Cities are dynamic and living with multifaceted systems functioning as the lifeblood of the place.

As an urban planner and community organizer, Chelsea focuses on integrating different perspectives of grassroots engagement to better understand and respond to social and environmental injustices, design, and livability.

Chelsea is passionate about breaking down social, environmental, and economic barriers that lessen the voices of those often not heard in community development. She believes in collaborative placemaking for thriving communities. As the Associate Director at the Center for the Living City, she works at the margins to create opportunities for youth and young women, and community members to collaborate in their community building processes and have an active role in shaping the future of places they care about.

Her approach towards city building is from the bottom up, with youth at the core of it. Chelsea believes in the power of small-scale interventions in cities to make big impacts within a community. At the Center she’s involved with programs and projects that further amplify the voices of those not often heard in their communities.

With a background as a ballet dancer, Chelsea brings an artistic eye and steadfast determination to her life’s work. She holds a Master’s degree in City & Metropolitan Planning, a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation, and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Utah.

Background: 

Professional Experience

Associate Director | The Center for the Living City | Salt Lake City, UT | August 2013 - Present 

The Center for the Living City actively engages in programs, projects, and publications that further the understanding of interconnected human and ecological systems in our communities. 

o Manages program development, nonprofit operations, website/graphic design (e.g. centerforthelivingcity.org, observescranton.org), donor relations/database, and grantsmanship;

o Co-developed and manages the global Observation + Action Network-Provides scalable opportunities for youth/students to directly engage in urgent urban ecology projects through a grants program, mentor network, and Observe Youth program. Strong focus on social and environmental justice with young leaders taking equitable action in their communities;

o Plans and implements numerous community events, workshops, and special projects. Observe Scranton Festival (2021), City Journalism Workshop (2017), Urban Acupuncture book tour with Jaime Lerner (2014). 

Associate Instructor | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | August 2017 - July 2019

Instructional Design and manager for all Design Ecology Instructors

Lead Lab Instructor for Design Ecologies: Teaches design foundations and the Adobe suite to students majoring in Architecture, Urban Ecology, and Multi-Disciplinary Design.

National Director | Jane Jacobs Walk | Salt Lake City, UT | September 2012 - December 2013

Jane Jacobs Walk is a program of the Center for the Living City | janejacobswalk.org

Organized and lead a team for international outreach efforts; and    

Maintained the website and outreach locally and throughout the world.

Teaching Assistant + Graduate Assistant | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT| August 2011 - June 2013

Assisted with Stephen Goldsmith’s Urban Ecology and Empathic Sustainability Planning courses. 

Prepared class materials, provided student assistance, and graded student assignments.

Assistant to Nan Ellin, Chair of City & Metropolitan Planning Department.

Event Planning | Organized departmental lecture series and the Mayor’s Symposium; and

Prepared Accreditation Documents with data analysis, executive summaries, and design.

Historic Preservation Consultant | Place Economics | Salt Lake City, UT | January 2013 - May 2013

Assisted in research, data compilation and analysis for the economic impact study of historic preservation in Utah (Final document was released by Place Economics July 2013);

Assessed trends in property values of historic homes and quantified impacts of active preservation efforts.

Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Coordinator Intern | Office of Sustainability, University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | July 2012 - November 2012

Designed promotional materials and documents; and

Actively engaged outreach efforts to students on campus for SCIF and University Farmers’ Market.

Environmental Planning + Public Relations Intern | Bear West Planning Company | Bountiful, UT | June 2011 - September 2011

Specifically worked on updating the National Forest Service Planning Rule and DEIS; 

Processed and analyzed thousands of letters and comments for numerous DEIS and long range plans, for use by multiple agencies and organizations across the Western states and Washington D.C.; and

Provided assistance for many planning related projects including, data analysis, NEPA compliance, executive summaries, and demographic reports.

Environmental Planning + Historic Preservation Intern | Paladin Development Partners | Park City, UT | July 2010 - August 2011. 

Worked on historic preservation and restoration development projects and environmental land use plans for the vision document for restoring the Historic Kimball Farm into a sustainable agricultural community; and

Additional work included historic preservation research, material design and facilitation of presentations for clients.

Education

Master of City & Metropolitan Planning | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 2011-2013 | GPA: 4.0

Eugene Carr Scholarship | 2012-2013

ArtsBridge Scholar | 2012 + 2013

Tuition Benefit Scholarship | 2011-2013

Master’s Certificate in Historic Preservation | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 2012 | GPA: 4.0

BS of Urban Planning | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 2006-2010 | GPA: 3.65 

Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society | 2007-2013

Dean’s List | 2006-2010

Alice Call Scholarship | 2006-2008

Other Professional Affiliations

Seven Canyons Trust | Board of Directors | Salt Lake City, UT | 2015- present

Salzburg Congress for Urban Planning & Development | Congress Member | Salzburg, Austria | 2014- 2018

Awards

Outstanding Planning Student Achievement Award | American Institute of Certified Planners | National | 2013

Jane Jacobs Medal for Leadership in Community Engagement | Salt Lake City, UT | 2013

Listening to Mobridge Outstanding Achievement Award | Utah APA | Salt Lake City, UT | 2011

Projects 

Urban Acupuncture- Grantee of the Knight Foundation: Published Jaime Lerner’s book Urban Acupuncture in English. Organized, facilitated, traveled for three week book tour with Jaime Lerner.

Jane Jacobs Walk/ArtsBridge Scholar—ArtsBridge America, Salt Lake City, UT, Spring 2012 + 2013, “5 Blocks”. Collaborated with 4th grade students to explore community values and created an urban planning art project, which was on display at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Fall of 2012. In 2013, Uintah Elementary 4th grade students created an urban ecological exhibition of their neighborhood. This work was displayed April 26, 2013 at the Uintah Elementary Art Show.

SLC River District — Westside Studio—Summer 2012 

Killyon Canyon Preservation Management Plan—Open Space Design, University of Utah, Fall 2011.

Listening to Mobridge—Planning Workshop, University of Utah, 2010-2011. Received Utah APA Outstanding Achievement Award- community planning and public involvement studio workshop project in Mobridge, SD. Facilitated community planning workshops and worked with residents in a community design process for a 30-acre vacant parcel off of their Main Street.     

Invited Professional Speaking Engagements

November 15, 2016- Barcelona, Spain- Smart Cities World Expo. Presentation + Exhibition: Celebrating Jane Jacobs' Centennial

November 16, 2016- Barcelona, Spain- Smart Cities- Panel Discussion + Presentation: Integration of Women in Urban Development- Making the Invisible, Visible: Amplifying the voices of Girls & Young Women in our Cities. 

April 18, 2014- Salt Lake City, Utah- University of Utah, College of Architecture + Planning, invited Keynote Speaker for Undergraduate Planning Student Organization State Planning Conference. Immersive Experiences| Place Attachment

March 7, 2011- Mobridge, South Dakota, Listening to Mobridge final city council presentation to the City of Mobridge, SD.

Published Articles + Work

City Trails: Jane Jacobs Walk- City Observer, Vol. 2. Urban Design Collective, Chennai India. December 2015

www.centerforthelivingcity.org