In this week’s episode, we’re joined by acclaimed historian and author Betty Boyd Caroli, a Fulbright scholar whose career has spanned topics from immigration to the lives of America’s First Ladies.
Her latest book, “A Slumless America: Mary K. Simkhovitch and the Dream of Affordable Housing,” shines a light on a visionary reformer whose name isn’t widely known—Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch. Founder of the National Housing Conference, Simkhovitch was a pioneering force in the fight for safe, decent, and affordable housing. At a time when American cities were facing rapid growth and stark inequality, she worked tirelessly to build stronger communities and push for lasting change—impact that still resonates today.
Caroli joins NHC’s President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the life and legacy of Mary K. Simkhovitch and what her work can teach us about today’s housing challenges.
