Last week, Levitt Foundation’s Executive Vice President Vanessa Silberman traveled to Philadelphia for the 2025 Main Street Now Conference, where she met with local community leaders from across the country who are working to revitalize their communities through place-based strategies (including free outdoor concerts!) to advance shared prosperity and build community. While there, Vanessa shared the impact of the Levitt Foundation’s work alongside the incredible stories of Levitt grantees who are also Main Street nonprofits during two conference panels. The Levitt Foundation is a proud partner of Main Street America! #fromthefield @NatlMainStreet

Photo 1: Main Street attendees enthusiastically embraced the innovative ideas to boost engagement shared during the panel “Layering Impact Through Creative Activations & Engagement,” moderated by Silberman and featuring Levitt grantee perspectives from Bryan Johnson of Levitt AMP Green Bay (@OnBroadwayGB) and Maggie Tipton of Levitt AMP Batesville (@batesvilleinmainstreet).

Photo 2: Enjoying a group lunch with Levitt grantees who are also Main Street organizations.

Photo 3: Vanessa Silberman sharing a moment with the “Mother of Main Street” Mary Means, the visionary community planner and preservationist who founded Main Street America four decades ago in 1977.

Photo 4: Andrea Dono of Levitt AMP Harrisonburg (@downtownharrisonburg) and Bryan Johnson of Levitt AMP Green Bay (@beonbroadway) shared how the Levitt music series in their community sparked city investment in their Main Street panel “Unleashing Capital Investment Through Creative Placemaking,” moderated by Silberman.

Photo 5: As part of the Levitt Foundation’s support of Main Street America, Silberman introduced Levitt fan favorites, the artist Küf Knotz and Christine Elise (@kufknotz & @christineeliseharp), who gave a special performance for a rapt Main Street audience!