Tommy Truong

Director

Tommy specializes in policy development, organizational and operational strategy, and systems transformation to create just and equitable cities.

Partnering with local governments, civic organizations, and philanthropies, Tommy designs bold strategies to address systemic challenges and deliver measurable outcomes. With experience working both within government and alongside external coalitions, Tommy creates actionable policy agendas that tackle critical urban issues such as housing, homelessness, public safety, and economic development.

Tommy has supported new leaders in Allegheny County and Dallas during executive transitions, helping craft 100-day agendas that leverage moments of change to enact transformative solutions rooted in community values. In parallel, Tommy brings deep expertise in supporting coalitions to align stakeholders, set strategic priorities, and drive measurable impact. In San Francisco and New Orleans, Tommy facilitated agenda-setting processes with labor unions, advocacy groups, and community organizations to develop plans that shape public discourse and influence governing agendas.

His work extends to transforming public sector structures and advancing equity through governance strategies. Tommy led the development of SACOG’s Engage, Empower, Implement Framework, fostering equitable partnerships between community-based organizations and local jurisdictions, and guided the creation of the Chicago’s New Arrivals Cabinet, charged with advancing compassionate integration of new residents. In Dallas, Tommy played a key role in the creation of the Community Development Unit to drive equitable real estate development, and in Oakland, crafted a roadmap to strengthen worker protections through the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards. In New York City, Tommy helped establish the first centralized civic engagement office, defining its mission and creating evaluation frameworks to enhance participation and accountability. Tommy’s work is driven by a belief in the transformative power of responsive and equitable governance to address systemic challenges, uplift communities, and create lasting change.

Tommy holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from New York University and a Bachelor’s in Construction Management from the University of Florida.