Urban Strategy in the Present Tense is a conversation series featuring notable urbanists discussing their frontline work in urban resilience, as well as sharing their insights about public policymaking, urban problem solving, and life in Philadelphia.

This installment of our conversation series focused on the 57 Blocks Project with Rev. Gregory Holston. The 57 Blocks Project is focused on reducing gun violence in Philadelphia. The initiative was created after the Philadelphia Inquirer published "Intersections of Injustice," an article that identified blocks in Philadelphia with ten or more shootings between 2015 and 2021. The analysis shows that the blocks are located in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates and lower life expectancy than other parts of the city.

The series is produced by the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University in partnership with the Urban Strategy Masters Program in Drexel's Westphal College of Media, Arts & Design.