Leah Barazani is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at CUNY Hunter College. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Colorado College. Leah’s interests lie in how thoughtful, forward-thinking, and responsive planning can address gaps in resiliency, environmental justice, and climate justice. Specifically, her academic work focuses on land use, infrastructure, and questions … Continued
Lauren Leiker is pursuing a Master’s in Design and Urban Ecology at Parsons School of Design at The New School. She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies with minors in Sociology and Education from Vassar College. She is deeply passionate about accessibility and design, equity and social justice, and community building and public space. Before … Continued
Jake Iaccino is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration at the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at CUNY Baruch College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Communications from SUNY Farmingdale State College where he served as President and CEO of the not-for-profit, Student Government Association Inc., and advised numerous … Continued
Isabel Jordan is pursuing a Master of Urban Planning at Hunter College. She holds a degree in Environmental Policy and Law from Binghamton University. Her professional experiences in the public realm range widely. From using food scraps to conduct public-facing waste education via the GrowNYC Compost Program to engaging luxury retail stakeholders in placemaking programming … Continued
Gabriela Ramos is pursuing a Master’s degree in Youth Studies at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She previously earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology at CUNY John Jay College. Gabriela has a deep-rooted passion for youth justice and has previously worked with various non-profits in NYC, bringing at-risk and incarcerated youth … Continued
David Ludwig is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban and Community Planning at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from New York University where he studied politics, human rights, and development in the Global Liberal Studies department. His research focused on the effects of climate change on … Continued
Akwasi Agyeman is pursuing an MPA at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Black Studies from Middlebury College. Akwasi is focused on Public Policy And Nonprofit Management and is dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that foster economic mobility, housing security, and social equity. His … Continued
Zev Reisman is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at CUNY Hunter College. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from New York University, where he developed a keen interest in the relationship between the built environment and residents’ health. After earning an Advanced Certificate in Community Leadership from the CUNY School of Labor … Continued
Yutong Zheng is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, specializing in Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment. Her academic journey is driven by a commitment to leveraging strategic investments and policy innovation to tackle pressing urban challenges, such as affordable housing, economic development, and public … Continued
XuanXuan Huang is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Transdisciplinary Design at The New School’s Parsons School of Design. Her primary interests lie in community-led service design and user extensive experience in the field of design, with a focus on addressing the nuanced needs of marginalized groups and enhancing societal well-being. Through internships … Continued
Sonia Uthuph is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at The City College of New York. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Texas, with a focus on social and educational psychology. Sonia recognizes the vital role public spaces play in enhancing both physical and social well-being. She is … Continued
Shannen Smiley is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation at the Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies, with a minor in Art and Architectural History, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Since 2021, Shannen has been actively involved in the preservation … Continued