The Challenge
Make environmental advocacy a conversation people want to join.
The 2026 Green Mixer showed that residents valued intimate, community-centered conversations, and wanted more time for them. The 2027 brief asked us to build on that strength with an inclusive, accessible event that connects residents, City departments, and environmental organizations. Our response paired meaningful dialogue with familiar, welcoming experiences: a block party and farmers market.
My Contribution · Event Experience
Listening to Build with You
I developed the event schedule and the concept for rounds of table discussions where community members could share environmental issues, questions, concerns, and suggestions for policy change. The schedule paired an initial listening session with a later round to respond to emerging themes and add ideas.
I also proposed surrounding those conversations with activities such as a sporting event, a farmers market, and other community attractions. The goal was to welcome local vendors and people drawn to those activities, creating more opportunities for residents to contribute their perspectives on environmental policy.
Early sketches from our presentation explore discussion rounds, the event schedule, and community activities surrounding a shared conversation space.
Identity and activity-layout concept developed by our team.
Recognition
A winning concept for the 2027 Green Mixer.
Our proposal was selected as the Green Mixer challenge winner by judges Gina Parra-Hughes and Nubia Henderson. The team brought together Jessica King (DePaul University), Hanna Reina and Mia Dubin (Dominican University), and Brooklyn Starks-Murphy (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), with mentorship from Michele Y. Washington.
Presented by Justice in Residence with the Design Museum of Chicago, [alt_] Chicago, and Mutuall Design, the inaugural event connected emerging creatives with four community-centered challenges. More than 100 students and early-career creatives registered. Hosted in Austin, it paired rapid design work with community and industry feedback.
![Participants collaborating during the inaugural Catalyst for Change at [alt_] Chicago.](https://framerusercontent.com/images/geC78IhLtXe1j27aiZFXctxKlc.png?width=1426&height=948)