Grecia’s graduate studies at Northeastern University have focused on using tools such as data, maps and other visualizations to better understand the urban spaces we currently live in and hope to live in. She considers herself to be a transportation scholar activist and hopes to bring visibility to the issues women and minorities face as they move around their cities; whether by bus, train, bike, or walking/rolling on the sidewalk, all of us deserve to have a dignified experience as we use our infrastructure to access jobs, schools, parks, hospitals and opportunities. Our cities belong to all of us and they should be accessible to all of us.

“I am thrilled to be part of this summer's cohort working on spatial justice issues and I look forward to learning from the other fellows and the issues they hope to advance and bring visibility to.”

Aiyah is a current Master in City Planning/MBA candidate at MIT completing his dual degree in Fall 2021. Originally from Dorchester, MA, Aiyah is a current Rhode Island resident and staunch Providence advocate. What drew him to the Spatial Justice fellowship, beyond his personal and professional experience engaged in urban communities, was the recent unfortunate pandemic-induced eviction, and incredibly fortunate community-backed relocation of his parent's West African cuisine restaurant from Boston to Providence. This experience has galvanized Aiyah to focus his independent research, the crux of his thesis, and the needs case for a start-up on structuring and strengthening urban communities' muscle for collective wealth building, collective asset ownership, and economic intra-dependence. Aiyah loves Hip Hop, debating (mostly Hip Hop), and is trying to dance more.

“I'm grateful and honored to be joining a cohort of peers equally impassioned to think boldly, dream limitlessly, and lead collectively.”

Mridhu is a senior at Northeastern University completing her degree in Political Science and International Affairs, while working on coursework for an accelerated Masters in Security and Resilience Studies. While interning as a fellow at Climate X Change, Mridhu worked on carbon pricing policy at the state level and within regional electric grids, co-authoring a report on independent system operators and carbon pricing. Pivoting from energy policy, Mridhu will be interning with the Global Center for Climate Justice this summer as part of their Green New Deal Cities Resource Hub team to work on research and policy to promote transformational change in cities around climate and spatial justice.

“I am thrilled to be a part of CNU New England's Spatial Justice Fellows program, and for the opportunity to work on building equitable and sustainable communities. The fellowship has granted me the opportunity to pursue an internship with the Global Center for Climate Justice where I hope to work at the intersection of climate and spatial justice. I am particularly excited about attending the CNU National Conference, hoping to learn from and contribute to important discussions about the role of power and design in urban planning.”