About

Paola Capo is Senior Manager of Climate Action and Resilient Communities for AIA. She strives to provide architects and communities with the resources they need to create healthier, more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environments. In her current role, she divides her time between managing the Disaster Assistance Program (assisting architects and AIA chapters before and after disaster events occur) and supporting Communities by Design, a program of the Architects Foundation that matches communities with interdisciplinary expertise to achieve community aspirations. In her time at AIA, Paola has supported several other portfolios related to sustainability and climate action including the 2030 Commitment program, the Materials Pledge, and the Committee on the Environment with a focus on capacity-building for architects, firms, and chapters.

Paola is currently pursuing a Masters in Emergency Management from Tulane University. In 2020, she completed IAP2’s Foundations in Public Participation Program, and in 2019 she participated in UC Berkeley’s [IN]City program to expand on her knowledge in urban design. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a degree in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, concentrating in Energy and the Environment.

Celia Carnes joined the Architects Foundation as Senior Manager for Development and Communications in the summer of 2023. Celia strives to sustain and amplify the impact of the Architects Foundation by cultivating strategic relationships and engaging diverse audiences. A firm believer in the power of design to create a better world, she is passionate about positioning the Architects Foundation and The Octagon to empower the design community and educate the public. Celia has over a decade of experience supporting non-profit organizations and design firms through fundraising, communications, marketing, and project management. Most recently, she developed, managed, and fundraised for educational programs and events at The Cultural Landscape Foundation and coordinated the business development and marketing efforts for a boutique architecture firm in Washington, DC. Her writing has appeared in publications including South Writ Large and ArchitectureDC. Celia has a BA in Anthropology and Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MS in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh.  

Amanda Ferrario believes museums should be inclusive, engaging, and spark curiosity in the world around us. She is passionate about creating programs and activities that reach diverse audiences of all ages and abilities, cultivating inclusive spaces, and giving voice to those lesser known individuals and their stories.  

Over the past 13 years, Amanda has worked in various museums where she has cultivated lasting partnerships, developed various inclusive programs and events, and has built and managed dynamic teams of staff and volunteers. Most recently, Amanda was the Docent Coordinator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, where she managed over 374 docents and implemented new programs, trainings, enrichments, and museum-wide initiatives. She has a BA in History from Coastal Carolina University, an MA in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design, currently serves on the Board of the Prince George’s County Historical Society and the Small Museum Association.

Joel Mills is Senior Director for the Communities by Design program. Joel’s 28-year career has been focused on strengthening civic capacity, democratic processes and civic institutions. This work has helped millions of people participate in meaningful public processes, visioning efforts, and community planning initiatives. In the United States, Joel has provided consultative services to hundreds of communities, leading participatory processes on the ground in over 100 communities across 38 states. He has led public processes, training programs and workshops in over a dozen countries across 5 continents. His work has been featured in over 1,000 media stories and several books. Joel has served on dozens of expert working groups, boards, juries, and panels focused on civic discourse and participation, sustainability, and democracy. He was a founding Board Member of the International Association for Public Participation’s United States Chapter. He has spoken at numerous international conferences concerning democratic urbanism and the role of democracy in urban success, including serving as the Co-Convener of the Remaking Cities Congress in 2013. Joel is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism in London and serves as a Senior Editorial Associate for Civic Green. He is the author of numerous articles on the relationship between democracy, civic capacity and community.

Erin Simmons is Senior Director of Design Assistance for Communities by Design, a program of the Architects Foundation. For more than 17 years, Erin has provided technical assistance to hundreds of communities around the world, leading democratic planning processes and training workshops focused on empowering citizens to create equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities. Her work has been featured in hundreds of news articles and publications, and she has spoken extensively as a subject matter expert on the topics of participatory planning, sustainability, and community revitalization.

Prior to her work with Communities by Design, Erin worked as historic preservationist and architectural historian for an environmental and engineering firm, where she practiced preservation planning, created historic district design guidelines, and conducted historic resource surveys. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia. Erin is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism in London, UK.

Vanesa Zelaya is the foundation specialist at the Architects Foundation, providing scholarships and administrative support. She also handles the social media for The Architects Foundation and The Octagon Museum. Before joining the Foundation, she held a membership outreach position in a nonprofit which sparked an interest in social media management and communications. Vanesa holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.