Principal
Strategic planning and placemaking
Chicago, IL

F. Philip Barash (he/him) is a planning and placemaking expert working toward shaping more vibrant and just urban places. He brings two decades of experience in advising governments and institutions on activating the public realm through meaningful community participation. He has worked with the Boston Foundation, Barack Obama Presidential Center, National Park Service, and others on complex projects that transform public places. Barash serves on the boards of the International Downtown Association and the American Planning Association. He is also on faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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Principal
Community and economic development
St. Louis, MO

Dillon Goodson (he/him) is a veteran business district leader and economic development expert who previously served as executive director of one of Chicago’s largest community economic development organizations. With a background in communications and systems change, he brings more than 15 years of experience developing strategies for thriving urban places. He serves as the editor for leading industry publications and co-authors the International Downtown Association’s Value of U.S. Downtowns and Center Cities study, the organization’s signature body of research.

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Advisor
Cultural planning and public art
Willow Street, PA

Lucas Cowan (he/him) is a nationally-recognized leader in arts administration, cultural policy, curation, and public art. He has led curation of world-class public spaces including Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway, Chicago’s Millennium Park, and the Crystal Bridges museum. He works with creatives, organizations, and communities to empower a more inspiring and equitable arts ecosystem through national best practices, curations, and the integration of policy and strategy through the visual and public arts.

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Associate
Organizational development and fundraising
New Orleans, LA

Naima Murphy Salcido (she/her) leverages her experience in organizational planning and philanthropy to bring capacity to institutions, artists, and grantmakers. A former director of partnerships at organizations like Monument Lab and Campus Philly, she has led effectively alongside colleagues who are committed to organizational growth and creating more-equitable opportunities for communities across the country. Her work as an expert facilitator and thought leader has been featured in venues including the University of Copenhagen, Aspen Ideas Festival, and The Spruce Foundation.

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Advisor
Creative economy and philanthropy
Seattle, WA

Sarah Rathbone (she/her) is an advocate for the power and potential of music and art in urban regeneration. Based in Seattle, she helps clients bring together communities in conversation to develop novel — and sometimes radical — solutions to complex problems. As co-founder of a start-up financial services company serving the creative economy, she is attuned to the dynamic market forces within the sector. Rathbone also brings extensive experience in development and institutional philanthropy, having served in leadership roles in higher education and cultural institutions across the country.

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Advisor
Infrastructure and public space operations
Chicago, IL

Michelle Woods (she/her) is a leading public space operations expert with decades of executive experience in municipal government. She most recently served as Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility Management, where she provided and oversight of the City’s portfolio of signature public spaces, including the Chicago Riverwalk and Millennium Park. Woods is a sought-after national advisor regarding infrastructure reuse, waterfront development, and public space operations.

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Associate
Research and cultural policy
Washington, D.C.

Dan Deutsch (he/him) is a cultural planner invested in creating communities that are equitable, safe, and vibrant. His practice is informed by over a decade of nonprofit communications experience, specializing in program development, community engagement, and creative economy research. He is a lifelong artist and arts advocate, having been on multiple sides of the stage as a performer, music director, technician, administrator, patron, and usher.

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Associate
Public space activation and placemaking
Seattle, WA

Jennie Kovalcik (she/her) brings a decade of experience in placemaking, community development, and project management. Dedicated to amplifying arts and culture in urban contexts, she facilitates community-driven connections that focus on the relationship between creative and culturally-responsive placemaking that supports economic development. With her extensive history working with business improvement districts across the country, Kovalcik has successfully implemented innovative program strategies to drive long-lasting change in the public realm.

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Associate
Urban planning and sustainability
Chicago, IL

Kalindi Parikh (she/her) is an urban planner with a deep interest in making innovation accessible and rewarding for communities. She works with a broad range of civic, business, and cultural stakeholders to create engaging and inspiring urban experiences for all. Parikh has served as director of planning for the Chicago Loop. In addition to her work with Public Sphere Projects, she focuses on building an inclusive blue economy as strategy director at Current, a water innovation hub focused on the Great Lakes region.

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Associate
Urban design and placemaking
Salt Lake City, UT

Isha Patel (she/her) is a seasoned urban designer and placemaking and community engagement strategist with expertise in urban design and place management. She specializes in tactical urban interventions and programming strategies that create impactful, short-term changes in public spaces. Patel’s approach in placemaking skillfully incorporates urban planning and design elements, revitalizing spaces into vibrant community hubs. Her collaborative efforts with diverse stakeholders advance urban environments in the US and India, enhancing community life through informed public policies.

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Associate
Research and public policy
New York, NY

Kate Reese (she/her) is a cultural policy expert and researcher with a decade of experience in the nonprofit and social impact sectors. Reese equips policymakers and institutional leaders with strategic insights grounded in research, including white papers for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Cultural Assets team and the Office of the Public Advocate in New York City. During her time with Americans for the Arts, she developed implementation and evaluation tools for local arts councils. Reese also contributes to groundbreaking research on issues of safety and belonging in the LGBTQ+ community.

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Associate
Public space activation and engagement
Boston, MA

Sean Webster (he/him) is a social entrepreneur and community organizer with extensive experience in supporting emerging businesses and cultural enterprises. Webster’s work has made a transformative impact on the creative community in Roxbury, MA, on entrepreneurship in downtown Boston, and the arts sector in Miami. His projects focus on transforming communities and cultivating the next generation of change agents. A former college baseball star, Webster remains active in expanding opportunities for young athletes.

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