From the Ground Up: Building Stronger Cities with Plants and Trees

Featuring Matt Rader

Tioga Hope Park and Garden in North Philadelphia | Photo courtesy of PHS

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 featured Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Read about him below.

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.

Matt Rader is President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and a Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow at the Lindy Institute. Focused on expanding PHS efforts using horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the communities in Greater Philadelphia and beyond, he combines a passion for horticulture with a deep love for historic preservation and cities. Rader grew up in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, received his bachelor’s in Architectural History from the University of Virginia and Master’s of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a 2020 Eisenhower Fellow.