CityLab Catalyst: Business Innovation and Social Impact

// leadership reflections

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." — B.B. King

March 7, 2025 | Shared Prosperity | New York Times, Children's Edition

The biggest leadership lesson I've learned through the CityLab course is just how much our children need us—the grown-ups. Every day, I'm reminded why I do this work and why my investment in children matters as we prepare them for their future. But I also face the reality that some of our children have been given up on. As a placemaker, I believe that every contribution we make toward improving the future strengthens the handoff when it's the next generation's turn to lead.

Think back to when you first learned how to type. We were being prepared for the digital world. Someone had a plan—they wanted to ensure we'd be proficient typists as computers evolved in the '90s. Do you remember the microfiche machine? We used it to find newspaper articles from decades past. Microfiche—transparent film used to store printed information in miniaturized form—was an essential tool for research. I always loved reading the newspaper, especially the Sunday edition, where I ran straight to the Peanuts and Garfield comic strips. As an adult, I found myself clipping coupons, just like my parents. Though I lived in two separate households, I have the same memory of both my mom and dad—sitting with the Stockton Record in the morning, coffee in hand. The newspaper was delivered by the paper man, tossed into our front yard in the early hours.

When I took a hiatus from social media, I realized how disconnected I felt from the world and felt a strong need to access the news. So, I subscribed to the Sunday New York Times. While still a wealth of knowledge, the printed paper isn't what it used to be. Why? Technology. We now have instant access to information in hundreds of formats, posts, and websites. No one waits in anticipation for the printed news because they've already seen the story unfold online. I noticed many NYT articles are now interviews and reflections rather than straight reporting. Likely because, by the time the paper is written, edited, printed, and delivered to my doorstep, the story has already evolved. This was true in the past, but the delay was longer. Now, that delay is nearly nonexistent.

So, what do we do with this? We enjoy the printed paper anyway.

At the end of the month, the NYT publishes The New York Times for Kids. Each edition has a theme and is included in the Sunday paper. Instead of tossing it, I decided to take a look—and I was impressed. The writers do a great job incorporating children's voices. I reached out to my principal to see if her second-grade son would be interested in reading it. Ironically, just days before, he had asked her about getting a newspaper. So, my son and I delivered it to their doorstep.

I made my teenage son come with me because I wanted him to be part of the experience. The short five minute drive became a learning opportunity. I believe that by sharing access and resources with others, the impact is multiplied.

and for us, it was. The NYT for Kids was intended to be for my friend's oldest child but because he has a little brother, a Kindergartener, and most look up to their older brother, this happened:

This process has made me more aware of the importance of sharing - sharing our learning, sharing love and empathy, being an observer, and noticing the layers of impact different parts of our community have on the environment, our development, and our future.

Most importantly, it has reinforced how much we (as a whole) are not supporting our youth as much as we should in order to have sustainable cities and habitats for years and years to come.

We are their connection to the real world. 

Planned Actions for the Future at a result of my CityLab fieldwork

  • NYT for Kids edition will be provided to our 2nd - 4th grade students to have access to in their homerooms.
  • My school location does not have a school library, so we will be piloting a month trip to the library for our Kindergarten students from March - May of SY 24-25.
  • PTA meetings will be held in partnership with our neighborhood library.
  • We are researching options for field lessons that allow our students to learn more about the biodiversity of the river through the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

February 28, 2025 | Empowered Citizens | Atlanta School Board

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
Albert Einstein

One of the biggest professional worries that I have is the possibility of the school that I helped design and open, will no longer be a place where children come to learn and adults come to change lives. More and more, this is seeming to be the reality. If schools are places where connections are made, what happens when school close down or operating at a fraction of the capacity? 

In a recent Atlanta Public Schools board meeting, this was the topic of conversation.

Here are the highlights that were shared on the Westview Neighbor's Facebook page by the Center of Civic Innovation. 

