Civic Leadership Program

Alice Allan is a visionary architect dedicated to positively impacting humanity, society and the environment. As an integral part of CannonDesign’s Open Hand Studio, the firm’s public interest design arm, she epitomizes the role of a citizen architect. Her commitment to civic-minded projects is evident in her diverse portfolio, including work for educational institutions, health and wellness centers and libraries across the United States.

Since joining CannonDesign in April 2021, Allan has rapidly progressed from an entry-level role to her current position as Associate. One of her most recent projects involved creating a master plan for a new hybrid health/education/residential campus for Matheny, a non-profit that supports people with complex disabilities. Inspired by this work, Allan initiated a pro-bono project to create design guidelines for Matheny’s community group homes, finely tuned to the complex needs of residents.

Allan’s passion for design extends to her community involvement. She is a licensing mentor for young designers and is deeply involved with the ACE Mentorship program, where she mentors high school students. She is also a key leader in CannonDesign NYC’s community engagement group, identifying opportunities for the firm to get more engaged in local initiatives.

Before her tenure at CannonDesign, Allan honed her skills at renowned firms such as Pei Cobb Freed. Originally from the UK, she earned her Master of Arts in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh and her Master of Architecture from Kingston University. Now fully embracing life in NYC, she draws inspiration from the city’s boundless potential.

Darien Carr (b. 1995) is an architect, DJ, and writer based in New York. Their work focuses on the ontology of architecture as a temporal act, as it relates to society, sound culture, and diaspora.

Carr first began considering the relationship between space and sound through music. Growing up, they played saxophone, and went on to compose music throughout college, releasing a series of albums under the alias Rico Alice. As Carr’s relationship with music evolved, the act of producing sound gradually evolved into designing spaces. From 2019-2023, Carr built a body of work considering the complex relationship between culture, architecture, and race in the built environment, contributing to exhibitions and performances at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennial, Harvard’s Duker Design Gallery, the MIT Media Lab, and the 2023/2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Carr’s writing on this subject has also been featured by NPR, Garage Magazine (Vice Media), and The Knight Foundation.

In 2017, Carr graduated from Harvard College with honors with a degree in social studies focused on the relationship between urban space and music culture, and a secondary field in music. Carr also has recently graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Design with a MArch I degree, and now works as an architectural designer in New York City at KPF.

Enrique Andres Bejarano is a Registered Architect based in New York City working in the Design, Construction, and Development industry. Bejarano has experience among the world’s most influential Architectural, Engineering, Interior Design, and Urban Planning firms on the leading edge of the industry at firms such as Gensler, SOM, and HOK. He is suited for design, technical, or management roles both in the field and in the office; and thrives as a coordinator between multiple teams of designers, builders, and stakeholders. As a Specifications Specialist for Gensler’s New York office, Bejarano is dedicated to the technical and material execution of design excellence while upholding ideals for a healthy, sustainable, and resilient built environment.

Bejarano holds a Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University GSAPP, as well as a Master of Construction Management and a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Florida. He is the founder of StudioWiki, a learning resource and collaborative platform for designers, artists, and creative people.

With an interest in sustainable development, Ivy Ochieng pursued and received her undergraduate degree in Architecture and Real Estate from Lehigh University. As an undergrad, she secured various internships and research projects both locally and abroad to learn how different regions were addressing sustainable development. Post undergrad, she gained experience in the private side of development as a designer for commercial and retail clients. Afterwards in a different role, she gained experience on the public side of development as a designer in the capital projects sector. Seeking to develop her business acumen and  financial training, Ochieng pursued and received her MBA from Cornell University. Today, she’s a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase within the Wealth Management line of business. With technical experience in both architecture and business, Ochieng hopes to be an advocate for better development practices to build sustainable environments for communities.

Julia Fruithandler is an urban planner and computational designer with a background in information systems (GIS ) and transportation. With a bachelor’s degree in GeoDesign from the University of Southern California, Fruithandler has developed a strong interdisciplinary foundation, blending architecture, planning, and GIS. Her professional journey spans roles at Arcadis, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, where she has honed her skills in data analysis, public engagement, and strategic urban planning.

