Caribbean Perspectives Colloquium #1

Wed, Sep 27
11:30 a.m.

Semblanza Isadora Hastings García
Cooperación Comunitaria Coordinator, Mexico

García is a founding partner, alongside Engineer Gerson Huerta, of the non-profit organization Cooperación Comunitaria A.C. Since 2010, she has been coordinating this organization, where processes related to habitat production and social management, as well as comprehensive reconstruction in rural communities in Mexico’s most vulnerable states, have been developed. These initiatives have involved the implementation of participatory processes with a comprehensive and systemic approach, achieved through knowledge dialogue. Since 2020, she has served as an academic at the National Academy of Architecture of Mexico. Moreover, in 2023, she became a member of the Council, representing Latin America, of the Habitat International Coalition. She holds a Master’s in Architecture from UNAM and the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Giulia Testori 

Project Officer – Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Giulia Testori is Project Officer at the B3 Unit (Territorial Development) of the JRC Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.  She analysis strategies of urban and territorial development at spatial and policy level, developing evidence-base methodological support to policymaking. Previously she was Research Fellow in Critical Urban Studies at University of Leeds on a British Academy funded project titled NOVA VIDA; an investigation centred on developing novel approaches for post-disaster resettlements in Ecuador. She holds two PhDs in Urbanism and Architecture from IUAV University of Venice and KU Leuven. Her PhD thesis investigated on the spatial implications of mingas in Quito, Ecuador. The thesis received a special mention at The Third Manuel de Solà-Morales European Prize 2021. In 2018 she was Urban Technical Consultant for UN-Habitat Mexico and Cuba. She graduated with magna cum laude from the Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning (MAUSP) at KUL and holds the European Postgraduate Master in Urbanism (EMU).

Traci Birch

Interim Managing Director / Assistant Professor – LSU

Traci Birch is the Interim Managing Director of the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio and an Assistant Professor in the LSU School of Architecture. Her particular focus is ecosystem management and facilitating local implementation of regional planning efforts. Traci completed her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (2003) and her Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Environmental Management (2011), both from the University of New Orleans. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree with concentrations in graphic design and media production from Baldwin-Wallace University (1995). Before joining CSS, Traci spent 10-years+ in the private sector as a practicing planner in Louisiana and the Gulf South. Her teaching experience includes graduate and undergraduate studios and seminars in coastal, sustainability, and environmental planning. She has previously taught at East Carolina University and the University of New Orleans. Traci is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association.

Upcoming events:

Friday, Oct 13

Caribbean Perspectives Colloquium #2

Mark Raymond, Director Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg – SOUTH AFRICA

Friday, Nov 17

Caribbean Perspectives Colloquium #3

María Verónica Machado, Architecture Research Coordinator, Universidad de la Costa – COLOMBIA

If you are not part of the LSU College of Art & Design, register via: https://www.caribbeanspatialjusticelab.org/colloquium