The Action Lab - Communication Associate Application

Gabriel Hernández-Solano

1020 Grand Concourse

Bronx, NY, 10451

September 17, 2023

Dear Hiring Team at Action Lab and La Tejedora,

I am writing to express my keen interest in the Communications Associate position at The Action Lab. Having briefly collaborated with The Action Lab and La Tejedora during Liberation Summer, I was able to get a preview of the energy and culture of the organization and am excited about the vision, the work, and the community it is seeking to cultivate. The prospect of joining the team officially to contribute my skills and experiences to further the organization’s reach and impact seems like an incredible opportunity.

Background:

I am a Chilean-Canadian designer, organizer, and photographer based in NYC for almost a decade. My academic journey, including a Master of Architecture, laid the foundation for my dedication to socially impactful projects. My career began at Bjarke Ingels Group, where I contributed to a range of projects such as Google Headquarters in California and the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project in Lower Manhattan post-Hurricane Sandy. Subsequently, I joined MASS Design Group where I served as a Senior Designer until May, focusing on impact-driven projects and community-based development across various sectors, including healthcare, housing, indigenous communities, food justice, and mass incarceration.

Passion for Social Justice and Organizing:

My passion for social justice led to my involvement in political campaigns, including Julia Salazar's and most notably AOC's, where I wore multiple hats, from canvassing to photographer to informal security to campaign office design. I actively participated in the George Floyd protests and the uprising in Chile, organized mutual aid efforts during the pandemic, and organized events such at the Green New Deal: A Public Assembly at the Queens Museum. Additionally, I played a pivotal role in unionizing efforts at MASS Design Group.

Key Qualifications:

1. Fluency in Spanish: Spanish is my first language, granting me seamless communication skills.

2. Personal Connection to Puerto Rico: Puertoricans have welcomed me with open arms in NYC, which has allowed me to develop an appreciation and understanding of the people and culture over the years. Living in the South Bronx, alongside my Puertorican partner, has further solidified this connection. I am also well connected with the diaspora in NYC - just this summer I organized the campaign to support Toñita during her legal troubles, a community gathering for Manuel Natal during his NYC tour, and an event at La Sala de Pepe in Loisaida (LES) to commemorate 50 years of the military coup in Chile.

3. Social Media Expertise: While I haven't held a specific social media management role, my experience in designing graphics, photography, video editing, narratives, and copywriting has equipped me with the skills necessary to create compelling content and manage social media platforms effectively. I was constantly having to learn new programs in architecture and am confident in my ability to learn the necessary skills quickly.

4. Copywriting and Communication Skills: My experience in creating conceptual architectural proposals has honed my copywriting skills, often requiring the development of detailed narratives about projects. Additionally, I served as part of the informal translation team during AOC's campaign.

5. Graphic Design and Video Editing: Proficiency in design and video tools enables me to create visually engaging content.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to explore how my skills and experiences align with the Communications Associate role at The Action Lab. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the possibility of contributing to the team!

