Fireside Chats & Presenters
Thursday, October 15th, Fireside Chat: Un-building Racism
Liz Ogbu
Founder, Studio O
A designer, urbanist, and spatial justice advocate, Liz is a global expert on engaging and transforming unjust urban environments. From designing shelters for immigrant day laborers in the U.S. to a water and health social enterprise for low-income Kenyans, Liz has a long history of working with communities in need to leverage the power of design to catalyze sustained social impact.
Liz has written for and been profiled in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic’s CityLab, and the Journal of Urban Design. Her honors include IDEO.org Global Fellow, TEDWomen Speaker, Aspen Ideas Scholar, and Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council. She earned architecture degrees from Wellesley College and Harvard University.
Deanna Van Buren
Co-Founder, Designing Justice,
Designing Spaces
An architect and nationally known advocate for magnifying the role of design for ending mass incarceration. Her work includes the creation of multi-use hubs for restorative justice and workforce development across the country. Successful projects include the Restore Oakland the Atlanta City Detention Center.
June Grant
Founder, blink!LAB architecture
An architect, urban designer and sustainable development strategist, her Oakland-based studio is focused on the regeneration and celebration of historic African-American communities nationwide through a combination of design, advocacy, and digital fabrication technology.
June has presented at several conferences including the Obama Green Gov Summit, and was included in the 2019 YBCA 100 list of artists, leaders, activists, thinkers, movers, and dreamers who are using their creative and political power to enact change.