The 2025 - 2026 SY is expected to be a bit rocky mostly due to low enrollment because people are having less children and the ever changing of the neighborhoods are schools are located in - the very ones I studied for my fieldwork. Schools are closing across Georgia due to low enrollment and the costs associated to run these schools. Students are being rezoned for schools further and further away from their homes. Neighbors are voicing their concerns and writing letters to their school boards in hopes of keeping their long time schools open. In the case of Parklane Elementary, the zoned school for my neighborhood, their cries were not strong enough and the board ultimately decided to close the school. This is becoming more and more common and leads me to think:

  • What happens when people start having children again? 
  • Will our education system be prepared to support these students in the future?
  • Who will be teaching our children? Less people want to be teachers and less teachers are choosing to stay in the profession long term. Does this mean AI robot teachers will be the most viable option?
  • How will our city infrastructure change as a result of the reduction in children in our communities?
  • Will playgrounds and play spaces be repurposed as a result of lack of use?
  • Who will be the connection makers when schools no longer exist as they do in their current format?
  • What does this mean for our future?

Using my voice publicly in support of education is where I have failed the most as an educator and community member. It is very easy to sit on the sidelines and suggest what should happen with our schools, it is another to speak boldly about where you see the future. In my ecosystem, I believe I have the power to make shifts and changes that are in the best interest of our school community. However, on a larger platform, I have not found my confidence. As I learn more about what truly makes our cities sustainable, I realize that it takes the collective to band together, myself included, and inform decision makers what is best for our communities.

A few pieces of the internet I found interesting this week (click the image to expand):

February 21, 2025 | Resilient Communities | Support is a verb.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men." Herman Melville

WIRED has an amazing YouTube channel where questions from social media are compiled and an expert in the field answers them. There are several different experts from a variety of professional backgrounds. Here are a few professional backgrounds of experts that have been highlighted:

  • Demographics

  • Urban Designer

  • Linguist

  • Presidential Historian

  • Microbiologist

In the segment with Alex Washburn, former Chief Urban Designer of the City of New York, he shares

Sustainability now is actually more about survival. I have to think about sustainability in the context of what's called the risk equation. This is the multiplication of probability times consequence. How likely is it for something bad to happen in your city and, if it does happen, how much of your city will it affect? … a sustainable city has got to be a resilient city. It's gotta be a city that can survive before it can thrive.

When I think about resilience of my focus communities and Atlanta as a whole, I believe from the outside, everything looks great. Atlanta is cleaning up forgotten areas that are blighted by drugs and crime and turning them into beautiful places. There is no shortage of green spaces anywhere in Atlanta - we have so many parks, many of which are brand new or recently renovated. On the inside, I wonder how resilient these communities actually are. There are schools that are not fully enrolled, rent prices are unaffordable, small businesses struggle to stay afloat and the general landscape of the communities have not really changed much. 

Should there be an economic downturn of some sort, I believe Atlanta could be hit hard. There is an influx in the same business types and models - from breweries to food halls to head spas. I love them all but how many does one community, one neighborhood, or one city actually need? When the Best End Brewery, located in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta, the neighbors were shocked and sad. However, the last 3 times I visited the location there was no one in there at all. Best End Brewery was one of 4 breweries within a 2 block stretch of the main street. I would say the cap for this area would be just one brewery but once someone saw a concept that worked, they replicated it over and over and over. We are experiencing the same with Food Halls. There is currently an over saturation which could be causing costs to increase because patrons are not frequenting the locations as much as they would if there was less competition near by.

I am noticing also an influx in the density of housing in not only my focus communities, but also neighboring ones as well. It was shared with me by an Atlanta Beltline staff member that this is a way to create affordable housing that does not force out renting residence from gentrifying neighborhoods. This is happening widespread all over Atlanta. 

