BY SCOTT STIFFLER | In 2025’s topsy-turvy world of on-again/off-again tariffs and all manner of mortifying monkeyshines coming from the Oval Office, it’s good to know that here on the island of Manhattan, there are some systems in place that need no disrupting; regularly held events you can mark on your calendar in indelible ink. Such is the case with the full board meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4, which almost always meets at 6:30pm on the first Wednesday of the month.

Such was the case on March 5, when the evening’s agenda offered, as it always does, a Public Session in which anyone can claim two minutes (and on busy nights, one minute) of time at the mic, to address the Full Board on any topic or topics of their choosing. And within the Public Session–moderated by firm-but-fair peacekeeping pacekeeper Leslie Boghosian Murphy (MCB4’s 1st Vice Chair)–there’s almost always an update on recent and/or upcoming events at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Just as welcome as the message is its messenger–the dependably informative, contagiously enthusiastic Lisa Wager–whose preternatural sense of how the two-minute clock is ticking inspires admiration, awe, and even a little envy. Click Here to see Wager’s March 5, 2025 Public Session appearance (at the meeting’s 45-minute mark), and see below for a transcript that sees Wager invite you to three  free upcoming events at FIT.

“Hello, I’m Lisa Wager, Director of Government Community Relations at the Fashion Institute of Technology, a SUNY [State University of New York] College on West 27th Street with a residence hall on 31st between 9th and Dyer in the district. I’m here with an FIT update. We have some fun, interesting, eye-opening public programs coming up on campus and I hope you’ll join for some or all of them.

On March 18th from 5:30pm to 7pm, join author and cultural historian Elizabeth L. Block and The Museum at FIT’s Digital Media and Strategic Initiatives Manager, Tamsen Young, as they discuss Block’s latest book Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing, a riveting and diverse history of women’s hair that reestablishes the cultural power of hairdressing in 19th century America. The event is in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, and there’s a book signing that’s going to follow. Register for this free event on the FIT website [click here to register]. I hope to see you there—I’m definitely going.

On April 4th from 9am to 2pm, discover how AI is reshaping the creative landscape from fashion to media and beyond, at FIT’s second annual AI Symposium—AI: Business Innovation and the Creative Transformation. Explore the AI influence on design, fashion, education, and more. Connect with industry experts and dive into hands-on workshops. The Symposium is free and open to the public [click here to register].

And finally, on April 8th and 9th, FIT will host the 19th Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference. The theme this year is “Charting a Course Toward Circularity.” It’s going to focus on how the creative industries are leading the transition towards closed-loop systems that reduce and even eliminate resource consumption and waste. Vibrant and inspirational conversations among eco-entrepreneurs, designers, activists, and nonprofit leaders will delve into strategies for navigating change and fostering collaboration in sustainable design production distribution and business. The conference is open to the public. A full schedule on conference registration will be available soon on the FIT website [click here for more info].”

And with that, Wager ended her two minutes of time at MCB4’s Full Board Meeting of March 5, 2025. For more about what Wager does at FIT, click here or see the bio, directly below,

Lisa Wager, director, Government and Community Relations, oversees FIT’s city, state, and federal government engagement on issues ranging from funding to land use to inter- and intra-agency agreements, and works with FIT’s administration and student representatives to coordinate the college’s lobbying efforts. She is responsible for identifying opportunities for collaboration and partnership with external organizations and for building and implementing community relations and outreach programs to enhance the college’s involvement with its diverse community groups, both in the geographic neighborhood and in areas of shared interest. She represents the college on several boards and local committees, and appears monthly before Community Boards 4 and 5.

Lisa’s prior employment includes roles as deputy director of Non-traditional Employment for Women (a job-training program that provides free instruction and helps women gain access to skilled trade union apprenticeships), and director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northeast and Caribbean Region, U.S. General Services Administration, as an appointee of the Clinton Administration. She holds a BA from Vassar College.

—END—