A Collaborative and Values-Driven Partner

Equitable Cities Collaborative is a certified women-owned and operated (WBE) firm founded by Sylvie Gallier Howard, who brings more than twenty years of public, private and non-profit experience, including serving as Commerce Director for the City of Philadelphia’s Department during the first year of COVID. Equitable Cities Collaborative provides strategic advisory services to governments, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the private sector related to economic development that leads to more equitable cities. We assist with strategy, research, stakeholder facilitation, policy and program implementation. Originally founded as Equitable Cities Consulting in 2021, we rebranded in 2025, leaning into the core of our model - collaboration. We collaborate with a robust network of partners to deliver our services, bringing extensive experience in community and economic development, neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, sustainability, urban resilience and more.

Theory of Change: Growth can happen without equity, but equity cannot happen without growth. And growth should start from the ground up.

With a growing wealth chasm, cities, non-profits and companies are seeking new approaches and answers to shaping a more equitable, just and inclusive society. Equitable Cities Collaborative has adopted a theory of change for equitable economic development based on a “sprout up”, rather than a “trickle down” model (the traditional economic development model that has assumed that more businesses and jobs alone will lead to shared prosperity). The primary premise is that if a city - or its partners- invest intentionally in its existing assets, it will generate wealth creation. Growing from the bottom up - or “sprouting up” - comes first. That said, growing the economic landscape is also important and this comes through bringing new businesses, investments, workers and residents. Below is an illustration of our theory of change.

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

– Jane Jacobs