City Counsel

City Counsel is the next iteration of OpenAccessPHL: a convening designed for people who move across sectors, stitch networks together, connect the dots and believe Philadelphia gets smarter, faster and better when we learn from past, present, and future dreamers and doers and figure out ways to collaborate and support each other.

This first session manifests a simple concept: go new places, learn old things, and meet the people who shaped the civic infrastructure Philadelphia is still building on.
It’s a cross‑generational, cross‑sector conversation - part reunion, part discovery, part “oh wow, I didn’t know you were the one who did that.”

Grateful to our host Kiersten Mailler at uCity Square. uCity Square exists at the intersection of world-class universities, research institutions, academic medical centers, and dynamic neighborhoods. Their mission is to facilitate collaboration that stimulates breakthroughs, drives inclusive economic growth, and expands our diverse and vibrant community.

Speakers: Alex Hillman leader of Indy Hall (e.g. invented co-working in the City plus so much more); Archna Sahay, formerly the City of Philadelphia’s Director of Entrepreneurial Investment who has maintained a formidable presence in the tech and innovation space; and Andrew Buss, architect of much of the City's internal innovation infrastructure.

Organizers are Jeff Friedman, Kelsey Hubbell, Cat McManus, Ed.D. and Eryn Santamoor.

Speaker Bios:

Andrew Buss worked in government for over 28 years. After beginning his public sector career with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Housing and Community Development, he moved to the Office of Innovation & Technology where he focused primarily on public interest technology and the development of an innovation infrastructure within municipal government. Andrew was fortunate to lead or be a part of collaborative teams that were responsible for several founding programs: a citywide network of public computer centers in nonprofit organizations and City facilities, a governance structure and strategy for the City’s early Open Data efforts, and a coordinated portfolio of initiatives to establish and sustain municipal capacity for innovation.

Andrew earned his graduate degree in geography from Temple University and has been teaching graduate and undergraduate students for many years. He now teaches public management and government innovation courses in Temple’s MPP and the University of Pennsylvania’s MPA programs.