Sincerely,

Gabriel Hernández-Solano

GABRIEL HERNÁNDEZ SOLANO

RESIDENCE the bronx, nyc, usa

EMAIL gabriel@bloque.world

PHONE +1(917)488-0049

IG @gabriel.himself

EDUCATION

2012-2014 MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE

university of calgary, alberta, canada

2014 TRAVELLING THESIS barcelona, catalunya

2008-2012 BFA VISUAL ARTS university of calgary, alberta, canada

2004-2008 LEBOLDUS HIGH SCHOOL regina, saskatchewan, canada

EXPERIENCE

CO-FOUNDER, BLOQUE MEDIA COLLECTIVE may 2019 - present the bronx, nyc

SENIOR DESIGNER, MASS DESIGN GROUP may 2019 - may 2023 the bronx, nyc

DESIGNER, BJARKE INGELS GROUP

april 2018 - april 2019 brooklyn, nyc

JUNIOR DESIGNER, BJARKE INGELS GROUP

january 2015 - april 2018 manhattan, nyc

DESIGN ASSISTANT, BJARKE INGELS GROUP

june 2014 - january 2015 manhattan, nyc

FREELANCE VISUALIZATION ARTIST

june 2013 - january 2020

brooklyn, nyc

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

2013 calgary, alberta, canada

CONSTRUCTION LABORER + OPERATOR

WILCO CONTRACTORS

2010-2013 regina, saskatchewan, canada

LANGUAGES

SPANISH native tongue

ENGLISH native tongue

REFERENCES

AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

VOLUNTEER + ORGANIZING

ACTION LAB LIBERATION SUMMER the bronx, nyc

TOÑITAS NY (#HANDSOFFTOÑITAS) brooklyn, nyc

MANUEL NATAL

MOVIMIENTO VICTORIA CIUDADANA nyc + puerto rico

PRIMERA FILM: CHILE’S FRONTLINE wallmapu + santiago, chile

BRONX DOCUMENTARY CENTER the bronx, nyc

NYPD CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT the bronx, nyc

BLACK LIVES MATTER GREATER NY the bronx, nyc

JACKSON HEIGHTS MUTUAL AID queens, nyc

BUSHWICK MUTUAL AID brooklyn, nyc

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ FOR CONGRESS the bronx + queens, nyc

JULIA SALAZAR FOR STATE SENATE brooklyn, nyc

SCATTER SITE OFFICE RENOVATION BREAKING GROUND NYC the bronx, nyc

COOPERATIVA CAL-AFRICA MOVING barcelona, catalunya

SKILLS

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING

MODELLING + VISUALIZATION

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

COPYWRITING

VIDEOGRAPHY + VIDEO EDITING

PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHIC DESIGN

NARRATIVE + STORYTELLING

DRONE PILOT

#TOÑITASNOSETOCA #HANDSOFFTOÑITAS

TYPE: Emergency Action Campaign

LOCATION: Manhattan, NYC

ROLE: Organizer, Graphic Designer

#TOÑITASNOSETOCA was an urgent, last-minute mobilization orchestrated at the request of Toñita which was held outside the courthouse by City Hall in Manhattan. This spontaneous action was organized to rally support for Toñita, who was facing mounting legal challenges following the pandemic, culminating in a critical juncture in June this summer. The campaign garnered significant attention and media coverage, drawing support from politicians like Nydia Velasquez and Anthony Reynoso. We are delighted to report that, thanks in part to the collective efforts of this campaign, Toñita’s case has been successfully resolved, with complaints and fines dropped.

Social Media Deck

Picture from Diaro El Nuevo Dia's Instagram

JUNTE COMUNITARIO CON MANUEL NATAL

TYPE: Conversatorio

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NYC

ROLE: Organizer, Graphic Designer, Photographer

El Junte Comunitario con Manuel Natal en el histórico club social conocido como Toñitas fue parte de la Gira de Victoria Ciudadana durante los días de la parada puertorriqueña anual de Nueva York. Estos encuentros en lugares con raíces en comunidades históricamente boricuas (otro tuvo lugar en Piragua Art Space) tenían como objetivo dialogar sobre el presente y el futuro de las comunidades en Puerto Rico y en la Diáspora Puertorriqueña. Como indica el flyer, también se buscaba discutir soluciones de base comunitaria para abordar la crisis fiscal, económica y política que afecta a la isla.

Social Media Flyers

MEMORIAS EN DIÁSPORA: 50 AÑOS DE RESISTENCIA

TYPE: Conmemoration Event LOCATION: La Sala de Pepe, Loisaida (LES), NYC ROLE: Videography, Editing

"Memorias en Diaspora" was a community gathering organized at La Sala de Pepe in Loisaida to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile. The event featured testimonials from Victor Toro, one of the founders of the Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionario (MIR) and one of the military junta's most sought-after individuals after Pinochet's rise to power. Joining him was his partner, Nieves Ayress, a fellow political exile, whose harrowing accounts of torture and abuse at the hands of the military sent shockwaves through Chile. Both now call the South Bronx home, where their commitment to activism and community continues through their work in El Movimiento La Peña del Bronx.

The gathering wasn't just about remembrance and reflection on the military coup's legacy but also a celebration of Chilean culture, featuring traditional cuisine and music, and a salute to five decades of resistance against the pervasive economic model that was birthed in Chile and has since permeated the global economy.

VIDEO LINKS: INSTAGRAM REEL

Still from Instagram Reel Flyer

DEMOCRACY IS... A LIVING ROOM CONVERSATION

TYPE: Living Room Conversation

LOCATION: Trenton, New Jersey

ROLE: Videography, Editing + Graphic Design

In an exploration of democracy's living essence, 'Living Room Talks' embarked on its pilot event, with the goal of igniting a nationwide conversation series. Going beyond political rhetoric and symbolic gestures, this intimate gathering, hosted in a living room in Trenton, New Jersey, delved into what democracy truly means to individuals and its tangible impact on communities. It marked the inaugural step in Block x Block's vision to redefine democracy as a living practice, emphasizing values of healing, equity, and justice.

