OUR TEAM |
Ryan Lo
Co-Founder M.U.P., B.E.S. Ryan is an urban planner, community engagement practitioner, and youth advocate. As Co-Founder of Urban Minds, he bridges the gap between youth and decision makers by developing youth engagement strategies with municipalities and community partners. His work includes organizing the annual 1UPToronto Conference and the 1UP Leaders Lab program, where high school students learn about city building and gain practical skills in civic leadership. Ryan has extensive experience in facilitating engagement events for placemaking and transportation projects across Canada and the US. |
Angela Ng
co-founder M.Arch., B.Arch.Sci. Angela is an architectural designer, educator, and youth advocate. As Co-Founder of Urban Minds, she elevates youth voices in the decision-making process of cities by delivering educational school workshops about urban planning and by mentoring a growing network of high school students. Angela is the recipient of the Sappi Ideas That Matter Grant, which funded the production of her 1UP Starter Kit, a key resource for high school students to lead their own community design-build projects. Her design expertise is recognized as winner of the City of Toronto’s Everyone is King: Design-Build Competition with her team’s youth-friendly curb lane public art installation, #WouldYouRatherTO. |
Patrycia Menko
Project Coordinator Patrycia is a recent graduate of the MES in Planning program at the University of Waterloo (UW). She is an aspiring urban planner and currently works as a Planning and Public Health Research Assistant at UW. Patrycia is passionate about inclusive placemaking and equitable healthy food access in cities. Her research interests are largely in food gentrification and intersectionality from a planning perspective. Patrycia is also closely tied to the communities of which she is part of and has held several leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the City of Waterloo Pollinator Group and Social Officer for the Association of Graduate Planners during her master’s studies. Patrycia is motivated by the prospect of amplifying voices still invisible in planning processes, strengthening allyship between the planning profession and public health, and forevermore continuing her education through practice. |
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Vincent Lee
Growth Coordinator Vincent is passionate about building products that have a positive impact on society and the environment. He is currently completing his MBA at Wilfrid Laurier University, with previous experience in digital marketing, strategic planning and operations, and coaching youth sports. Most recently, he has been involved in consulting projects that focus on developing innovative solutions to combat the food waste crisis and climate change. In his free time, he loves to read, travel, play badminton, and snowboard. |
Adriana CeRic
GROWTH COORDINATOR Adriana is a grade 12 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute in Waterloo, ON Canada. Since she was young, she has always noticed problems in the way her community was built and her dream is to one day innovate sustainable, life-sized and inclusive cities for all. As a 17-year-old, she believes that it age is no barrier for what one can achieve, and she knows that youth input is key to add solid foundations to our work, play and home environments (pun intended). When she is not doing schoolwork, she can be found editing her podcast or trying out online recipes. |
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KELLY gINGRICH
oUTREACH cOORDINATOR Kelly is passionate about environmental and sustainability education and getting youth involved in climate action. She has a particular interest in climate justice on the local level. Holding a Master of Education from OISE/UT, and looking forward to beginning a Master of Environmental Studies at York University, Kelly is eager to learn about participatory and community-based research, youth engagement and co-creating new narratives to build collective futures. Kelly has more recently begun advocating in her community of Simcoe County for complete communities, active transportation and more democratic and collaborative planning processes. In her spare time, Kelly loves to read, learn how to grow vegetables and nerd out enjoying sci-fi. |
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Maryam Sheikh
Program coordinator Maryam is a Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law student at McMaster University. She is passionate about community engagement, global health equity, and learning from those around her. She’s excited about creating accessible platforms for youth to learn more about sustainable and inclusive city planning and get engaged with these processes in her role. Outside of work, you can find her reading, spending time outdoors, baking, and hoping that the Leafs advance past the first round of playoffs one day. |
MATTHEW CHAN
pLACEMENT STUDENT Matthew is an Urban Studies and Psychology student at the University of Toronto. He is passionate about empowering and encouraging youth engagement in the urban planning field; precisely, by facilitating and creating inclusive spaces for youth to confidently participate. With experience in peer mentorships, leading in peer support groups, and facilitating workshops; Matthew is eager to help foster an environment for aspiring youths in the urban planning field. |
Rian Matthew Moreno
Placement student Rian Human Geography, GIS and Environmental Studies student at the University of Toronto. Rian is passionate about shaping the city towards greater public participation, and equity. He is excited to create accessible and inclusive spaces for youth to participate. On top of this, he is excited to be able to participate in community outreach and work directly with the community. With experience in GIS and youth planning research, Rian is excited to contribute towards the development of spaces for youth success in the field of Urban Planning. |
OUR ADVISORY BOARD |
AMUNA BARAKA-CLARKE
Amuna is passionate about access. She has almost three decades of experience working in the areas of homelessness, education, social justice, legal advocacy and policy. She works as a Senior Human Resources Leader in Community Healthcare and is an active volunteer across many communities. She has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and English Literature and a Master’s degree in Public Policy, Administration and Law. wesley Reibeling
Wesley Reibeling (he/him) is the Toronto Program Manager at Park People and Co-chair of Jane's Walk, with the recent addition of joining the advisory board at Urban Minds. Wesley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from York University and is working toward a Certificate in Community Engagement at Toronto Metropolitan University where his recent mentorship skills assisted TMU School of Urban and Regional Planning students through Public Life studies on Urban Parks and equitable consultation. Wesley Reibeling is a multidisciplinary artist and urbanist whose work has a focus on community, psychogeography, belonging and equity in cities. He is also a member of the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto and dabbles in street photography, podcasting, and other art forms in his spare time. |
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Our 1UP Executive Team serves as our youth advisors on our projects and initiatives.