In Cynthia’s role as Vice President of Community Engagement she is responsible for expanding channels of outreach to local communities and strengthening relationships with government entities and economic development associations. Additionally, Stewart works to expand the Retail Academy platform and further develop tools for Retail Strategies.
Cynthia Stewart brings more than 20 years of experience in retail real estate advocacy having served as a senior community relations and public policy executive with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), fostering a commitment to public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility. She grew her career building bridges between the public and private sectors. She creates opportunities for connection, communication, and collaboration focusing on emerging issues, removing obstacles, and enhancing quality of life in communities both large and small
Cynthia is the co-author of Development in Underserved Retail Markets, published by ICSC and currently serves on the Steering Committee for Chicago TREND, a social enterprise focused on neighborhood transforming catalytic retail development. She is a 2019 graduate of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility with a commitment to excellence, integrity, accountability, and inclusion.
