Sascha Delz is an architect and researcher working at the intersection of architecture, urban design, and urban studies. He holds a Master's degree in Architecture and a Doctor of Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). Engaging with contemporary urbanization processes, his research focuses on how specific political-economic frameworks influence the manifestation of architecture, urban form and living environments. Addressing challenges of uneven development, asymmetric cooperation setups, and exclusive distribution of urban resources, he is particularly interested in advancing knowledge on more equitable and collaborative practices of urban production, as well as non-profit models of adequate and affordable housing. As an assistant professor at the University of Southern California, Sascha focuses on collective and co-operative models for urban housing, infrastructure, and services that can potentially create more inclusive and sustainable urban environments.

Kelli Bernard is an Executive Vice President and leads the national cities initiative at AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm headquartered in Los Angeles. With AECOM embedded in nearly 50 major cities throughout North America and with almost 30,000 employees across all practice lines, Kelli is responsible for creating strategies and solutions to address our cities’ most challenging problems by leveraging AECOM’s integrated delivery platform with innovative models across various market sectors. Her extensive background in economic development, urban planning and government relations has positioned her as a leader in city-shaping initiatives working across the public and private sectors. Kelli joined AECOM in June 2016 as Chief Executive of the Los Angeles Metro+ region, responsible for driving strategic vision and market growth for the region’s robust portfolio throughout Southern California, Hawaii and Guam. Prior to joining AECOM, Kelli served as the deputy mayor of economic development for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. In this role as the city’s top economic advisor, Kelli championed business growth, economic development and job creation in Los Angeles. She managed eight city departments including the Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles, with combined budgets of more than $6 billion and more than 7,000 employees. Kelli is the former chair of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and the co-chair of LAHSA’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness. LAHSA was created in 1993 to address the challenges of homelessness in Los Angeles. Kelli serves as a Governor Brown appointee on the Designated Local Authority for the former Redevelopment Agency Commission and is on the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Kelli holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA in Sociology from University of California, Berkeley.

Michael Maltzan founded Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. in 1995. His projects cross a wide range of typologies, from cultural institutions to city infrastructure. Michael’s notable projects include the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, MoMA QNS, Star Apartments, the Pittman Dowell Residence, the new Sixth Street Viaduct, MIT Vassar Street Residential Hall, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery Inuit Art Centre. His work has gained international acclaim for innovation in both design and construction and has been widely featured in publications and exhibitions worldwide. Michael received an M.Arch from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and BFA and B.Arch degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design. Michael is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Architecture Award, and the 2016 AIA Los Angeles Gold Medal Honoree.

Dana McKinney is an architect and urban planner who advances social justice and equity through design. Her academic and professional profile integrates wellness, policy, and economics into innovative design solutions to benefit even the most vulnerable populations including formerly incarcerated individuals, persons experiencing homelessness, and the elderly. Dana graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in Architecture and completed her Masters in Architecture and Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). During her time at the GSD, Dana helped to establish the inaugural Black in Design Conference, Map the Gap, and the African American Design Nexus. Dana resides in Culver City, CA, where she works for Gehry Partners, LLP and focuses her work on the LA River Master Plan, SELA Cultural Center, and other river-related projects.

Justin Garrett Moore is a transdisciplinary designer and urbanist and is the program officer for the Humanities in Place program at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He has extensive planning and design experience—from regional and urban systems, policies, and projects to grassroots and community-focused planning, design, public realm, and arts initiatives. At the Mellon Foundation, his work focuses on advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice through place-based initiatives, built environments, cultural heritage projects, digital and ephemeral programs, and commemorative spaces and landscapes.