My eyes are open more than they have ever been before and I am more curious about the changes and impact of the development that is happening around the metro Atlanta area. I am most interested in how the neighborhood responds to the beautification. One of the neighbors told me that nothing will push the neighbors out. He said “where are they going? Where are they going to go?”. I didn’t have an answer so I couldnt respond intelligently. However, after passing by a few construction sites, oaksATL, stuck out. oaksATL is a non-profit organization that purchases homes in targeted neighborhoods, they restore them, and rent them to qualified families at below market rates. Programs that provide support to families in this way while revilizing communties, keep families in the neighborhoods they grew up in and it ensures our neighborhoods remain diverse despite gentrification.

By intentionally directing both my personal and professional spending toward local neighborhood businesses, I can contribute to reinvesting in our community and supporting the businesses that make it thrive. Based on my observations and conversations with community members, initiatives and personal commitments to supporting local businesses can have the following impact:

  • businesses create third spots for people to gather, network and build connections. 
  • access to food options allow community members who work and live in the area to have access to healthier options and increased catering options for companies looking to feed their staff
  • catering opportunities serve as marketing for businesses who are looking to increase traffic to their restaurants
  • create job opportunities for neighborhood high school students which naturally creates and brings the community to the business


A few pieces of the internet I found interesting this week (click the image to expand):

February 14, 2025 | Healthy People | Neighborhood studios make health priorities more accessible and sustainable

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Attending graduate school had greater financial implications than I anticipated. Determined to be more fiscally responsible, I committed to graduating with minimal debt. To do this, I eliminated non-essential expenses and waste from my budget. I cut memberships, spending on my favorite apps, and canceled subscriptions, like...

  • ESPN + I'm sure this is quite the shocker for those who know me :) 
  • Hulu
  • Paramount +
  • Broadway Atlanta Season Passes [insert crying emoji here]
  • Kith app --> X
  • Anthropologie --> X

everything canceled. 

One reduction I was unwilling to make was my gym membership for Pilates (+yoga). I attend 4-5 Pilates classes during the week, and on Sundays, I go to a restorative yoga class. Pilates helps me separate work from school, which is important because my job can easily take over my life. To create balance, I leave work about 15 minutes early on the days I have class, attend a 5 pm Pilates session, and then head to my graduate classes at 6 pm. This buffer allows the dust to settle from my workday, giving me the mental space to focus on my coursework without feeling torn between the two.

Pilates has also helped me build consistent, healthy routines. I do my best to maintain a schedule that supports my body as much as it supports the other areas of my life. Dedicating this time to a healthy habit hasn’t necessarily resulted in weight loss, but it’s improved my mobility. I no longer suffer from constant foot pain, my knee pain is gone, and my clothes fit a little better. I knew seeing my primary care physician, an endocrinologist, or a podiatrist wouldn’t fix my issues - they would either prescribe medication or tell me nothing was wrong. I am most proud of the changes in my muscle tone, and I’m looking forward to seeing a six-pack soon!

The studio has also become a place of connection with a friend. We hold each other accountable and celebrate each other’s goals. She recently completed 50 classes, and I was just as excited as she was when she received her certificate. #GoMonnica. During our Wednesday Waffles, we share updates on Pilates and how things are going. Our text chat is filled with insights about the day’s class, available sessions, and complaints about sore muscles. I’ve also connected with other members like Jamie, my reformer neighbor for a couple of months, Taylor, who shares my love for crafts, and Jimmy, who’s just as bad as me in class! Stacy’s instruction is my favorite. I love how she begins each session, and her gentleness makes even the toughest reformer moves feel more doable. I appreciate the laughs and positive encouragement. Whenever it rains, I can't help but to think of it as “liquid sunshine” because of her.

More than anything, Pilates has reminded me that I can do hard things.

  • Getting up at 7:30 am on Saturday for an 8 am class is tough, especially after having to be at work by 7:33 am Monday through Friday. Sometimes, I want to sleep in.

  • Not getting home until after 6 pm four out of five days during the week is tough. My work is exhausting - dealing with people and problems all day takes a lot out of me.

