City Lab Overview
In Spring 2025, I completed both sections of the CityLab program at Johns Hopkins University through the courses CityLab Catalyst: Business Innovation for Social Impact and CityLab Practicum: Social Impact Project. This immersive, hands-on experience challenged me to explore how cities can become more livable, equitable, and resilient through community-centered innovation and social impact leadership. Using the CityLab Toolkit, I engaged in fieldwork, systems thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and the application of social impact strategy to address real-world urban challenges alongside local entrepreneurs and organizations. The work showcased across these pages reflects my growth as a leader, practitioner, and change maker committed to creating sustainable impact within communities.
Why does CityLab have a permanent space on my website?
CityLab fundamentally reshaped how I see cities, community, and leadership. Through fieldwork across Atlanta neighborhoods and along the Chattahoochee River, I came to understand that livable cities are defined not by infrastructure alone, but by the quality of human connection, access, and belonging they create. The experience sharpened my attention to the interconnected systems shaping everyday life — education, public spaces, transportation, environmental access, small businesses, and gathering places — and deepened my commitment to empathy, observation, and civic participation. CityLab taught me that social impact begins with curiosity and care, and that meaningful leadership is rooted in listening, collaboration, and intentional investment in communities.