New York City is one of the greatest places for economic and social mobility in the world. In it, the most entry-level jobs of any US city — over 1.3 million— are available to nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers, who represent the most diverse major city in the world. The positive relationship between upward mobility and public transportation in particular is well-documented, as are the significant positive environmental impacts of public transit. It is no doubt that one of the most extensive public transit systems in the world is to be cherished for the 1 billion people who ride the subway every year. And, yet, there are opportunities for improvement palpable to New Yorkers today. 

What if engaged New Yorkers could rally behind the subway and help improve it?

Drawing inspiration from successful “Friends of” models like the Central Park Conservancy and Friends of the High Line, Jenny is creating Friends of the Subway. The nonprofit strives to tap into the time, talent, and treasure of all New Yorkers, recognizing the role we can play in elevating rider experience and transit infrastructure to continue to compete with leading systems worldwide. 

Jenny is a life-long New Yorker dedicated to improving the lives and livelihood of fellow residents. Jenny has worked for the Mayor’s Office and various urban policy non-profits in New York City, in addition to her most recent role as an associate partner at McKinsey where she supported state and local governments and non-profit “Friends of” organizations in New York City. Jenny has a B.A. from Yale and an M.P.P. and D.Phil (Ph.D.) from Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. All of her research has focused on urban policy and economic development in New York City.

At a moment when public infrastructure particularly needs champions, becoming a “friend of the subway” offers a way for New Yorkers, corporate sponsors, and local businesses to help shape the transit system we rely on.