Temple University President John Fry was recently appointed to the board of directors for the North Broad Renaissance (NBR). The organization serves as the non-profit manager of both the North Broad Business Improvement District and North Broad Special Services District, and its mission is to enhance the economic vitality and overall quality of North Broad Street from City Hall to Butler Street. 

“When I took office as Temple’s president, one of the first organizations that I wanted to become involved with was the North Broad Renaissance,” Fry said. “Together, we share a similar vision for what this area of North Philadelphia can become, and we also both recognize the key role that Temple plays in helping the city reach its full potential. I am delighted to serve and look forward to working closely with executive director Shalimar Thomas, KLN ’08, in the years to come.” 

Fry’s appointment to the Board comes at a pivotal time, as NBR works to accelerate its efforts in economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and cultural enrichment along North Broad Street. With Fry’s leadership, NBR aims to build stronger partnerships and drive meaningful impact in the surrounding communities. 

“We are thrilled to welcome John Fry to the North Broad Renaissance Board of Directors. His extensive experience in higher education, urban development and community engagement will be invaluable as we continue our work to revitalize North Broad and create lasting, positive change in the neighborhood,” Thomas said.  “John’s leadership and vision align perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to collaborating with him to build a stronger, more vibrant community for all." 

The mission of the North Broad Renaissance is to revitalize the corridor by improving its economic vitality and overall quality of life through cleaning, greening, safety, business attraction, and business retention efforts. In total, the organization’s work impacts 50,000 residents who reside in eight different neighborhoods from City Hall to Butler Street. 

The organization’s Board of Directors is chaired by Kenneth Scott, president and CEO at Beech Companies. Scott is also a member of Temple’s Board of Trustees. 

Since its founding in 2015, the North Broad Renaissance has worked with communities to implement various clean, safe and quality-of-life issues. Currently, the organization is focusing its attention toward helping the North Broad corridor transform from an auto-oriented drive-through corridor to a pedestrian-friendly, highly desirable, mixed-use community. 

“At Temple, we share that same goal,” Fry said. “Part of the reason that we were so excited to announce that Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant would be coming to campus is because it is the exact type of business that we want to attract to North Philadelphia. It’s one of the premier eateries and breweries in the region, and it helps make this area a top destination for dining and entertainment.” 

Fry recently was a guest on the #ThinkBroad Podcast, a new podcast that was launched by the North Broad Renaissance in January 2025. He joined Thomas to discuss how Temple can help North Broad Street become a highly desirable corridor for the business community. The episode is slated to premiere this spring. 

For more information on the North Broad Renaissance, visit the organization’s website.