March 25 | 6:30pm | 213 Water Street | Free
Waterfronts are among the most dynamic and essential resources—supporting recreation, ecology, transportation, economic growth, and climate resilience. As cities nationwide face rising sea levels, aging infrastructure, and inequitable access to the shoreline, the choices made today will define how communities live, work, and connect with the water for generations to come.
Join the Seaport Museum and Waterfront Alliance for an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion—perfect to close out Women’s History Month—featuring key agency appointees who are leading this work at the city and state level. This dynamic conversation between women leading the charge will explore the critical role waterfronts play in health and vitality and share how the administration is planning, building, and transforming these spaces to ensure they remain safe, vibrant, and accessible for all.
Panelists will discuss emerging priorities—from resilient infrastructure and open space design to environmental justice, climate adaptation, and community-driven planning.The discussion will also spotlight cross-agency collaboration, new investments, regulatory breakthroughs, and the complex challenges that come with preparing waterfronts for a changing climate.
Attendees will gain meaningful insights into the strategies shaping a more equitable, resilient, and inspiring waterfront for every community. A Q&A with the panelists and reception with wine and seltzer will close the evening. Preregistration is encouraged for this event. Walkups will be accommodated as possible.
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About the Panelists
Mikelle Adgate serves as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Operations,
bringing more than 15 years of public service experience in New York City government, with deep expertise in government relations, strategic planning, public engagement, and largescale operational initiatives. Before joining the Deputy Mayor’s Office, Mikelle served as Senior Vice President for Government & Community Relations at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where she led a dynamic intergovernmental team shaping citywide policies and advancing major economic development projects. In this role, she supported initiatives such as the revitalization of the Kingsbridge Armory, the SPARC Kips Bay campus, Willets Point redevelopment, postCOVID economic recovery strategies, and key legislation including discounted NYC Ferry fares for high school students.
Lisa F. Garcia was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in February 2026. In this position, Commissioner Garcia will help protect the city’s infrastructure and environment; ensure the delivery of high-quality services such as drinking water and sewage treatment; and make sure that New York City is a global leader in the fight against the climate crisis. Prior to DEP, Garcia served as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Regional Administrator for Region 2, overseeing the Biden Administration’s
environmental agenda in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight Indian Nations. She ran the Climate Solutions Lab at Grist Magazine, where she worked to elevate climate justice leaders, and served as Vice President for Litigation at EarthJustice and as an Associate Administrator at the EPA.
Jennifer Moriarty is the Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management, overseeing the Division of Watershed Protection & Restoration, the Division of Land Resource Protection and the Division of Resilience, Engineering & Construction. Moriarty joined DEP in 2021, as Director of the Division of Land Resource Protection, bringing a legal-minded approach to the Division’s management and providing a framework for reasonable outcomes that recognize applicants’ goals, while protecting wetlands, coastal resources, flood hazard areas, water quality, and public health and safety. She was instrumental in the drafting of portions of the REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) rule proposal, particularly related to nature-based solutions and coastal zone management.
Tricia Shimamura has served as the Manhattan Borough Commissioner for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) since March 2024. Under her leadership, the borough expanded community outreach and strategic partnerships, identified creative solutions to longstanding, complex problems, and successfully advocated for millions of dollars of funding for both critical capital projects as well as essential public programs serving tens of thousands of New Yorkers. Shimamura is a social worker, a lifelong public servant, and an avid parks enthusiast. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, working on critical infrastructure projects like investing in the East River Esplanade and completing Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway.
About the Moderator
Julie Raskin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Waterfront Alliance, leading the organization’s mission to create a waterfront that is resilient, accessible, climate-ready, and economically vibrant. With experience spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Julie is known for bringing together diverse stakeholders to achieve transformational change and advance initiatives that make New York City more a sustainable place to live and work. Julie holds a B.A. in urban studies from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she graduated with distinction. She serves as Vice Chair of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy and is a recipient of the Waste360 “40 Under 40” Award. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.
About Waterfront Alliance
Waterfront Alliance has been leading the charge in how the New York metropolitan region views and uses its harbor for more than a decade and a half. With more than 1,100 Alliance Partners committed to bringing real change to our region’s 700+ miles of coastline, the Waterfront Alliance stepped into a new and critical leadership role to inform and challenge the region’s response to sea level rise and coastal storms. Our crucial, long-term focus is on increasing waterfront accessibility for all, advocating for a working waterfront that is a vital source of business activity, preparing our most-impacted communities for the climate crisis, and educating the next generation of waterfront stewards. We achieve change through collaborations, education, our own initiatives and campaigns, and by inspiring others to become changemakers.
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the historic ships and exhibitions on view is not included with your ticket to this event. If you would like to explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about General Admission tickets when you check in.
General Admission is available Friday through Sunday, from 11am to 5pm and brings you aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, and into all current exhibitions on view in the first-floor Schermerhorn Row galleries at 12 Fulton Street. Your ticket also sets you on course to explore Maritime City, the Seaport Museum’s immersive, three-floor exhibition at A.A. Thomson & Co., located at 213 Water Street.
Ready for more?
Head over to our Programs and Events page to see what else is happening at the Museum. Sign up for an upcoming talk, learn more about visiting Wavertree, or explore our virtual offerings.