The event sought to transform democracy from an abstract concept into a palpable, touchable practice, emphasizing the significance of values like equity and justice in our everyday lives. Supported by a crowdfunding campaign, it aimed to activate a social impact design practice and ignite projects in housing, education, economic development, and health. From community land acquisition to cultural hubs, these endeavors aimed to create equitable opportunities, block by block, community by community.

The event featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, including:

April de Simone, co-founder of designing the WE, and curator of the nationally recognized exhibition 'Undesign the Redline thatexplored the historical and contemporary impacts of unjust policies and practices like residential racial ordinances, Redlining, and Urban Renewal.

Malik Yoba, a multifaceted actor, entrepreneur, musician, inspirational speaker, writer, director, producer, and real estate developer

Marjora Carter, a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant, MacArthur Fellow, and Peabody Awardwinning broadcaster

David Levine, co-founder and president of the American Sustainable Business Council

Walter Puryear, Director of The Andrew Freedman Home

VIDEO LINKS: PROMOTIONAL TEASER EVENT RECAP

Stills from Promotional Teaser

Stills from Recap Trailer

Flyer

AOC CAMPAIGN

TYPE: Political Campaign

LOCATION: The Bronx, Queens, NYC

ROLE: Organizer, Photographer, Security, Designer

Working on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign was an extraordinary experience, particularly during the historic grassroots movement that aimed to unseat Joe Crowley before her ascent to stardom and international acclaim. Among the few moments that can rival its hopefulness in my time as an organizer and activist were the second Bernie campaign , the uprising in Chile, and the George Floyd protests. This period played a significant role in my personal and professional development, shaping me into the organizer and activist I am today.

During my time on the campaign, I had the privilege of wearing various hats and contributing to a multitude of initiatives. I began with fieldwork and canvassing, a role I initially assumed due to the campaign's pressing need for Spanish speakers. Over time, I started to identify gaps, stepping in wherever there was a need. This led me to become one of the campaign's main photographers, and taking on the role of informal security detail as things started to get increasingly intense. As AOC's influence grew and she assumed office, I sought to diversify my involvement beyond electoral organizing. This decision led

me to delve into unique aspects of the campaign, including contributing to the design of her office and the interior design of her campaign office. Furthermore, I became more engaged in organizing efforts centered around the Green New Deal.

The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic demanded swift and collective action. In response, I pivoted my focus to mutual aid efforts. This multifaceted experience not only enriched my skill set but also deepened my commitment to social justice and community empowerment. My time on AOC's campaign left a mark on my trajectory as an organizer and activist, reinforcing my dedication to driving positive change through meaningful and impactful initiatives.

Photographing Bernie's comeback rally in Queens

THE GREEN NEW DEAL: A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

TYPE: Public Assembly

LOCATION: Queens Museum, New York, USA

ROLE: Co-organizer

After extensively contributing to AOC's campaign, a colleague and I, both architects, became increasingly interested in created a bridge between the realms of organizing and academia. Our vision materialized as 'The Green New Deal: A Public Assembly,' a momentous gathering that brought together advocates, organizers, and elected officials to delve into the Green New Deal's (GND) profound implications for society, policy, and the built environment.

'The Green New Deal: A Public Assembly' aimed to model democratic dialogues that grapple earnestly with the GND's ambitions and challenges, employing systemic and crossscale thinking. This public event encompassed morning workshops and afternoon discussions, fostering fruitful exchanges among an array of invited guests spanning various disciplines and the wider public.

Nestled in the Queens Museum, home to the iconic Panorama of the City of New York and situated in the heart of the nation's most diverse borough, the assembly unfolded within the jurisdiction of US Congressional District NY 14, presided

over by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the GND Resolution's sponsor. The event was a collaborative effort, organized alongside the Queens Museum, the American Institute of Architects New York (AIA New York), The Architecture Lobby, and the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture at Columbia University.