Currently serving as a Senior Computational Designer at Arcadis, Fruithandler utilizes advanced GIS, CAD, and programming tools to create custom optimization solutions for urban planning projects. Her notable projects include leading the parametric design for La Metro’s BRT Visioning study and managing a “15-minute city” study for the Gateway Cities COG. Her work focuses on leveraging technology to enhance decision making and circumvent bias in planning.

In her free time, Fruithandler is an avid chef and gardener, and volunteers with the Battery Urban Farm. She loves to bike around the city, explore new neighborhoods, and is a live music junkie.

Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, is from the vibrant Caribbean island of Grenada, and the youngest of 5 siblings.

Her journey to pursuing architecture in the USA has been driven by intentionality. Overcoming challenges as an undocumented immigrant, she navigated educational barriers, earning an Associate in Industrial Design from LaGuardia Community College and a Bachelor of Architecture at the Spitzer School of Architecture.

Throughout her academic journey, she had unwavering support from her family and a relentless passion for achieving her goals. Recognizing the importance of giving back and amplifying underrepresented voices, she served as Past President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) and is an active volunteer member of Nycoba|Noma. Additionally, she has taken on leadership roles within her university community, collaborating with faculty and staff to implement impactful initiatives for fellow students.

My career aspirations extend beyond traditional architecture. She aims to create spaces that tell compelling stories, rooted in history and culture, while advocating for social justice and sustainability. With a focus on adaptive reuse, legislative advocacy, and affordable housing, she aspires to build a coalition of AEC professionals dedicated to effecting positive change in underrepresented communities.

She embraces the challenges of standing out and catalyzing meaningful change. Her mantra, “Be Proud, Be Bold, and Be Deliberate,” encapsulates her approach to success—embracing change, taking risks, and driving progress. With dedication, vision, and a commitment to making a difference, she is poised to lead the charge toward a more equitable and sustainable future in our built environment and beyond.

Sarah Yehuda is a Public Art Manager working on public building and infrastructure projects at the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC). Inspired by the potential of public art to humanize the built environment in novel ways, she hopes to utilize her role on capital project design teams to blur boundaries between art and architecture, shaping the city’s infrastructure through the lens of artists. In her previous roles as Strategic Initiatives Fellow and Assistant Project Coordinator at DDC, she co-led the development of an Advanced Capital Planning data portal that brings together disparate data sources from across agencies to present a comprehensive picture of public building assets, enabling the city to make more informed and strategic decisions in capital project planning. Guided by community-led and human centered values, she hopes to draw connections between her interdisciplinary backgrounds in planning, web design, graphic design, and the arts, to bring creative and forward-thinking approaches to public project design. Yehuda volunteers as a Mentor for the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Mentor Program of America, and is an active member and volunteer brand strategist for the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition in Red Hook, Brooklyn. She is a graduate of Pratt Institute with a Master of Science in Urban Placemaking & Management and holds a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from SUNY Binghamton.

Silvia Vercher Pons is an architect and urban designer with fifteen years of international experience. Currently, she serves as a Senior Associate at Perkins Eastman in New York, where she focuses on large-scale and cultural projects, including museums, institutions, and master plans. Her design is distinguished by a balance of context, culture, and program, with sustainability and technology at the forefront. In addition, Pons is a dedicated educator at Pratt Institute and a frequent reviewer for design universities worldwide.

Pons is actively involved in prominent organizations, holding a fellowship at the Columbia Climate School Center for Sustainable Urban Development and being alumni of the Consortium of Sustainable Urbanization. Her research on the future of cities, which bridges the private sector, academia, and institutions, has been showcased at global summits such as Habitat III in Quito, WUF9 in Kuala Lumpur, and the UN Business Dialogue in Nairobi. She also serves as the US Representative of the NYC Architecture Biennial, where she advocates for critical issues such as housing and climate change. Her commitment to community extends to her volunteer work with the Salvadori Center, where she engages with children and teenagers, fostering a passion for architecture and urban design in future generations.

Academically, Pons holds a Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University. She also possesses degrees from the University of South Australia, the Politecnico of Valencia, and Aarhus Arkitektskolen in Denmark. Pons’ work and advocacy reflect her commitment to creating sustainable, innovative, and community-focused design decisions.