, a Harvard Loeb Fellow, and the current Executive Director of the Public Housing Civic Association. On a typical week, you can find her boots-on-the-ground liaising with contractors, hosting an affordable housing workshop, attending city council meetings on local laws and spending accountability, or negotiating with real estate developments to increase the benefits they will bring to the local economy. Karen also manages to personally cook for almost all of her local Red Hook, NYCHA resident meetings, where participants are learning about building science and stewardship. Karen’s story gives insights into the consistent practice of being a community leader, as well as investing in the next generation of civic leaders, making their city a better place.