CCF COMMUNITY FOR WOMEN

TYPE: Women’s Housing & Education

LOCATION: Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

CLIENT: Cambiodian Children's Fund

ROLE: Lead Designer at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

The CCF Community for Women was to be the first project of a platform or branch within the office - similar to the in-house landscape, engineering, & product design teams - that would focus specifically on research & development and social impact projects. The project and the platform was something I spearheaded and the reason I stayed at BIG for as long as I did. Unfortunately, the platform and the sole project designed under it was never fully realized and ultimately the project just became a favourite to include in RFP’s and to have on display for visiting clients for PR purposes.

The project was designed as the next building in CCF’s growing network of buildings it had established over a course of over a decade around the infamous Steung Meanchey landfill.

The landfill made international headlines in the early 2000’s for it’s dire conditions, amount of children and families scavenging, and the surrounding network of informal settlements that sprung up around the landfill at its peak. After building or renovating a series of schools and housing

communities, CCF built the Neeson Crips Academy, a STEAM focused educational facility that focused on preparing middle and high-school aged students prepared for secondary education, with a particular focus on girls.

The CCF Community for Women was to be located walking distance from the Academy with the objective of providing safe housing for vulnerable, often orphaned girls that wanted to study at the Academy and older childless women that could reteach the knowledge and customs lost due to the Lost Generation that resulted from the Khmer Rouge era in the 1970s.

THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ON VIRGINIA

TYPE: Health Center

LOCATION: McKinney, Texas, USA

CLIENT: The Family Health Center on Virginia

ROLE: Designer at MASS Design Group

The Family Health Center on Virginia is a patient-centered, medical home and community center serving children, families, and individuals in McKinney and across North Texas.

McKinney is a rapidly growing community, challenged to meet the needs of its constantly expanding population. Many McKinney residents face a lack of access to healthcare, transportation, housing, and employment opportunities, resulting in disparate health outcomes.

The Family Health Center seeks to address this need by providing a sustainable, holistic approach to community health as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHC’s are non-profit, community based healthcare providers that deliver comprehensive, high-quality primary healthcare and must meet rigorous requirements in terms of governance, access, quality of care, services, and cost standards.In addition to primary medical, behavioral, and dental care services, the center houses community-oriented residency training programs, and onsite programs that link patients

to key resources. MASS met with the project partners, community members, and healthcare providers in order to understand how the design can best meet the needs of all stakeholders.

The design concept mimics traditional Texan breezeway houses, or “Dogtrot houses,” which are characterized by multiple buildings connected by a breezeway and common roof. The center will have distinct buildings for each service, allowing visitors to experience the services individually, while remaining united through shared social spaces inside and out. Through its emphasis on health, connectivity, and sustainability, the Family Health Center supports patients in living the fullest life possible. The Family Health Center on Virginia opened for operation in January 2021.

PULSE MUSEUM & MEMORIAL

TYPE: Competition for Museum & Memorial

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA

CLIENT: OnePulse Foundation

ROLE: Lead Designer at MASS Design Group

No thing, no tribute, no space will replace the 49 lives lost on June 12, 2016 at the Pulse nightclub. And yet, in tragedy we become something new, we transform. The Pulse community teaches the public what it is to become. To become is not simply to transform from one to another, but to hold a state of multiple identities together in tension.

The Museum for Equality tells this broader history of LGBTQ+ communities in Orlando and globally, contextualizing the Pulse tragedy and highlighting the activism that can be inspired and nurtured in Orlando in the pursuit of a more just and equal society. Half a mile down the street, the Memorial focuses on honoring victims, survivors, and first responders of the Pulse tragedy.

Our design is a pyramidal form, inspired by a prism and the intersectional space it creates, as well as the deep political meaning behind the triangle. The pink triangle was used to brand homosexuals in Nazi Germany, later reclaimed by ACT UP as a symbol of activism.The museum consists of 3 prismatic volumes, inverted, emerging from the earth and

converging at the roof deck to direct one’s view to the Pulse memorial in the distance.

Visitors enter at a grand central atrium, enveloped with light. They are then guided through four floors of galleries:

A gallery of trailblazers and events give historical grounding, telling the story of how queer communities found each other and fought for identity, validation, and social justice. Another series of exhibits would address the epidemic of AIDS, and the struggle for marriage equality. A contemporary gallery focuses on issues of discrimination around the world and shows the ways we can interact with activists on the frontline of the global fight for equality. As the galleries ascend, the three prisms converge, uniting into a single floor plate where we zoom in from the historical and global context to focus on the event of the Pulse tragedy.

