2023 World Heritage City Celebration

A pillar of the Philadelphia community as former two-term Mayor and member of City Council, for the 2023 Celebration, we would like to invite Michael Nutter to be our honoree and to receive the Globy Award for Distinguished Global Leadership.

Join the Global Philadelphia Association in honoring Mr. Nutter!

Michael A. Nutter is a former two-term mayor of Philadelphia who previously spent nearly 15 years in the Philadelphia City Council. Since leaving public office in 2016, he has remained active in public policy, government, and civic life.

He is the inaugural David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and holds fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, and Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics.

Read his full bio here.

Why do we celebrate Philadelphia's role as a World Heritage City? Yes, being America’s first World Heritage City is a boost for Philadelphia’s business, culture, and tourism. But there’s more to it than that.

The World Heritage City designation recognizes Philadelphia’s seminal role in modern democracy and significant cultural assets. But the title isn’t an end in itself. Instead, it’s the center of an ever-expanding circle.

Each year, Philadelphia works with other World Heritage Cities to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The goal is to be positive, sustainable change models for all cities.

It’s not just about government, though. It’s about bringing people together. Every year, our Global Events Calendar is filled with local heritage and cultural events presented by organizations large and small, including GPA.

We celebrate all of that: the energy that creates the events, and the energy that comes back out, doubled. Together, we expand the circle across Greater Philadelphia.

Of course, the influence of the WHC designation travels, and we celebrate that too. Enter cultural exchanges, visiting professors, new business opportunities, and cities sharing valuable knowledge. So the circle expands further, across borders, across oceans.

So when we come together for the annual World Heritage City Celebration, it’s not just about the past. We recognize all those who strive to extend our heritage, creating a brighter future for Philadelphia and our global partners.

GPA’s annual World Heritage City Celebration is a night to join together, revel in the year’s accomplishments, and honor an outstanding individual who has enriched our community.

You can expect a five-star evening, build your network, and get inspired by exceptional leaders. You’ll also fuel GPA’s efforts to grow the World Heritage City project by:

Preserving and Celebrating Historical and Cultural Assets
Educating Global Kids with Roots
Building World Heritage City Awareness and Ownership
Extending Philadelphia’s Global Reach

To learn more about the World Heritage City Celebration,

please take a look at the highlight video below with our 2022 honoree, Ali Velshi.

The year's celebration will be held on Thursday September 7, 2023 at 6 pm.

To view photos from the celebration, please visit Global Philadelphia's Flickr.

Funds raised help Global Philadelphia Association continue its work on the World Heritage City Project and
its four critical initiatives of the GPA mission: education, preservation, building awareness and extending our global reach.