Amina is an urban strategist and design researcher passionate about projects that center equity in the built environment.
She enjoys using research and engagement to develop grounded strategies that make better, more connected places. She works across a range of planning and design projects. Her empathetic lens and ability to see the big picture is the throughline in her work; a project's process is as important as the outcome.
Amina is a founding member of BlackSpace. She previously worked as an urban planner and Associate at WXY Studio in New York City. She earned a Master of Urban Planning from City University of New York - Hunter College and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative American Studies and Visual Arts from Oberlin College. She is currently based in the Hudson Valley, New York.
Work
Equity in the Built Environment
I produce spaces and programs that affirm the dignity Black and Indigenous people of color who have systematically been excluded from decision-making in the built environment.
Black Lives Matter Mural
Centre Street Manhattan, July 2020
In the wake of the racial uprisings of 2020, after the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, a group of activists, architects, designers, and city officials came together to create a 600-foot BLM mural in the civic heart of Manhattan.
Producer, Design Coordinator
The Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers Row
Harlem New York, 2021
An outdoor experience spotlighting Black-owned restaurants and businesses and architects. Presented by @UberEats with @harlemparktopark and @valincpr
Partnership Lead, Advisor
Spaces & Places
Various Locations: New York 2017; New Orleans 2018; Oakland 2019; Digital 2020
A free convening created to celebrate architecture and planning initiatives led by Black and brown communities.
Lead Organizer
BlackSpace Manifesto
BlackSpace is a collective of Black urbanists working together to demand a present and future where Black people, Black spaces, and Black culture matter and thrive. Their work is guided by the BlackSpace Manifesto, charting a new way of working.
Founding Member, Manifesto Co-creator
Community Engagement, Facilitation & School Integration
I work collaboratively with clients to design community engagement strategies that meaningfully engage diverse communities, share accessible information, and pivot findings into actionable recommendations.
District Diversity Plans
NYC Department of Education
A community engagement and planning process to increase integration, equity and academic outcomes in NYC Community School Districts.
District 9 Project Manager; District 15 Facilitator, Researcher
New York State Integration Planning Grant
New York State, 2021
NYSIP grants help school districts to forge district-level plans to achieve meaningful integration and culturally responsive and sustaining classrooms.
District 13 Process Design
Sustainable Mobility
I develop pilot programs that leverage new technology and electric vehicles to expand sustainable mobility options.
NYC Electric Vehicle Charge Pilot & Curb Enthusiasm Planning Guide for On Street Charging
New York City
Directed development of a planning framework, design guidelines and site selection for a curbside electric vehicle charging station program on streets in New York City.
Project Manager
Improving First/Last Mile Connections to Public Transportation
New York City, Month 2020
Developed a new shuttle route to improve accessibility for employees of a business zone in a transit desert, utilizing Dollaride’s technology to digitize NYC “dollar vans” (or jitneys).
Program Development, Grant writing