{"id":15924,"date":"2025-03-17T00:19:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T04:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sds.parsons.edu\/urban\/?post_type=urbanvoices&p=15924"},"modified":"2025-03-17T00:19:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T04:19:46","slug":"ruth-wondemu","status":"publish","type":"urbanvoices","link":"https:\/\/parsons.edu\/urban\/urbanvoices\/ruth-wondemu\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruth Wondemu"},"content":{"rendered":"

We spoke with Ruth Wondemu (she\/her), a DUE<\/span>\u00a0\u201926 student.\u00a0With a background in Public Health and Emergency Management,\u00a0Ruth\u00a0has spent years working to support vulnerable communities. Her experiences responding to crises and systemic inequalities sparked a desire to tackle environmental racism and climate impacts in a more creative, community-driven way.Now in her second semester of the MS in Design and Urban Ecologies program at Parsons, Ruth is exploring new ways to bridge urban justice, sustainability, and participatory design. We sat down with her to discuss her journey, evolving perspectives on cities, and what\u2019s been inspiring her lately.<\/em><\/p>\n

What drew you to the MS in Design and Urban Ecologies program?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been fascinated by the ways people shape cities\u2014and how cities, in turn, shape people. My background in environmental studies made me think critically about land use, displacement, and who has access to resources, but I wanted to go deeper into the social and spatial dynamics of urban life. This program gave me the space to explore those ideas through an activist lens, connecting theory with real-world organizing. It\u2019s helped me refine my vision for designing cities that work\u00a0for<\/em>\u00a0people, not just capital.<\/p>\n

How has your perspective on urban spaces evolved since joining the program?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve come to see the city as a constant negotiation\u2014between power, policy, culture, and everyday life. Before, I thought of urban planning as something rigid, but now I see it as deeply contested and full of possibilities. Learning from community organizers has especially shifted my perspective; I\u2019ve realized that some of the most impactful urban transformations don\u2019t come from top-down planning but from people reclaiming space on their own terms.<\/p>\n

Tell us about a project you\u2019re currently working on.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m currently collaborating with\u00a0the Student Hub to host an Earth Day upcycling workshop\u00a0on\u00a0Monday, April 21st, and Tuesday, April 22nd, from 12\u20133 PM at the Student Hub (39 1\/2 13th St.). This hands-on event will focus on sustainability, creativity, and upcycling, giving students the chance to turn plastic water bottles into planters. I’m collaborating with\u00a0Student Affairs\u00a0to collect plastic bottles in advance, so we can put them to good use.<\/p>\n

If you see a flyer and a bin around campus and have a plastic water bottle,\u00a0feel free to drop it off\u2014every bottle helps!\u00a0\"♻️\"\u00a0Hope to\u00a0see you there!!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We spoke with Ruth Wondemu (she\/her), a DUE\u00a0\u201926 student.\u00a0With a background in Public Health and Emergency Management,\u00a0Ruth\u00a0has spent years working to support vulnerable communities. 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