Kristen Jeffers
Urban theorist, keynote speaker, fiber artist.
Kristen E. Jeffers is an urban planner, writer, and advocate for inclusive communities. With a passion for social justice and equitable urban development, Kristen utilizes her expertise to foster spaces where everyone can thrive. Through her writing, speaking engagements, and community activism, Kristen champions diversity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban planning and design. She is dedicated to reshaping cities into vibrant, inclusive environments that prioritize the needs of all residents.Kristen founded the Defying Gentrification with Kristen Jeffers, (formerly The Black Urbanist) multimedia platform in 2010, which strives to bring a Black queer feminist dynamically disabled perspective to urbanism through a newsletter, workbook, and podcast on Defying Gentrification. She’s is one of Planetizen’s 2023 100 Most Influential Contemporary Urbanists. Most recently, they were the contributing editor for Greater Greater Washington and have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Streetsblog, and on NPR affiliates, WAMU, WUNC and KCUR, along with bylines in House Beautiful, Sierra Magazine, Streetsblog, Next City, and Grist.
