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. |
ENOSH CHEN
Engagement Strategist Enosh Chen is a first-year undergraduate in the Honours Planning program at the University of Waterloo and an Outreach Coordinator at Urban Minds. He chose to study urban planning because he believes that there are always opportunities to enhance communities around the world. Besides urban planning, he is interested in designing graphics and teaching kids. |
SELINA PHAN
Outreach Coordinator Selina is passionate about cities, especially in thinking about how to make our cities more sustainable and affordable. She holds a dual Bachelor's degree in Urban Development and Business Administration from Western University and the Ivey School of Business. She has been involved in research projects examining local economic development strategies and the impact of COVID-19 on food retailers in Ontario. Her professional experience includes strategy development; scaling social ventures in food security, women's empowerment, and education; and real estate development across retail, industrial, and multi-residential assets across Canada. Outside of work, she enjoys cycling around Toronto to discover new things to eat! |
CATHERINE CAETANO-mACDONELL
OUTREACH COORDINATOR Catherine is passionate about designing with quality communication to understand users' needs and create moments of joy in peoples' daily lives. In June 2020, she graduated from Carleton University's School of Industrial Design with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a Minor in Technology, Society, and Environmental Studies. In the past three years, she has been designing websites, graphic designs, communication materials, and physiotherapy products. She has been involved in research projects looking at co-design as a democratic design process. She hopes to become an Urban Designer in the future and improve walkability and transportation in the city. In her free time, Catherine loves dancing, doing yoga, studying new languages, and exploring the city. |
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. |
JENNIFER KHUU
program coordinator Jennifer is an urban planning student at Ryerson University who is passionate about youth empowerment, social planning, and environmental conservation. She is always eager to learn more about fostering sustainable and thriving communities that boost the wellbeing of all citizens. Her passion for community engagement developed through working with Secure the Food Mississauga and Volunteering Peel. Jennifer also enjoys playing the piano and learning new languages in her free time. |
Juan Rueda
program coordinator Juan is an Urban Planner and Environmental Engineer from Bogota Colombia, with over nine years of experience leading public policies for the development of sustainable and resilient territories in different countries. Juan combines his work as a university professor and advisor to public institutions, to help shape the next generation of urban planners to focus development on human wellbeing and environmental sustainability. As a newcomer to Canada and Toronto, he expects to create meaningful connections with communities and vulnerable minorities to serve them build resilient and sustainable cities where we all feel safe and have a sense of belonging. |
Cynthia Tia
program coordinator Cynthia is a Political Scientist currently in the postbaccalaureate program at Ryerson University with the School of Urban and Regional Planning. She is passionate about climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, environmental sustainability, and community development within the BIA realm. As program coordinator, she hopes to provide interested youth with opportunities to help transform their communities into resilient, adaptable, and beautiful spaces. In her free time, Cynthia enjoys watching youtube videos of restaurants to visit when travelling and recreating her mom's recipes. |
Maryam Sheihk
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. |
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. 
catriona moggach
Catriona is a recent graduate of the professionally accredited Master of Planning degree in Urban Development at Ryerson University, Toronto. She is passionate about cities and creating equitable environments in which individuals are able to facilitate positive change in their lives. Her areas of interest include Indigenous housing policy, affordable housing, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, and creating vibrant communities in Canada and internationally. |
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Our 1UP Executive Team serves as our youth advisors on our projects and initiatives.