Olivia Cleaveland has contributed to tenant-led research on residents’ experiences following NYCHA redevelopment and to the Dismantling Disinvestment: Public Housing Archive. Her work focuses on affordable housing, public housing preservation, neighborhood-scale planning, and community-engaged research. At Pratt, she has worked on housing policy, land use, and development through partnerships with Mothers on the Move, the … Continued
Gavi Wind has focused her academic and professional work on waterfront parks, public-space design, and affordable housing policy. At Barnard College, she wrote her undergraduate thesis examining East River Park’s development plans and user experience. Her research interests include the intersection of waterfront rezoning, climate resilience, and social equity. Most recently, Gavi interned with NYC … Continued
Born and raised in South Queens, Yvonne Scorcia developed an interest in New York City’s waterways, climate, and environmental justice through years spent around Jamaica Bay. She completed three summer internships with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Coastal Resilience and was selected as a New York City Urban Fellow in 2023. In … Continued
Ava Klein focuses on affordable housing and community-led development, drawing on experience in housing policy research and grassroots advocacy. At the NYU Furman Center, she supports research on property tax reform, New York City rent stabilization, and homelessness prevention in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a fellow with HR&A Advisors, she worked with housing … Continued
Quaran Ahmad explores how cities, culture, art, and environmental justice intersect, using design and storytelling to create more equitable and meaningful public spaces. His experience spans urban planning, infrastructure, environmental research, and community engagement through roles with the New York City Department of Design and Construction, AECOM, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Yale University’s Institute … Continued
Collins Kusi is interested in how public policy and community planning can make communities more accessible and inclusive, especially for people with disabilities. As a Day Habilitation Coordinator at the Institute of Applied Human Dynamics (IAHD), he supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through self-advocacy, health communication, and stronger community connections. For his graduate … Continued
Ziko Malambo is a Zambian-born architect currently pursuing a Master of Science in Architecture at the Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Architecture in New York. His journey into architecture is shaped by a personal commitment to honor his late father’s vision and a passion for creating spaces that uplift both people and communities. With … Continued
Julia Qian is pursuing a dual degree in Architecture and Urban Planning at Columbia University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan, where a gap year of planning-related work inspired her interest in connecting design practice with urban policy and research. She has gained experience in architectural design, spatial analysis, … Continued
Will Harlow is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Columbia GSAPP. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at Colorado College, designing an interdisciplinary curriculum integrating psychology, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. After working as a growth marketer for financial technology startups, he transitioned to urban planning to pursue his interests in community development, equitable urban design, … Continued
Rafael Santos is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at CUNY Hunter College. He earned a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Brazil and an MBA in Project Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, also in Brazil. His professional career in private-sector capital projects included initiatives that promoted … Continued
Polly Ruiying Xu is a Master of Fine Arts candidate in Transdisciplinary Design at Parsons School of Design. She holds a dual BA in Sociology from Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris, which informs her interdisciplinary approach to design and social research. Polly’s work focuses on advancing equitable wellbeing through participatory research and design, centering … Continued
Alejandra Paez is pursuing a Master’s in Urban Design at CCNY’s Spitzer School of Architecture. Originally from Colombia, she earned her professional architecture degree and license to practice architecture, combining formal training with extensive practical expertise. She spent several years at Bogotá’s Urban Development Institute (IDU), contributing to the Technical Project Division on public space … Continued