ABOUT

US

OUR TEAM

OUR MISSION

OUR VALUES

VISIT US

™

DETROIT TEAM

We are planners, designers, educators, communications specialists, and stewards of place, driven by a common love of Detroit, and a desire to create more equitable, just, and vibrant places. Our small core team have deep, diverse backgrounds that overlap and are complementary to one another. We plan to build a strong community partnerships, a local volunteer core, community and youth advisory boards, and grow our staff from the communities in which we serve.

ADRIANE ZACMANIDIS

Adriane is a Detroiter who brings a deeply diverse background in design, urbanism, education, and creative project management. Over a lifetime of exploring cities and engaging with diverse intersectional communities she understands that each place has its own unique story and that story needs to be told in the community's own voice. She has experience teaching at the secondary and university levels; directing museum departments and nonprofits; managing complex design projects and budgets, developing innovative public programs, community exhibits, and experiential curricula; and fostering strategic partnerships. A systems thinker and multimedia designer, she holds graduate degrees in architecture, education, & preservation.

ADRIANE

ZACMANIDIS

KEENA NEAL

KEENA

NEAL

Keena is a Dean’s Diversity Fellow and a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at Wayne State University. She holds a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in mass communication. Her background in journalism, and her love of film, influenced her interest in media coverage and how the media represents the identities, values, and cultural experiences of ethnic and marginalized groups. She wants to help youth and adults understand how media ownership and media organizations influence what we see, hear, and believe. Her research interests include the representation of identity in popular culture and media organizations’ social, political, and economic power. She works with R2C to develop the tools to help communities access, think critically, and interact responsibly with media.

MISSION

Urban [Re]generation Lab™ is a place-based community think-tank and innovation lab focused in civics, communication, and design to effect regenerative community change from the roots up.

CORE VALUES

EQUITY - we value policies and actions that create a more inclusive workplace that reflects our local community.

JUSTICE - we value fairness and truth for all people.

INCLUSION - we value those who have been historically excluded based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic status by bringing them to the table and valuing their voice.

BRIDGING - we value the relationships, ideas, insights and the deeper understanding that grow when edges come together.

EXPRESSION - we value sharing and voicing ideas and viewpoints with sincerity and integrity even when they may be difficult.

ADAPTABILITY - we value the ability to adjust, learn, and grow when we find ourselves in different or unfamiliar environments.

INNOVATION + EXPLORATION - we value innovative and design thinking, and creating a safe space for the exploration of ideas.

JOY - we value providing the space for people to laugh, to learn, to have fun, and to celebrate place.