IAU Constellation:

A Tapestry of Urban Afronauts

Meet the civic & professional partners, co-conspirators, and other folks lending their expertise, energy or mindshare to the IAU’s Quests

Founder •

Chief Manifestor •

Founder • Chief Manifestor •

Lauren A. Hood

Lauren A. Hood (Detroit, Michigan) is a writer, city planner and community developer with a focus on the imaginative capacities of the arts. In 2021, she founded the Institute for AfroUrbanism (IAU), a research organization for strategic development focused on the ideation and enrichment of Black communities.

Lauren's Profile

IAU Constellation Figures

Heidi Alcock

FNDN PARTNER | Grant Director, McGregor Fund
Jerry Attia

OWNERS REP | Co-Founder, Framework E
Patrick Banks

IAU AFROURBANITE | Partner, Little Africa
Erica Battle

ACCOUNTING | CPA, George Johnson & Co
Dr. Chanel Beebe

IAU ACCOMPLICE | Program Participant, Beebe Arts
Hailei Benedict

PR | Account Mgr, OLU & CO.
Audra Carson

BEAUTIFICATION | Founder, Izzy Logistics
Jehan Crump Gibson

LEGAL | Attorney, Great Lakes Legal
Olayami Dabls

MURALIST | Founder, MBAD African Bead Museum
Bryce Detroit

THOUGHT PARTNER | Sonic Arts
Jon Dones

BRAND STRATEGY | Partner, Studio Teal
Sophiyah E

THOUGHT PARTNER | Artist Relations, Dcipher
Dr Khalid El-Hakim

IAU TRUSTEE | Founder, Black History 101 Museum
Orlando Ford

DOCUMENTARIAN | Owner, Iktome Productions
Justin Garrett Moore

FNDN PARTNER | Program Director, Mellon Foundation
Rich Hansen

VIDEOGRAPHER | Founder, Lucky Airlines
Jason Hill

REALTOR | Principal, Historic Realty
Carmen Kennedy Rogers

FNDN PARTNER | Senior Program Office, The Skillman Foundation
Chris Lambert

IAU ACCOMPLICE | Program Participant, Life Remodeled
Julie Lattanzi

IAU ACCOMPLICE | Program Participant, Union Joints
Mammotsa Makhene

FNDN PARTNER | Strategic Partnerships, Mellon Foundation
Jeff Mills

THOUGHT PARTNER | DJ & Music Producer
Jaqueline Ngo Mpii

IAU AFROURBANITE | Founder, Little Africa
Ash Nowak

BRAND STRATEGY | Partner, Studio Teal
Amani Olu

P.R. | Founder, OLU & CO.
Dan Pitera, FAIA

IAU TRUSTEE | Dean, Architecture - UDM
Kumar Raj

FNDN PARTNER | Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Pierre Roberson

OWNERS REP | Co-Founder, Framework E
Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe

IAU TRUSTEE | Founder, Shetroit.com
Kevin Ryan

FNDN PARTNER | Senior Program Office, Ford Foundation
Vanessa Samuelson

FNDN PARTNER | Director of Learning, McGregor Fund
Trabian Shorters

FNDN PARTNER | CEO, BMEcommunity
Diallo Smith

IAU ACCOMPLICE | Program Participant, Life Remodeled
Joshua A. Smith

DESIGN | Founder, Who’s That?
Stacey Stevens

OPERATIONS | Co-Director, Michigan Roundtable for Diversity
Ann Stevenson

IAU ACCOMPLICE | Program Participant, Union Joints
Andrew Stone

ARCHITECT | Principal, Albert Khan
Lakeisha Todd

ACCOUNTING | CPA, George Johnson & Co
Monique Woods

INSURANCE | Principal, Woods Agency
New List Item

Description goes here
New List Item

Description goes here