I help institutions and cities open up power and public space for cultural celebration, collaboration, and community-led storytelling. Cultural Activation Plans >

PLACE + CULTURE

I believe that institutions and place management organizations must evolve into platforms where community wisdom, cultural expertise, and grassroots creativity can truly shine. When these structures open themselves to outside voices and collaborative co-creation, they become fertile ground for authentic diversity, mutual growth, and shared agency. My work in this realm focuses on designing pathways for that exchange—whether through third-party events, open calls for proposals, cultural hackathons, or carefully negotiated programs that honor both heritage and innovation. At its core, this is about transforming places into stages where communities express, experiment, and lead.​

PROJECTS

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Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk
For over a decade, I led the Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk—widely recognized as the best night of the month for both community and commerce. The event brought the creative economy to life, with artists activating the streets with pop-up booths, galleries hosting opening receptions, and restaurants booking live bands. I layered in photographers, videographers, live social media, custom maps, and even a trolley to ensure visitors could experience the full breadth of the district and feel the continuity of a thriving, interconnected cultural scene.
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A Night in Oaxaca​
Initiated by a community request to honor visiting artists from Oaxaca, this event became a vibrant exploration of ancestral foods and traditions rooted in Indigenous Mexican culture. We sourced regional ingredients—some found locally, others specially requested—to create a menu featuring mezcla, mole, gooey quesillo, and a big pot of green pozole. The night unfolded with dance, textiles, and artwork, offering attendees a sense of cultural travel without leaving the neighborhood. It was a joyful fusion of sensory experience and deep cultural connection—celebrating heritage through taste, story, and shared presence.
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US–Italy Exchange
​of Placemaking Ideas​
In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Rome, I helped lead a cultural exchange exploring international ideas in sustainable urbanism—spanning from street corners to coastal straits to the complexities of tourism and authenticity. Through three major events across Italy—the International Parklet Symposium in Bologna, La Biennale dello Stretto in Messina and Reggio Calabria, and the Making Cities Livable Conference in Cortona—we engaged civic leaders, designers, and communities in a dynamic transatlantic dialogue.
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I contributed American perspectives on placemaking, highlighting how gardens and markets act as social infrastructure rooted in culture and ecology. Together, we explored questions of place identity, climate resilience, and how to resist the flattening pressures of overtourism. From drafting a Parklet Manifesto to staging exhibitions and public talks, the tour emphasized the power of place to hold memory, nurture belonging, and drive equitable transformation across borders.