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About

Territory is young designers making the city a healthier place for diverse communities.

Mission

Territory is a place-based urban design studio where young people are building better futures for themselves and their communities through the practice of design. Territory is located in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Doing projects in public spaces, young people use their lived experience, gain civic problem-solving skills, discover transformative career pathways in design, and advocate for including young people in the design and planning of Chicago.

We are hiring

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10+ Years of Experience

Territory’s work comes from inside the community. As an equity-driven and restorative design justice-based practice, each youth-led design project helps make the community whole again, and improve the daily lives of all the people who live there.

Our Team

Helen Slade

Executive Director (ED)

Dr. L. David Stewart

Director of Design Practice (DDP)

Ashanti Leach

AmeriCorps VISTA in Community Development & Facilities Planning

Xochitl Hubbell-Fox

Development and Marketing Specialist

Nicole Castro

Lead Studio Facilitator - Urban Design Team 

JaKayla Rogers

AmeriCorps VISTA in Community Outreach & Marketing

Marvin Bell

Woodshop Instructor

Territory Values

Youth Agency

We elevate young people as leaders and advocates through relevant, hands-on, place-based action.

Collaboration and Teamwork

We nurture safe, judgment free spaces to connect with peers, community partners, and city-wide to increase our shared effectiveness and be accountable.

Design Equity

We use the design process to empower young people, and we reimagine the practice of design to be inclusive of young people with a focus on those populations most often excluded from design.

Adventurousness

We find solutions using the boldness, humor, loyalty, open-mindedness, and lived experiences of the people we serve .

Positive Impact

We do work that results in tangible positive change.

Affiliations

Austin Coming Together
Youth Empowerment Task Force

My Chi My Future Austin
Steering Committee

Want to get involved?

Become a Designer, Client, or Volunteer today!

contact us

Propose a Collaboration

Working in public, Territory youth collaborate with community partners, city agencies, artists, architects and planners as they develop their ideas from vision to reality

Helen Slade

Executive Director (ED)

Helen is a co-founder of Territory, responsible for strategic initiatives and partnerships, organization operations, design excellence founded in place-based practice, values-driven program development, and fundraising. She is an Illinois licensed architect, an experienced project manager, designer, curator, and public artist. The best part of her job is being in the design studio developing new project ideas with young people.

Dr. L. David Stewart

Director of Design Practice (DDP)

Dr Stewart, a multifaceted reformed architect, academic  and strategist, is responsible for design project management and development, expansion, and managing the direction of Territory as a design firm. Dr. Stewart is passionate about education and providing opportunities to youth in the fields of architecture and urban design. Dr. Stewart seeks to transform Territory into the preeminent design firm in the Austin area and have fun with the youth doing it.

Ashanti Leach

AmeriCorps VISTA in Community Development & Facilities Planning

Ashanti Leach is an alumna of Territory’s 2021 design team. She helped create the Austin Youth Quality of Life Plan which is the foundation of Territory’s strategic program development. Leach is a graduate of St. Mary’s college with a double major in Communication Studies and Humanistic Studies. The Westside of Chicago is home. She is the child of homeowners, and is pursuing a career in community development because she has experienced the value of investing and ownership as a way to gain economic mobility.

Xochitl Hubbell-Fox

Development and Marketing Specialist

Xochi is an alumni from Territory’s summer of 2017 People Spot Project. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Xochi launched the Territory Internship for Design Equity, the organization’s first post high school program offering professional office experience for program alumni. They are a Psychology undergrad at NEIU with a focus on development and social psychology.

Nicole Castro

Lead Studio Facilitator – Urban Design Team 

Nicole is an artist from Chicago’s West side leading Territory’s year-round intro urban design programs. Nicole strives to empower young individuals to discover their unique voices through their work on the design team. Nicole is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of creatives. She firmly believes in the importance of youth acquiring design skills and understanding the power of artistic expression. 

JaKayla Rogers

AmeriCorps VISTA in Community Outreach & Marketing

JaKayla started working with Territory’s Advanced Design Studio in 2020 and helped complete a Teen Quality of Life Plan for Austin.  From 2021-23 project she helped develop “SIT” a Peace Circle which is a street seating area designed for teens and young adults to feel safe while having difficult conversations amongst each other and in their own community. She graduated Ogden International High School of Chicago in 2022 with honors and credits from the Diploma Program and is currently working on her Associates Degree.  

Marvin Bell

Woodshop Instructor

Marvin Bell, a native of Chicago, attributes his passion for woodworking to watching This Old House and New Yankee Workshop, where he developed a love for the intricacies of wood working and various species of wood. In 2015, he founded Solid Carpentry, with over 100,000 square feet of homes built. Solid Carpentry specializes in custom, handcrafted pieces, as well as construction and project management.