Welcome to the 4th issue of The Triangle’s Corner,

If you're receiving this message, it means we've either worked together or I recognize you as a professional contributing to the resilience, urban innovation, climate equity, and impact space.

Nader Afzalan, Ph.D.

Founder and CEO, The Triangle

Endowed Chair of Social Justice & Visiting Professor, University of California Berkeley

Happy New Year!

This issue invites us to focus on impact over process in 2025! It shares a recent article on tokenistic public engagement, urging us to be more intentional about IF/ How/ When to engage the public.

Don’t have time to read the book?

Check out this recent episode from Ezra Klein’s show, which interviews Jennifer Pahlka and Steven Tales.

After I published this blog post last month on why governments’ self-protective approaches limit their impact, a few friends reached out asking why I am so critical of our governments’ policy and operations. Two days later, Ezra Klein published this episode, which does a better job than me unpacking the issue.

Note to colleagues in this community who hold appointee positions in the Biden-Harris administration:

First, thank you for your service! I’d appreciate it if you could send me your personal or new work email address before your transition. My email: nader@thetriangle.io

The Triangle’s Corner offers a space to share practical insights on maximizing the impact of urban transition programs and policies on communities, whether driven by climate change, technological advancements, or human development.

Nader Afzalan, Ph.D.

Founder and CEO, The Triangle

Endowed Chair of Social Justice & Visiting Professor, UC Berkeley