Meet Our Team
DTC is a collective of multidisciplinary professionals who are passionate about inclusive, collaborative, and intentional design. We remain dedicated to advancing design justice practices by collaborating with residents, nonprofits, and local government to explore design possibilities that center community experiences and develop projects while redirecting resources equitably across Chicago.
Want to work with us? Visit the Contact page for open roles and volunteer opportunities.
FOUNDERS
PAOLA AGUIRRE (she/her)
CO-FOUNDER & ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Paola Aguirre Serrano is an urban designer and founder of BORDERLESS, Chicago-based collaborative city design and research practice, and co-founder of City Open Workshop. Paola focuses on multidisciplinary exchange, city systems integration and participatory civic processes focused on social equity by leveraging her experience working with public, civic and private organizations in Mexico and the United States. She has taught at the Washington University, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Archeworks. She has been acknowledged by Next City Vanguard’s, Impact Design Hub’s 40 Under 40, Newcity Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago, Emerging Planner Award by the APA – Illinois Chapter, Field Foundation Civic Leader for Racial Equity, Chicago United for Equity Fellowship, and AIA Chicago’s Distinguished Service Award.
KATHERINE DARNSTADT (she/her)
CO-FOUNDER
Katherine Darnstadt is the founder of Latent Design, a progressive architecture and urbanism firm leveraging civic innovation and social impact to design more equitable spaces and systems. Since founding her practice in 2010, Katherine and her firm have prototyped new urban design systems to advance urban agriculture, support small business, created spaces for youth makers, advanced building innovation, and created public space frameworks. She and the firm have been published, exhibited and featured widely, most notably at the International Venice Architecture Biennial, Architizer A+ Awards, Chicago Ideas Week, NPR, American Institute of Architects Young Architects Honor Award winner and Crain’s Chicago 40 Under 40. She currently teaches at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and previously at Northwestern University.
ELLE RAMEL (she/her)
CO-FOUNDER
Elle Ramel is Chicago Director for GET Cities, a city-based initiative to advance women in the tech economy, and co-founder of City Open Workshop, a community-led volunteer planning and design group for Chicago communities. Prior, she project-managed the redevelopment of the Michael Reese Hospital site for Farpoint Development and led strategic partnerships at City Tech Collaborative, the smart city lab of Chicago, and an Economic Policy Associate in the Mayor’s office at the City of Chicago. She has worked on financial issues and economic development, including infrastructure, corporate recruitment, job growth, sustainability, food business, innovation spaces and land use. Elle has been acknowledged by New Leaders Council Fellowship, Illinois Women Institute Leadership, and Crain’s Chicago 40 Under 40.
CORE TEAM
EMMA JASINSKI (she/they)
SENIOR COMMUNITY DESIGNER
Emma Jasinski brings eight years of experience in the architecture and design industry, filling roles such as architectural designer, project manager, and design director. She received her Masters of Architecture from Tulane University. Emma’s portfolio includes numerous innovative, impactful community-based projects, including the design and development of eight 260 SF mobile tiny home units for Ruby’s Place, a domestic violence shelter. She most recently worked in the healthcare market, where she primarily designed 50,000 to 120,000 SF multi-faceted and pre-fabricated medical office buildings. This experience sparked her interest in the intersection of public health and architecture. As Design Trust Chicago’s Community Designer, Emma brings a collaborative, vision-oriented, and imaginative approach to the team.
CLIO LYONS (they/them)
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Clio Lyons is the operations manager at Design Trust Chicago. They received their Bachelor of Arts in Government with a focus in Political Theory and Public Law from Dartmouth College. They previously held operational planning and executive support positions at Studio Gang Architects. Clio’s experience and passion lies in curating community-focused, intentionally-inclusive events and spaces, while managing robust networks and using design thinking processes to build community initiatives and programming. Clio works closely with senior leadership to implement social impact strategies at Design Trust Chicago and expand the organization’s opportunities, partnerships, and visibility.
FELLOWS
COURTNEY BROWN (she/they)
MAPPED FELLOW / SUMMER 2023
Courtney Brown joined DTC in Summer 2023 as a MAPPED Fellow. They graduated from Oberlin College where they received their Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Africana Studies. They have experience in community relations, partnerships, and programming for institutions across the city, including the Art Institute of Chicago. As a MAPPED Fellow, Courtney supports DTC with planning and outreach surrounding MAPPED events. They leverage their creativity and organizational skills as well as community outreach experience to support the continued growth and development of the MAPPED database. The MAPPED Fellowship is sponsored by Free Spirit Media's One Summer Chicago Internship Program. Free Spirit Media is a community organization in North Lawndale providing teens and young adults in communities of color on Chicago's West and South sides with a comprehensive foundation in media literacy and hands-on media production experience.
Meet Our Advisory Board
DTC’s Advisory Board consists of multidisciplinary leaders across Chicago who act as a guide for the organization. The Advisory Board provides oversight for administration and day-to-day tasks, including governance and operations, finance and fundraising, programming and ambassadorship, and communications.
LIZ BUTLER
TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP
AMY ELLINGSON
BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY
ANTONIA ORNELAS
ELEVATE
NICOLETTE STOSUR-BASSETT
THINK WOOD
YASAMIN ENSHAEIAN
DL3 REALTY
JANEEN HARRELL
iJ DESIGN STUDIO
JANE ACKER
FARPOINT DEVELOPMENT
DANIELLE CASSEL
VEDDER PRICE
Supporters
DTC is supported by various funding partners. We would not be able to make such a substantial impact across Chicago’s communities without the support of these organizations, and we are incredibly grateful for their partnership.
Contributors
Thank you to the following individuals who have contributed to fulfilling our mission!
Mark Sexton
Grace Liu
James Young
James Silvestro
Brian Hayes
Kerrie Mistry
Cassandra Rice
Kathryn Hurd
Sarah Herda
Craig Stevenson
Tiara Hughes
Tess Landon
Ernie Wong
Tom Jacobs
Alan Barker
Kristen Davis
Monica Chadha
Chandra Rouse
Manwah Lee
Carla Argueta
Carolyn Isaacson
Felix Martinez
Ayesha Riaz
Natalie Goodin
Lynn Basa
Danielle Beaulieu
Marina Berrones
Casey Smagala
Yaritza Guillen
Haya Suri
Nicole Ashurian
Claire Wagner