Presented as part of Red Line Services’ Designing Belonging series, this Lunch & Learn program features Mejay Gula, Senior Project Manager, Site Design Group, Landscape Architects.
Mejay Gula’s pursuit of discovering places of belonging traces back to her upbringing in Chicago by immigrant parents and grandparents. From her early years, she recognized that civic spaces were not created with her or her family in mind, having experienced only a handful of cities in the US that provided her with a sense of genuine welcome and acceptance. Often, the simple civic gestures of welcome were sparse and scattered, leaving urban design to fall short of serving its communities effectively. Mejay, therefore, advocates for spaces that facilitate thriving communities, believing that urban design rooted in trust and active listening will foster place and belonging.
As Senior Project Manager at site design group, ltd. (site), a nationally award-winning landscape architecture, urban design, and architecture firm based in Chicago, Mejay focuses on diverse landscape and urban design projects, employing creative community engagement strategies to foster collaboration. As an architectural designer, educator, and curator, she works to revitalize overlooked spaces in Chicago, driven by her passion for civic design, historic preservation, and construction. Mejay is also the founder of Tender House Project, a collaborative initiative with local organizations aimed at activating Chicago’s underutilized bridge houses. Through partnerships with the city and community groups, Mejay envisions these neglected structures transforming into a vibrant civic and cultural network, breathing new life into the Chicago River and its surrounding areas
A meal is shared after the program. Free and open to the public. RSVP is required.
Designing Belonging is an eight-month public lecture series, followed by intensive design + research workshops, that engage houseless artists in the reimaging of Chicago’s public spaces.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay current on new events, stories,
and updates from Art Design Chicago.
An initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art in partnership with artists and organizations across the city, Art Design Chicago is a series of events and exhibitions that highlight the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
