Sarah R. Filley

Over the years I've had amazing opportunities to work with urban developers, cities, and retailers, large and small, to design and enhance their role as community partners. I am attracted to projects and people who align with a big vision of resilient communities and then set out to drive innovation with new metrics for prosperity.

I've worked with the best developers, urbanists, and organizations in the greatest cities in the world.

The future of urban development is regenerative

"Our urgent climate crisis has unique social implications for urban development. We are both facing a climate crisis and a housing crisis and we need to tackle both at the same time, otherwise, one will reinforce the other." -Kate Raworth.

Services

Learn more about design and consulting services here, about how I work here or schedule a call to explore consulting and design options to contribute to your projects.

Experience

Working with cities, urban planners, and organizations invested in innovation, regenerative design, and strategic planning with a DEI lens, I've founded a couple companies and honed my consulting over a decade. I help mission driven organizations expand their reach by centering their vision within a larger narrative that is future oriented. Read more by visiting About me.

Popuphood

Popuphood reinvented the role of popups in main street initiatives with the first retail incubator in the US. Our award-winning approach catalyzed a hyper-local economic development.
2011-2019

CIVIC INNOVATION • URBAN PLANNING • CREATIVE PLACEMAKING • POLICY

With our signature Vacant to Vibrant and Popup to Permanent Programs, we successfully launched the first city-wide place-based marketing campaign featuring pop-up retailers for 6 empty storefronts in Old Oakland, CA. We changed the standard for B2B marketing to feature retailers as a new growth market, and positioned creative placemaking at the heart of urban development, Main Street revitalization, and Plaza Activation.
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Prosperity Forest

Prosperity Forest is a nature-based futures lab in West Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan.
2020 - present

CLIMATE ACTION • SPEAKER SERIES • POLLINATOR STEWARD

A pilot initiative of Regenerative Futurist, I am getting my hands dirty with transforming an acre into a micro-food forest, leading a community library pollinator garden, and delivering my signature Backyard Climate Solutions presentation series to local libraries inspire local climate action to meet global SDG goals.
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EDI Consulting

Transformational change at the organizational level begins with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2019-2021

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE • DEI STRATEGY

I co-led on a number of strategic EDI plans at non-profits, institutions, policy think tanks, and private companies across industries in various sectors. Leveraging my expertise in organizational strategy, spacial and environmental justice, and communications, the client list below highlights work with affordable housing, urban development, and policy.
See my client list below. CV

Clients

Press

Affiliations

These organizations reflect a commitment to building a network of leaders and advocates. I am a Michigan Climate Reality Project Leader, a member of DEAL's (Donut Economics Action Lab) Renegade Neighborhood Economists International cohort, an expert contributing to Good Energy Stories, and a member of the White Lake Area Climate Action Coalition.