Where did you work before Openbox?

After graduating with a BA in Urban Planning from Vassar College, I returned to my hometown of Los Angeles where I worked for two years at an urban planning consulting firm on community engagement surrounding public transportation and public space projects. Seeking more hands-on, local perspectives in sustainability across rural international contexts, I spent the past ten months working on organic farms and eco-build projects across Western Europe and the Balkans.

Why do you do the work you do?

I believe urban planning and design have the potential to build truly accessible public supportive infrastructures that create opportunities for thriving. I love the processes of design and planning that are informed by long term relationships built on mutual trust. This can ultimately inform community led design and processes that serve as platforms for community empowerment.

What does inclusivity mean to you?

To me, inclusivity is a dynamic practice grounded in social interactions and embodied in structures that support individual and community flourishing. Inclusive spaces fundamentally nurture and value differences.

When do you feel most like yourself?

In conversation, writing, and in conversations with myself while writing.

I spend a lot of time thinking about...

How to cultivate presence.

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