CV
Education
B.S. Advertising, minor in Marketing and Psychology
Kent State University, 2012
M.S. Information Architecture and Knowledge Management - User Experience Design
Kent State University, 2020
Fellowships & Professional Development
Amazing Place Ideas Forum, Smart Growth America, 2017 (Akron Team Lead)
Torchbearers, Jan 2017 - Dec 2018
Ashé Leaders Fellow, Big Picture Learning, June 2021-Dec 2022 (national fellowship)
Awards
30 For the Future, 2019
Greater Akron Chamber
Emmy(R) Winner for ‘Akronite’ Feature, 2021
NATAS Lower Great Lakes 52nd Emmy Awards
Community Member of the Year, 2021
National Association for Social Workers Ohio Chapter Region II
One Hope-One Dream Award, 2024
Archbishop Hoban High School
Publications
Place Driving Equity: An evidence-based action guide on the role of public space for shared prosperity - Working Group Member
Light Enters The Grove: Exploring the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Through Poetry - Fall 2024 (poetry anthology)
Presentations
Engaging Creatives in Community, Wichita Community Conference, 2018
Importance of Equity in the Akron Cultural Plan - American Planning Association DC Conference, 2020
Importance of Equity in the Akron Cultural Plan - American Planning Association NYC Conference, 2020
Black Women Explore - Akron Civic Commons - Akron Learning Journey, 2022
Essential Experiences(SM) - ArtsNow, Arts & Education, 2022
Building the Perfect Partnership - National Association for Interpretation, 2022
Socioeconomic mixing in the Civic Commons, American Library Association - LibLearnX Conference, 2023
Across Divides: Segregation, Social Networks & Perceptions of Place - Civic Commons Studio #7, 2023 (Interviewer)
Athena Akron Q&A with an Emerging Leader: Bronlynn Thurman, 2023
So, What’s Really Going on?, Grantmakers in the Arts, 2023
Panelist
Knight Foundation Library Conference, 2017
Akron Civic Commons - Akron Learning Journey, 2022
Placemaking Institute Opening Plenary, 2022 (Moderator)
Ohio Arts Council Opening Plenary, 2022
Process & Progress: Greater Akron Cultural Plan - Equity, 2022
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc’s “How to Better Protect Our Hearts” Session, 2023
Changemakers Panel - Elevate to Lead Conference by AULYP, 2023
Akron’s Small Business Community Lenders, 2023 (Moderator)
Other Activities
Black Women Explore, Co-Founder, 2021 - present
Coffee & Cocktails Bookclub, Founder & Host, 2020 - present
Freelance & Contract Work
Community Outreach Consultant, Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre, 2020-2021
Designer & Illustrator, 2012 - present
Poster design
Game board design
Illustration
Press/Articles
Building bridges between a city and its university with help from Pokémon GO, Knight Foundation, 2017 (Link)
GAR Foundation's 'Know COVID' Provides Minority Communities with Information, Ideastream Public Media, 2021 (Link)
Akron Black Artist Guild plans parks project and more collaborations in 2022, Ideastream Public Media, 2022 (Link)
Belonging in Nature, Reimagining the Civic Commons Medium, 2022 (Link)
Black Women Explore fosters safe space for minorities to do outdoor recreation in Akron, Akron Beacon Journal, 2023 (Link)
How do I create community around an activity?, Akron Mirror by the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 2023 (Link)
Can a Folded Map Unite Us?, Reimagining the Civic Commons, 2023 (Link)
City Centric: Akron, PBS Western Reserve, 2023 (Link)
City Centric Podcast: An interview with Bronlynn Thurman, PBS Western Reserve, 2023 (Link)
The Landscape Nerd x Black Women Explore, The Landscape Nerd Podcast, 2023 (Link)
Fall Hiking Spree - 60 Years of Memories, Summit Metro Parks, 2023 (Link)
‘A lot of space to grow’: How a global pandemic has changed life in downtown Akron, Akron Beacon Journal, 2023 (Link)
Volunteering, Boards & Committees
Akron 200, Inc., Board member, 2024 - present
Akron & Summit County Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education, Committee Member, 2016 - 2020
Akron Black Artist Guild, Core Team member, 2020 - 2023
Akron Civic Commons, Core Team Member, 2016 - present
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Volunteer, 2014 - 2019
Akron Cultural Plan Steering Committee, Committee Member and Equity Statement Co-Writer, 2019
Akron Women in Tech - Social Media Manager, 2018 - 2019
City of Akron Bicentennial Commission, Commission Member, 2022 - present
City of Akron Planning Commission, Commission Member, 2020 - present
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley - Former Brandywine Golf Course Concept Committee, 2023 - present
Countryside Food and Farms, Board member (Secretary & Governance Committee Chair), 2018 - 2022
Downtown Akron Partnership, volunteer 2017 - present (sporadic)
Elevate Greater Akron, Working Group member (Refocus on Downtown, Spark Akron, Opportunity Akron), 2020 - present
Fund for our Economic Future, Non-voting member (Where Are the Workers Marketing Committee, Community Investment Fund Committee), 2019 - present
Greater Ohio Policy Center, Board member, 2024 - present
Montgomery County Arts Panel, grant panelist, 2022 & 2024
Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, Board member, 2020-2021
PechaKucha Akron, Board Member (Secretary), 2017 -2019
Summit ArtSpace - Artist Resource Committee, Member, 2023 - present
United Way of Summit & Medina Counties Financial Empowerment Center Advisory Committee, Committee member, 2018 - 2019
Judging
SXSW Place By Design Competition Judge, 2019
MORTAR @ Bounce Pitch Night, 2022
Montgomery County Arts Council Grantmaking Panelist, 2022
Art Exhibitions
Women’s Exhibition, Nine Muses Gallery, 2015 (group)
Mustard Seed Group Photography Show, 2017 (group)
Mustard Seed Women’s Show, 2018 (group)
Akron Coffee Roasters, 2019 (solo)
Bazaarbeque 10, 2023 (group)
Concentricity: A Reflection on Nature and Interconnectedness, 2023 (solo)