The museum is the catalyst of what will become known as the Pulse district, a place which embodies the ideals and hopes we aspire to. It serves as a beacon of love, inclusion, and human dignity.

WILLAMETTE FALLS INTERTRIBAL PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT

TYPE: Indigenous Land Reclamation

LOCATION: Willamette Falls, West Linn, Oregon, USA

CLIENT: Willamette Falls Trust

ROLE: Lead Designer at MASS Design Group

The Willamette Falls Inter-Tribal Public Access Project will create new spaces for the public to gather near the second-largest waterfall in North America, and elevate the cultures and lifeways of the many Indigenous people with connections to the land and water that have sustained the region for millennia. The project design, located on the island west of Willamette Falls, includes public walkways, spaces for interpretation, cultural events, community programming, viewing structures and other public amenities. The concept design by MASS Design Group centers on several years of community engagement and programming work in collaboration with the Trust and with multiple Tribal communities.

In partnership with the Willamette Falls Trust, MASS facilitated a series of community engagement activities with multiple Tribal communities to hear guidance on a range of values, meanings, and interpretations around Willamette Falls, while planning for proposed public use

and enjoyment of access ways, spaces and amenities. The Trust and MASS met with Tribal community members, Tribal Council members, and other individuals connected to the future of Willamette Falls, including the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation.

Based on these Tribal engagement conversations, MASS developed preliminary site strategies and spatial implementation concepts, establishing an approach that builds upon Tribal guidance to reclaim and develop spaces for inter-Tribal gathering and collaboration. The site strategies also explore new opportunities including accessing the Falls, harvesting cultural resources, and sharing stories and interpretation.

BET-BI MUSEUM & ART EDUCATION CENTER

TYPE: Museum & Art Education Center

LOCATION: Sine Ngayene, Senegal

CLIENT: The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation

ROLE: Lead Designer at MASS Design Group

What does it mean to reimagine and change the way the world thinks about “museums”?

Today the vast majority—up to 90 percent—of sub-Saharan Africa’s physical cultural heritage is held outside of Africa.

Bët-bi allows art to be a community anchor invested in building human connections and empathy by providing physical space to house and promote West African art and tradition.

By providing new state of the art spaces, Bët-bi will be a catalyst for advancing the vital cause of the restitution of African objects to the continent, and a catalyst for cultural healing and justice.

Located proximate to the majestic Sine Nygayene stone megalith site, Bët-bi takes inspiration from the form and artistic expression of the stone megaliths, continuing this ancient tradition of paying respect through the act of marking to create a new center that celebrates memory, art and community.

WEEKSVILLAGE NYCHA SENIOR HOUSING

TYPE: NYCHA Senior Housing

LOCATION: Brooklyn, New York, USA

CLIENT: NYCHA

ROLE: Lead Designer at MASS Design Group

Weeksvillage is an opportunity to re-envision this portion of Kingsborough Houses as a new home; a stable environment in which seniors can age in community while creating new networks that support health, the maintenance of active lifestyles, and connections to family and neighbors.

Weeksvillage will provide beautifully designed homes for seniors, alongside a plethora of common spaces designed to foster health and wellness. The project design will support seniors to lead independent, dignified, and fulfilling lives. Building amenities will include a library with views to the city, a computer room, a fitness center, multiple outdoor small

terraces, the Sun Deck — a large outdoor terrace with a Winter Garden — a large common indoor area, rooftop decks, and an exterior Loop and Activity Terrace. The project team recognizes the importance of providing safe, comfortable, and accessible design for seniors, both inside and outside of the building itself. All interior and exterior pathways in Weeksvillage will meet and exceed accessibility standards for stairs, ramps, handrails, and sidewalks, and all sloped surfaces will have proper support, such as handrails, on both sides. The design of the residences offers comfortable, flexible, and adaptable spaces, addresses senior-specific needs, and affords residents rich opportunities to develop place attachment in their new home.

GOVERNOR’S ISLAND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMONS

TYPE: Masterplan

LOCATION: Governor’s Island, New York, USA

CLIENT: Trust for Governor’s Island

ROLE: Lead Designer at MASS Design Group, in Collaboration with Sidewalk Labs

In 1945, the world ended a war. In that moment of crisis, the nations of the world turned to New York. By founding the United Nations they made the city a collective home — a gathering place for countries to rebuild, reimagine, and sustain a more just, peaceful, and prosperous future together.

