Catherine Betances (she/they pronouns) joined Design Trust in September 2021 as one of the Equitable Public Space Fellows, supporting in program management and development. Catherine was born and raised in the unceded lands of the Delaware Tribe/Lenape people (aka the NY/NJ metro area) and holds a B.A. from Smith College ‘13. Prior to moving back to the area, she lived for several years on the lands of the re-established Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the descendants of the Greenwood Race Massacre (aka Tulsa, Oklahoma), working as a community-based sexuality educator for a public health non-profit and volunteering with several groups dedicated to the built environment. Prior to that, Catherine was a public school educator in 2 different cities of Oklahoma. Catherine is drawn to public space because of her dedication to racial, disability, and environmental justice. She is so grateful for the incredible access to urban planning that Design Trust offers, and she hopes to contribute to growing meaningful relationships with New Yorkers.