…will be Friday, December 14th.
I’ll be returning to my consulting firm, Lyon-Strategies.com, and staying involved with communities working on improving cities, youth access, and making design and planning more equitable.
I’m so proud of what this team has been able to accomplish in four years: We’ve reinvented the education department; grew programming from 15K to 30K+ with an emphasis on engaging youth of color; we created place-based, personalized programs (including summer camps, GirlsBuild and Teen Fellows programs); we’ve crafted robust partnerships with Chicago Public Library, Chicago Public Schools Civic Engagement, Department of Family Support Services, City Colleges, Robert Morris University and many others. Best of all we’ve been able to expand our relationship with volunteers to build communities specifically focused on youth and exhibits.
I am thrilled to have brought No Small Plans into being and to have launched the Meet Your City initiative to unite urban planning and civic engagement. (Thank you backers!) Best of all, I’ve had an incredible experience being part of the leadership team that steered the organization through a major transformation, including creating exhibits and media in the new Center at 111 East Wacker.
The organization will be launching a national search for a new Vice President in the new year. Give a shout out if you think you know of any candidates – and keep me in mind for other opportunities to help organizations work through start up, transformation, growth and change. I’ll be at ga************@gm***.com and @LyonGabrielle.
Thanks for making my time at the Chicago Architecture Center something really transformative. I’ll never look at the built environment the same way again.