KOFI SEFA-BOAKYE
Diamond Bar, CA
AFFILIATION:
Sustainable Cities Fellow, University of Southern California
AREA OF EXPERTISE: Economic Development,
Planning, Policy and Development
BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE: Kofi is doctoral
candidate in the School of Policy Planning and Development at the
University of Southern California. Currently on sabbatical from the city
of Compton, Kofi held management positions in community building with
Compton for fifteen years. During his tenure in Compton, Kofi utilized his
multidisciplinary background in Urban Planning, Economics, and Public
Policy to guide the rebuilding of the city’s distressed neighborhoods. As
the Community Redevelopment Project Manager (1986-1996), he was
instrumental in designing financing programs, which expanded housing
opportunities for the city’s low-income residents as well as influencing
private sector investments in the city’s formerly blighted central
business district.
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Kofi is interested in
regional governance issues and environmental consequences of development
projects on inner city neighborhoods. His incisive grasp of these urban
issues made him a frequent participant in conferences and forums where he
brainstormed with leading thinkers in the field of urban development. In
the wake of the 1992 civil disturbances in Los Angeles, Kofi participated
with Henry Cisneros, Norm Kromholz, Eugene Grisby, and others in a
planning forum (charrette) where participants addressed social equity
issues concerning inner city development.
In addition to his civic duties, Kofi periodically
writes op-ed articles on urban issues, for the Los Angeles Times.
Recent pieces covered such critical planning issues as the Alameda
Corridor Project, the San Fernando Secessionist Movement,
and a recently adopted Los Angeles Charter Reform.
E-MAIL:
ksefaboa@usc.edu |
