ELIZABETH SCHAEFFER BROWN, PULL.CITY CO-FOUNDER  // 12.13.24 

The journey to co-founding Pull.City reflects a deceptively simple-sounding lesson I stumbled upon many years ago and whose implications I am still seeking to fully understand: communities are strongest when they tackle challenges on their own terms. While this may seem like an obvious truism, in practice, it calls for subtlety, patience, and a commitment to truly understanding the unique circumstances of each community.

Looking back, I have personally worked on and witnessed many well-meaning projects. The most successful ones all have one thing in common: those built from within endure. In Haiti, after the 2010 earthquake, local artisans charted their own paths to sustainable livelihoods, crafting solutions rooted in their own expertise and traditions. In Afghanistan, working with Roya Mahboob and the Afghan Girls Robotics Team revealed how technology and education could spark transformation—when shaped by those closest to the challenge. In Iraq, Yazidi leaders drove advocacy efforts for justice and recovery, creating a movement that resonated globally because it was born from their own experiences and needs. These efforts helped elevate Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a survivor of unimaginable violence, to becoming a Nobel Laureate.

Each of these efforts succeeded because the people most affected were the ones defining the solutions. These lessons shaped Pull.City’s mission: to give communities tools to solve their challenges on their own terms. This philosophy took on new urgency during the pandemic, when businesses in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard pivoted to manufacturing medical supplies by connecting with neighbors and finding untapped local resources. The strength of these networks showed how much more communities can achieve when they have the means to collaborate effectively.

Pull.City was designed with this in mind. Using AI, we help local businesses connect, share resources, and grow together. It’s not about directing them but about building the tools that let them define and pursue their own futures.

The deceptively simple idea that communities thrive when they lead themselves continues to guide everything we do. It’s a principle that demands humility and ongoing reflection, but it’s also one that offers the most meaningful results. Through Pull.City, we aim to bring this philosophy to life and support communities in building their own paths forward.