When I start telling myself that I can’t do something, I pause and remind myself that I can do hard things. By prioritizing my health and investing time and effort into Pilates, I have learned how to push myself and my body, and these lessons have translated into my leadership. I now can approach perceived obstacles like I would Pilates, knowing I can handle whatever comes my way.

Being a placemaker and a leader starts with setting the stage. What does working from sun up to sun down communicate? What was accomplished? We are only paid to do a kick a** job for a certain number of hours a week and anything else is a credit to your organization and a debit to yourself and the people who love you outside of work (a little accounting analogy for you :) 

It took me a long time to decipher between:

what I owe myself vs. what I owe my organization

I speak highly and frequently about Pilates because it feeds me in a way that I didn’t know I needed at a time when I needed it the most within a community of loving and accepting individuals. Although, in my heart, I already knew these things, however, conducting my fieldwork and comparing neighborhoods that I frequently to those that I studied over the last few weeks allowed me to see the differences in communities that have health as a priority and those that do not. There are only 3 gyms that I could identify in the neighborhoods that I focused on which covers the majority of westside portion of Atlanta. This means, people have to travel to access gyms to support healthy habits. 

On the day when love is magnified the most and every day after, I encourage you to choose you first. 

Special Note of Gratitude to LatJohns Pilates + Wellness in Hapeville, GA. Thank you for saving space for quirky jokers like me. 

A few pieces of the internet I found interesting this week (click the image to read more):

February 3, 2025 | Livable Habitat

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. … I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles. Anne Frank

My eyes are wide open with curiosity as I witness the transformative changes unfolding around the metro Atlanta area. Concerned about the number of trees being uprooted to increase housing density, I wonder about the impact on the environment for the animals and insects that call these habitats home. Where will the deer roam if their habitats are removed? Where will the spiders find their webs?

On the positive side, Atlanta earns an A- for its extensive green spaces, including playgrounds, splash pads, walking trails, biking trails, kayak drops, and skate parks. The City of Atlanta's partnership with the Atlanta Beltline has resulted in millions of dollars invested in revitalizing these parks, which are evident throughout my observations. Many of these parks are spacious and well-parked, creating a safe and inviting atmosphere. The grounds are meticulously maintained, and the bathrooms are generally clean. However, I encountered two instances where the restrooms were out of toilet paper, which is a minor oversight in an otherwise well-run operation.

A new park is being constructed near my workplace, and I eagerly anticipate its positive impact on our community. I plan to host seasonal events at the park to foster a sense of unity and connection among our families and staff.

Public transportation in Atlanta presents significant challenges. MARTA's trains run north-south and east-west, making it difficult to reach certain destinations. To get to anywhere in between, one must take both a train and a bus. With no plans to expand train routes, this is arguably the biggest issue hindering transit's ability to keep pace with the city's growth. The result is a lack of efficient transportation options, with most streets and freeways perpetually congested, regardless of the time of day.

One of my favorite moments is watching the train travel into the sunset on the elevated tracks above the street. We desperately need more of these!

January 27, 2025 | Livable Cities

To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people's trash. — Bill Nye

Last Thanksgiving, my son and I had dinner at Ray's on the River, a restaurant located on the Chattahoochee River. After dinner, we stepped outside to admire the beautiful scenery. We strolled along the riverbank, taking a few selfies and joking around. I noticed a father and his children skipping stones, while another family was recording TikTok dances. I'm eagerly anticipating my next visit to the Chattahoochee River, with a specific purpose in mind. I want to observe how people are utilizing the river and explore the possibility of expanding its accessibility to more communities.

In my opinion, the most livable cities are those that encourage residents to step out of their homes and appreciate the world around them without being overly consumed by technology. These communities are designed to be walkable, fostering a sense of connection among residents. They provide spaces for people to gather, such as parks, and offer a diverse range of food options and grocery stores. Additionally, these communities are populated by engaged community members who represent the neighborhood's interests.

I aspire to become more active in the communities where I spend the most time and money. I hope to build stronger connections and networks of individuals who contribute positively to the well-being of our city. 

I would love to hear from you! Send me a message!