20+ yr. background building insights into action
Master’s degree in critical and creative thinking + certified positive psychology practitioner + change management professional
I elevate social well-being in the workplace via culture interventions
I amplify purpose-driven missions to positively impact people + planet
Below are a few sample projects. Uncover the insight, re-imagine what is possible, and engage people to activate social good outcomes.
Provoking Wonder
Wonder Haus
Outside of work, the idea of imagining what’s possible and human thriving still drives. To create a sustainable physical environment that could situate creativity, connection, and curiosity, a pilgrimage of sorts led to discovering a neglected and forgotten place. The potential of what-could-be was immediate, and the work began straight away. With limited means but tenacious determination and collaboration, Wonder Haus was established as an eco-friendly wellbeing haven. Its additional role as a fundraising source to favored philanthropic partners adds to the meaningful aspect of this special space.
Netflix "World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" Trailer
Netflix 'World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals'
Travel+Leisure.com 'Best Colorado Airbnbs'
Anthropologie 'Fall Catalog Photoshoot'
HGTV '10 Breathtaking Rental Homes'
Conde Naste 'Best Airbnbs in Colorado'
Apartment Therapy 'Home Feature'
303 Magazine '10 Unique Getaways'
Image Source: Debi Treloar for Anthropologie
Connecting people + place
Placemaking
As Executive Director of a historic commercial district, seasonal sales and retail-driving promotions for 200+ merchants is the expectation. However, the latent community potential was much greater. The area had lost support among citizens due to stagnation and surrounding new interests. The unique density of residential neighborhoods attached to the district meant the factors to consider were beyond us. The district needed to seed a place among the progress and actively join the rising tide of an Oklahoma City resurgence. A pivot to community-first collaboration with formerly competing districts, civic interests, and neighborhood associations became the strategic direction and investing in the collective whole began. Beautification, sustainable community placemaking, and wellbeing measures got underway. A family event series, music festival, and a now renowned public street art gallery resulted. Investing in and enhancing the area together with the community created immense pride among constituents. The result was increased favor in visits, sense of place, and share of spend.
USA Today Oklahoma #1 Street Art in U.S.
Oklahoma - Best Public Art in U.S.
Image Source: Western Avenue District
Bridging social impact + pop culture
Food For All
Launching a newly formed social action community began by engaging with would-be supporters directly. People were asked for their ideas around ways we could unify in better serving people and the planet. The question #WhatIfOKC resulted in a social media conversation, and ideas to aid food insecurity topped the list. This community insight inspired the first collaborative project, coined the "Food For All" food truck to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. I enlisted a remarkable collaborative of partners, including area chefs, Whole Foods Market, a tech start-up, and the First National Bank of Oklahoma. Together we turned a social good idea into a reality: an unconventional truck, an unconventional purpose. A "Food for All" vessel of hope helping work toward zero hunger would be part of the thriving food truck scene that feeds people.
"One in six Oklahomans has inconsistent access to food," said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. "Every dollar raised will provide five meals for chronically hungry children, hardworking families, and seniors struggling with hunger."
What does a Food For All truck do?
Provides lifetime sustainable funding support with 100% of net proceeds from food truck sales going directly to eliminate hunger
Serves complimentary nutritious meals to at-risk Oklahomans in need every month
Enhances a more sustainable and equitable community by incorporating a social impact mechanism into a pop culture trend
Food Truck With A Social Good Twist
Make It Possible 'Food For All'
Feed Kids, Fight Hunger Food Truck
Around Town Food Truck Collaboration
Image Source: The Journal Record
Six times this thinking bla bla bla
Eco-friendly Wellbeing
Insight / Human flourishing is impacted by environmental surroundings.
Strategy / Physically situate elements of human thriving to provoke curiosity, connection and generative philanthropic contribution. Re-imagine what space could be based on environmental psychology insights.
Impact / Top-rated travel experience and $18k in fundraising support to date for our non-profit partners.
Inclusive Community
Insight / There are key elements to creating a sense of community. Achieving this among people enhances well-being, quality of life and contribution to others. (McMillan & Chavis, 1986)
Strategy / Consistent high-quality interactions + shared emotional connection achieves an inclusive sense of belonging helping establish a sense of community. A free family-focused event re-purposed an underused, corporate-owned grass field to establish a recurring On The Lawn monthly series.
Impact / A human-centered approach to placemaking elevated the social and economic welfare of the area by enhancing the perception of community inclusion and connectivity between residents, merchants and civic leaders.
Radical Reclimation
Insight / Community greenspace is research-validated to cultivate social connection, stress reduction and improve subjective well-being.
Strategy / Create a constituency of support among area residents, organization sponsor, city parks department, and community-at-large to energize greening into action.
Impact / The result was a stunning reclamation of much-needed green common space and the revitalization of a now widely used park.
Urban Land Institute Outstanding Community Impact Initiative Award Recipient
Food For All
Insight / Oklahoma had the largest monthly food truck festival in the United States. Oklahoma also ranked 10th worst in the U.S. for food insecurity. This seemed a poignant juxtaposition.
Strategy / Leverage the poignant juxtaposition to insert the disparity of food access into the pop culture zeitgeist. Engage the public in the endeavor from inception through to a sustainable operating conclusion.
Impact / A community crowdfunded Food For All food truck launched as a focal point at events reminding collective welfare consciousness among patrons. 3,000+ gratis meals served, $20k raised directly benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
Culture Vibe
Insight / Public art provides a means for beautification, social inclusion and elevating local artists.
Strategy / Advance the relevance and interest of a historic area while benefiting the art community, residents and small business economy. Enlist under-represented female artists to offer a progressive perspective on enhanced placemaking.
Impact / In 2021, USA Today named Oklahoma City as the Best City for Street Art in the United States. This project was among the first to help spur a street art renaissance. The district is now known for this cultural element which also raised the highest funds to date for the not-for-profit district.
A transformative event early in my career as a marketing director. I volunteered weekly with Girls Inc. Metro Denver.
I was asked to participate in a "Corporate Camp" program teaching entrepreneurial skills to a group of senior-level high school girls. Goldman Sachs Foundation would host a national competition. A handful of teams from around the country would earn a seat at Goldman advised E Camp. An invitation would be the beacon of hope and top prize of the program.
The student groups had to describe an original business idea, including a comprehensive business plan with a marketing strategy, sales projections, capital costs, and a funding method. Hundreds of teams entered, and only four were selected. My girls, team BOVE (Bag's of Vibrant Expression), were astonishingly among the finalists.
This group of five young women boarded their first-ever flight to New York City and bravely presented to a panel of investment elite. They were forever changed and so was I. Pouring into people + possibilities became a lifelong pursuit.
To Leticia, Lily, Christina, Blanca, and Chelsea, I always believed in your potential and will forever be grateful I got to witness you see it in yourselves.