A public space and storytelling mural co-designed with community members to celebrate joy, identity, and collective memory in Englewood.
Go Green Griot Plaza is a public gathering space and cultural activation hub developed in collaboration with IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network) and the City of Chicago as part of the Invest South/West initiative in Englewood. As part of the design team, I led the development of plaza furniture and visual identity features that reinforce the site’s role as a welcoming, restorative environment for community storytelling and performance.
At the heart of the plaza stands the “This Is Our Story” mural, a layered visual narrative co-created with local artists and young residents. The mural is embedded with GS LED Neon Flex lighting to amplify the work at night and reflect the vibrancy of the community’s voice.
This project exemplifies my approach to transformative design—merging fabrication, cultural storytelling, and community participation into built environments that center joy and agency.
Collaborators:
Mural assistance by Ashley Busse, whose contributions to painting and detailing helped bring the “This Is Our Story” mural to life with care and precision
IG: Ashspray