I began my career revitalizing an urban farm and education center: re-branding, building buzz, organizing events and volunteers, and transforming the land into a thriving community space.The Knox County Health Department scouted me for a new position, community organizing for healthy neighborhoods, schools, and streets. We built the city’s first bilingual (Sp./Eng.) neighborhood organization, public orchards, mobile skate park, pop-up playground, and street murals. Among the over 300 employees I stood out as an innovator, community specialist, and culture driver.A joint position was then created for me serving the City/County Planning Department and the Great Schools Partnership to act as a healthy community and placemaking consultant to 12 school zones. I wrote the training manuals for community engagement at each of my employers.When Covid hit I left the public sector to stay home with my newborn son and start a design/build studio that creates opportunities for play. I currently work as Founder, Designer, Marketing, and Project Manager. I would like to scale back my playscape work and re-focus my energy into community building.Trainings: dialogue, reflective listening, qualitative data analysis, community organizing, consensus building, charrette management, sociometrics, health equity, policy change, and placemaking.Accolades: PlanEast TN Equity team, Tennessee Public Health Association Visionary of the Year, TN Built Environment Rising Starts policy team, keynote speaker at the Knoxville Neighborhoods Conference and the Knoxville Chamber's Endeavor Summit.
