I am a community organizer and activist for housing abundance and affordability. I believe in an inclusive process that’s welcoming to everyone, and that how we get there matters just as much as where we’re going. I seek to help people connect the stories of who they are with the stories of where they are to enable agency and empower collective work towards change.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Community Partner, Black Washtenaw Collaboratory
A community-engaged collaborative research project on the histories of racial segregation and African-American community formation in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Founder, Building Matters Ann Arbor
I founded Building Matters Ann Arbor, a nonprofit devoted to the local architecture and built environment and established a narrative-based, community-centric fundraising program.
Owner, jaslWerk LLC, AEC marketing consultancy
Director of Marketing, Meadowlark Builders
SELECTED BOARD SERVICE
Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority
Past roles: Affordable Housing + Ec. Dev. Committee Co-chair, Board President, Board Vice President, Capital Improvements Committee Co-chair, Partnerships Committee Co-chair.
Justice Indeed Board Advisor
Recent role: Policy Committee Co-chair.
Past Roles
Impact Design Collaborative Board Advisor. AIA Michigan Justice/Equity/Diversity/Inclusion Committee. A2Y (Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti) Chamber of Commerce Policy Committee. Ecology Center, Marketing + Development Board Advisory Committee.
SELECTED MULTIMEDIA ACTIVISM
Ann Arbor AF podcast
Ann Arbor Housing For All community organizing.
DownTown Halls
Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance update: independent civic advocacy
SELECTED PUBLIC SPEAKING
“The Performance Art and Science of Changing People’s Minds.” Michigan Transportation Planning Association, 2021.
“Finding Your Fundraising Style.” Design Matters Conference, 2019.
“Third Spaces” panel discussion. Detroit Startup Week, 2019.
“Yes In My Back Yard” presentation + session facilitation, 2019. Urban Land Institute Spring Summit.
“Library Lot Debate.” League of Women Voters Ann Arbor, 2018.
“Building Matters at the Movies: Citizen Kane.” University of Michigan Libraries, 2018.
“Architecture Supervillains.” Nerd Nite Ann Arbor, 2017.
SELECTED CLASSROOM SPEAKING
“Local Government: Opportunities for Activism.” University of Michigan Ford School.
“Equitable Growth.” Ann Arbor STEAM.
“Green Development.” University of Michigan School of the Environment and Sustainability.
SELECTED INTERVIEWS
“Fighting for a Public Understanding of Why Good Architecture Matters.” EntreArchitect.
“Washtenaw United: Reflections On The UWWC's 21-Day Equity Challenge.” WEMU.
“The ABCs Of ADUs In AA: Opening The Door To Accessory Dwelling Units In Ann Arbor.” WEMU.
“Affordable Housing + Activism.” The Alex Thomas Talk Show.
“Affordable Housing 101.” Michelle Hughes, Civic Party radio show.
SELECTED MEDIA COVERAGE
“Unbuilding racism: Activists confront injustice in Washtenaw County's built environment.” Concentrate Media.
“New Ann Arbor podcast aims to make civic engagement accessible AF.” Concentrate Media.
“‘We have to be anti-racist,’ Ann Arbor DDA official says at board meeting.” MLive.
“Building Matters Ann Arbor kicks off inaugural architecture tours.” WDIV Click On Detroit.
“Accessory apartments: Threat to Ann Arbor neighborhoods or boost for affordable housing?” MLive.
“Yes in my backyard: New Ann Arbor group takes proactive stance toward development.” Concentrate Media.
“Pop-up party to support 17-story high-rise on Ann Arbor Library Lot.” MLive.
“The ABCs of affordability in Washtenaw County.” Concentrate Media.
SELECTED NONPROFIT COLLABS
Washtenaw County Mutual Liberation Journey co-creator.
Community Action Network, summer camp architecture program.
Net Positive Conference volunteer.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Building in a Building Exhibit.
Habitat for Humanity Women Build, steering committee.
SELECTED ASSOCIATIONS
Association of Architecture Organizations
Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce
National Organization of Minority Architects
International Living Future Institute
EDUCATION
Graduate Architecture Studies, University of Michigan
concentrations: philosophy, net zero design
Bachelor of Arts: German Linguistics, University of Georgia
concentrations: linguistic anthropology, philosophy
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
concentrations: international business, linguistics