The world chose New York in part because they were already here: Residents from virtually every nation already lived in the city’s neighborhoods, shaping its culture, powering its world-leading industries and institutions, and forging a citywide ethos, rooted in generations of action, that people from anywhere can come here and we will help. Today, humanity is facing the most perilous moment since the last World War. We are confronted by three existential threats: Climate change, which threatens the survival of the planet and everyone on it; fatal gaps in public health, exposed most recently by the global pandemic; and fundamental inequities that are destabilizing societies everywhere and at the tragic forefront of every new crisis.

Once again, New York can lead a global movement as our collective future hangs in the balance. To achieve this goal, we propose the Sustainable Development Commons (SDC), a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to bringing people together across sectors, disciplines, and backgrounds and giving them the tools and facilities they need to accelerate progress toward a sustainable future.

Just as Lincoln Center was formed to build and manage the biggest performing arts campus in the world, the SDC will oversee the largest global campus dedicated to climate change and sustainable development.

Acting as an umbrella organization, the SDC will connect world-leading institutions, diverse communities, experts from all backgrounds, entrepreneurs, inventors, and established businesses within a single physical hub, all dedicated to the mission of advancing sustainable development solutions to achieve real change. On a groundbreaking campus that integrates the most advanced technologies to model the potential for climate-positive urban development, participants will benefit from the exchange of ideas that comes from living, working, and thinking alongside the world’s most innovative minds.

ALL NATIONS HEALTH CENTER

TYPE: Health Center

LOCATION: Missoula, Montana, USA

ROLE: Lead Designer

According to the US Census, approximately 71% of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in Urban Areas. The All Nations Health Center in Missoula, Montana is one of 41 Urban Indian Health Programs in the United States with services including primary medical and clinical services, behavioral and mental health care, health education and promotion programs, insurance assistance, local transportation services, and support for human trafficking survivors.

Today, All Nations Health Center serves just over 2,000 American Indian and Alaska Native individuals with Blackfeet, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Gros Ventre/ Assiniboine, Northern Cheyenne, Crow, and Chippewa Cree being the most served tribal members. Eager to expand their services, All Nations Health Center intends to build a purpose built facility to replace their existing multiple facilities.

MASS produced a preliminary architecture report for All Nation Health Center's new-build five-story medical and housing complex. This facility will support All Nation Health's holistic approach to health, while also creating a presence

or marquee of the American Indian community in the urban center of Missoula. All Nations Health Center maintains goals and practices of holistic wellness and trauma informed care, offering a comprehensive suite of healthcare services guided towards the Montana Native community.

LAGUNA PUEBLO MARKETPLACE

TYPE: Marketplace + Community Center

LOCATION: Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, USA

ROLE: Lead Designer

In 2021, the Pueblo of Laguna launched the Laguna Main Street project, dedicating efforts towards economic revitalization and redevelopment along New Mexico’s Highway 124 and historic route 66. Alongside a desire for renewed economic development, the Main Street & Marketplace Development planned for new developments such as community health buildings, housing, and outdoor spaces for recreational activity.

The local community team, recruited from a broad cross-section of civic, community, and business leaders, assembled to lead and participate in a series of community workshops. The workshop led to the creation of a vision for the Pueblo of Laguna’s Main Street corridor. Informed by community ideas and input, including support from local Tribal communities, the workshop produced a conceptual framework for a reactivated Main Street, emphasizing the outdoor Marketplace as a centerpiece of community activity.

The initiative assessed over 80,000 square feet of existing and potential development sites, and received a variety of feedback from the community on programming models and

design concepts to reactivate the space. The established design concept showcased a potential community center that included a range of programming, including a community performance stage, artisanal vendor booths, food vendor booths, and additional courtyards and gathering spaces. The project was funded with support by the National Endowment for the Arts through the Citizens Institute on Rural Design.

ANAHOLA SPORTS COMPLEX RANCH & RODEO

TYPE: Public Assembly

LOCATION: Queens Museum, New York, USA

ROLE: Lead Designer

Homestead Community Design Corporation (HCDC), Enterprise Community Partners, and MASS partnered together to consider the potential for a 250-acre parcel of land along the coast of Anahola, Kauai, designing a recreational hub and gateway to Kauai’s North Shore. HCDC is seeking to develop affordable housing and economic opportunities on the trust lands of the Native Hawaiian people, known as “homesteads,” or Hawaiian home lands. As land values skyrocket and Hawaiian homelands are increasingly allocated for hotels and other non-Native uses, the need for Indigenous placemaking and communityserving spaces in Anahola and along the North Shore could not be more urgent.

