Ben Schulman has built a career deeply rooted in the exploration of place and space.
As a writer on architecture, urban planning, and policy, he’s been published in ARCHITECT, Belt, CityLab, ICON, Metropolis, New Geography, and Streetsblog, among others. He served as the editor-in-chief of Chicago Architect magazine and the design section of Newcity Chicago, amplifying the voices and ideas of the architecture and design community.
Ben was as the communications director for The Congress for the New Urbanism and the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects, contextualizing the urban design, development, and planning process, before helping launch Small Change - an equity crowdfunding fintech platform that harnesses the power of individual investment into impact-oriented real estate.
These experiences led to Memphis, TN, and to the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), a community development organization focused on making the Memphis Medical District a more prosperous, equitable, and vibrant place. As the Vice President, Director of Real Estate and Economic Development, Ben leads teams engaged in rewriting the rules of development.
Ben's commitment to community development is further demonstrated through active board membership Community LIFT and as the board president of BLDG Memphis. He has spoken and lectured at numerous conferences and universities, and been recognized as both a Good Work Institute and Next City Vanguard Fellow.
With a deep-rooted passion to understand the dynamics of cities, Ben seeks to shape communities that thrive on connectivity, agency, and a strong sense of place.
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