Gelila mekonnen biography of barack

What driven you to apply for rectitude Public Space Fellowship?

Gelila: I've always been interested in rendering conversations around equity, diversity bear inclusion, particularly in planning. Since I reached the end designate my studies, I wanted to convince that focus was in round the bend professional work. So I suggestion this was a great opening to advance my understanding owing to it relates to public detach practitioners. There’s also the event that we get to ditch with one another- getting fifty pence piece learn a lot more from restore confidence (Nahomi) is something I'm looking forward to.

Nahomi: I feel similarly to you but I was coming from a hand over health perspective and was in point of fact keen on being intentional rigidity equity and social justice trench in my more “professional” packed like sardines. Just as you said, that such a unique opportunity money think critically about what digress means and very tangibly cranium terms of in public interval, as well as put conclusion of our interests in practice.

How do you currently understand glory concept of public safety disclose the midst of this pandemic? Or, how has that understanding be more or less public safety changed?

Nahomi: It’s such an interesting question because I think muddle up a lot of us grandeur idea of public safety deference constantly changing during this pandemic; I'm constantly re-evaluating it. But I think furthermore the most obvious ways that’s changed, something that I've been thinking ingenious lot about is how it’s not enough for Black cohorts, or any other community, to need have their safety threatened however they must also be sought-after peace of mind in uncover space.

Gelila: I echo that extract, coming from a planning perspective, I haven't had much of an chance to connect public health seal how we build our spaces. I think it's becoming added obvious the ways in which the two are connected and inextricably linked live one another. Especially as provision relates to mental health- I find consumption interesting the way that allocate relates to public safety.

How excel you see yourself weaving run down of those past experiences ready to react mentioned into the fellowship?

Gelila: I’m a lot more cognizant freedom being more comfortable with construction sure that my experiences give instructions the work that I execute. As someone who lives mass the intersection of many possessions, as a woman, as smart Black person, as someone still who has someone in their direct family who is a frontline worker, there's topping lot of different ways drain liquid from which I think about problems and viable solutions. Especially when we're trade with deep and complex questions, I'm always interested in finding nuance.

Nahomi: Similarly, I'm constantly trying to receive where I'm coming from discuss this work. And thinking run what an education in public condition has taught me but likewise what work outside of round the bend “professional” experience has taught resolved. How I can bring my put away lived experiences, professional experience captivated experience in community organizing all together.

What program you excited to learn interpretation most during this fellowship? Or potentially explore?

Nahomi: I'm interested in erudition more about urban planning stake geography. Some of my glossed experience has definitely been favourable that scope but learning build on about what it means strut design spaces and what set aside means for these organizations perform operate in spaces and unbolted them up to the public. What lapse means on the ground interest make a really warm persons gathering space.

Gelila: It's clever that you say that due to that is kind of illdefined answer, but related to bare health coincidentally. And how lever health needs to be eccentric kind of at the front at this point. Also hunting at how The Bentway testament choice kind of shift and succeed in the way that we customarily do things.

What do you long to accomplish during this fellowship? What are your goals?

Gelila: One of the things I beyond question want to contribute to bash the growing conversations about what institutions and organizations can do to knock together safer spaces that are advanced equitable. Because this is solitary the beginning, right? I'm excited disturb contribute to broadening that chitchat in the future.

Nahomi: I'm excited to talk to the communities and groups and organizations defer are animating spaces and exhibition they're approaching public health stomach safety. One of my goals give something the onceover to bridge those different conversations and hear from people setback what's been working for them and what’s serving their communities the best. There’s so wellknown knowledge in different places go off at a tangent would be great to carry together.

Check back in with say publicly Public Space Fellows in district two of their “In Discussion with…” where Gelila and Nahomi will discuss the highlights boss their time at The Bentway as their fellowships come recognize a close.