The layout of the Anahola site was established through the concept of ahupua'a, a Hawaiian term for the traditional socioeconomic, geologic, and climatic subdivision of land and a holistic way of working with the land from mountain to ocean. Ahupua’a concepts are applied across the site, based on the topography and natural watersheds, with the goal of taking better care of the land, re-establishing self-sufficiency, and building cultural and community resilience. Existing

water courses are preserved and celebrated within ravine areas that hold trail systems and water terrace gardens, while all development is limited to former sugarcane fields. The project models how traditional forms of land stewardship can offer solutions in the face of the climate crisis.

The Anahola complex will include a gym, baseball complex, skatepark, rodeo grounds, stables, and housing. Buildings and structures integrate locally-sourced volcanic rock material along their facades, while open air walkways and spaces allow for natural ventilation. Anahola’s rodeo grounds take the form of a triangular sail system, creating shade and visibility for visitors as well as flexibility of programming for year-round use. An accompanying stable hosts horse programs and provides space to accommodate an influx of animals during large events.

The site also includes twenty units of housing for young adults to address a shortage of attainable starter homes in the community. A central, open-ended dogtrot passage on the ground floor allows for passive ventilation. Other design elements including live-edge timber structures, thatched roof and wall planes, steep roof pitches, and ample lanai (porch) spaces are all informed by Hawaiian vernacular forms.

NEW LOTS LIBRARY RENOVATION BROOKLYN PULIC LIBRARY

TYPE: Promotional Video

LOCATION: East New York, New York City, USA

ROLE: Videographer + Editor

COLLABORATORS: Youth Design Center

The New Lots Library, spanning nearly 25,000 square feet across three levels, stands as one of the largest neighborhood libraries within the BPL system. Its second floor boasts an Adult Learning Center, one of only five of its kind in the BPL network, and serves as an IdNYC location. A diverse range of programs attracts patrons of all ages, with over 168,000 visits and nearly 2,500 programs hosted last year alone. Yet, despite its popularity and historical significance since its opening in 1957, the library's physical infrastructure has seen only minor upgrades, leaving it in a state of disrepair and presenting capital needs exceeding $6 million.

This pressing need for revitalization offers a unique opportunity to not only transform but also expand the New Lots Library, ensuring it continues to serve both current and future generations. Generous funding from Councilmembers Charles and Inez Barron has enabled the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) to embark on a renovation project that seeks to honor the library's historical importance. The library is situated on a previously unrecognized African burial ground, bearing the remains of enslaved individuals. Through this

renovation, the library will pay homage to these ancestors and celebrate African-American heritage.

This promotional video was created for one of the kick-off community engagement sessions.

VIDEO LINK: NEW LOTS LIBRARY PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Publications that I have actively participated in or that feature my work:

HUMAN RIGHT WATCH: “Kettling” Protesters in the Bronx: Systemic Police Brutality and Its Costs in the United States

Urban Omnibus: You’re Not Going to Tell Me When to Go Home by Oscar Oliver-Didier, Gabriel Hernández Solano

AIA Knowledge Net: "Occupying Spaces" by Sharika Tasnim

Queens Museum: The Green New Deal: A Public Assembly

A Just Transition for the Building Sector: The Architecture Lobby’s Retroactive Roadmap

Penn Today: Greener economy ‘not science fiction anymore’

Bushwick Daily: Bushwick Mutual Aid Feeds Over 2,ooo During Coronavirus Pandemic

NACLA - Report on the Americas - Dispatch from Chile’s Frontlines (Photos)

NACLA - Burying Pinochet

Mother Jones: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Movement Is About a Lot More Than Just Congress

John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Justice Matters

Gothamist: NY State Legislature Drops Rent Cancellation Bill, Takes Up "Totally Inadequate" Measure Instead

Gothamist: Protest Leader Targeted In NYPD Raid Allegedly Shouted In Cop's Ear Two Months Ago

Gothamist: Thousands Of NYC Tenants Kick Off Historic Rent Strike, Distressing Landlords

PIX11: Thousands of New Yorkers launch rent strike amid coronavirus outbreak

Sunrise Movement: #CancelRent

Proyecto en memoria de la violencia armada en el Bronx Documentary Center