The Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU) is pleased to announce the scholarship recipients of its first youth engagement program at the upcoming Union of International Architects Congress (UIA23) in Copenhagen. Three CSU scholarships have been awarded to Amhara Hernandez of Hunter College, Kaitlin Reese of Columbia University, and Mohammad Ahzam Quraishi of Columbia University. As the successful recipients of these scholarships, they will cover the diverse themes of the Congress and share their insights on their return.

CSU Board member, Anna Rubbo, and CSU Alumni, Silvia Vercher, will liaise with our three scholars at this year’s Congress in Copenhagen. Anna is co-chair of  Design for Resilient Communities, and over the past two years has worked with the Scientific Committee as they also developed  Climate Adaptation, Rethinking Resources, Health, Inclusivity, and Partnerships for Change. Over 750 papers from 77 countries were received by the Science Track, and following a process of blind review some 296 were invited to present at  UIA23.  These papers will be published in six volumes by Springer.  ArchDaily will publish interviews with all  Science Track co-chairs.  To date Design for Resilient Communities, Design for Rethinking Resources, Design for Climate Adaptation and Design for Health are available. Silvia is an architect who specializes in urban design with ten years of international experience.

We are delighted to introduce our three scholars for the UIA23 Congress in Copenhagen:

Amhara Hernandez 

As a New Yorker, Amhara found an interest in the intersection of social justice and the built environment. Upon graduating from CUNY City College with a Bachelor of Architecture, she began her career in public service. Amhara is currently a Borough Planner for the NYC HPD Office of Neighborhood Strategies, where she facilitates resiliency plans, neighborhood studies, and the development of affordable housing. She is also pursuing a Master of Urban Planning at Hunter College and aims to incorporate her studies into her mission of furthering equity and strengthening underserved communities.

Kaitlin Reese

Kaitlin graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a Concentration in Mathematical Modeling. After graduating, she launched her career at the San Francisco Department of the Environment, working at the intersection of green building and zero waste to advance the City’s circular economy. Kaitlin is currently furthering her understanding of what a regenerative future could look like while working as a Circular Economy Consultant at Eunomia Research & Consulting in Brooklyn while studying for her M.S. in Sustainability Management at Columbia University.

Mohammad Ahzam Quraishi

Ahzam is an Architect from India. He has executed multiple large-scale resilience masterplans and public urban projects. Presently, he is pursuing an MS in Sustainability Management at the Columbia Climate School. His focus is to help developing countries make a clean energy transition and support vulnerable communities in these countries to become resilient and sustainable.

We look forward to our scholars’ participation!