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Robert Hammond and Alan van Capelle are two influential leaders dedicated to enhancing public spaces and advancing social equity.
Robert Hammond currently serves as the president and chief strategy officer at Therme Group US, a company committed to making wellbeing accessible to all by integrating global thermal bathing traditions with an indoor tropical ecosystem. Therme Group's resorts are designed to enhance the mind, body, and soul through immersive experiences. Hammond is best known as the co-founder and former executive director of Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit he led from 1999 to 2022. Under his leadership, the organization transformed the abandoned railway on Manhattan’s West Side into a vibrant public park that reimagines the role of public spaces in creating connected, healthy urban communities.
In addition to his work with Friends of the High Line, Hammond has consulted for a range of entrepreneurial endeavors and nonprofits, including the Times Square Alliance and National Cooperative Bank. A self-taught artist, Hammond has held notable roles such as ex-officio trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and producer of the documentary Citizen Jane: Battle for the City. His accolades include the prestigious Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome.
Alan van Capelle was appointed executive director of Friends of the High Line in 2023, where he continues Hammond’s vision of fostering public spaces that contribute to healthy and connected neighborhoods. Van Capelle’s career, which spans government, labor, and nonprofit leadership, has consistently focused on advocating for marginalized communities. Before joining the High Line, he served as president and CEO of Educational Alliance, where he led a network of community centers in Lower Manhattan that provide multi-generational programs aimed at improving well-being and economic mobility.
Van Capelle’s notable achievements include his work as head of the Empire State Pride Agenda, where he played a pivotal role in advancing marriage equality in New York. He has also led the progressive Jewish advocacy organization Bend the Arc, and served as deputy comptroller for the City of New York, championing transparency and accountability.
With deep roots in community organizing, van Capelle’s work in labor advocacy began in the 1990s, representing healthcare workers and later the members of SEIU Local 32BJ, which includes many immigrant workers. His expertise makes him a trusted advisor to elected officials and nonprofit leaders, and he holds several prominent leadership roles, including serving as treasurer of the Association for a Better New York and as a trustee for the City University Construction Fund.
Both Hammond and van Capelle have left indelible marks on their respective fields, earning widespread recognition for their contributions to public service, community building, and social justice.
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