In 2021 the Community Design Collaborative celebrates three decades of providing pro-bono design services to Philadelphia neighborhoods. New Executive Director, Tya Winn, will reflect on the projects and values that supported the completion of 1000+ design projects totaling over $13 million in value in the nonprofit’s history. As the organization reflects on the events and effects of the last year, they ponder what comes next for neighborhood design centers? What response is needed from the design community and what agency practitioners have in bringing about equitable outcomes?
About Tya Winn:
A trained architect, Tya comes to the Collaborative after over a decade of working in affordable housing and community revitalization. She brings a deep understanding of the Philadelphia design and community development landscape and the work of the Collaborative and has a deep commitment to using design to tackle social justice issues. Ms. Winn is an Adjunct Professor at Thomas Jefferson University and Temple University. She sits on several Board of Directors, including, The Center for Architecture + Design, Families Forward, the National Organization of Minority Architects, Community Transformation Partners, and as public member for AIA Philadelphia. Additionally, she serves on advisory boards for StreetBoxPHL, The Institute of Community Controlled Development (B.I.G.), and the Syracuse University School of Architecture. As a citizen architect and design advocate, she supports the intersection of civic process and design. She currently holds the position of Co-Chair for the housing subcommittee of the West Philadelphia Promise Zone and was one of the founders of Jumpstart West Philly, working to increase access to affordable housing in the boundary. She serves as an active member of the Design As Protest (DAP) Collective and Dark Matter University. Ms. Winn received her BARCH from Syracuse University and an MARCH with a certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania.