MUSE News: Celebrating Seven Years & New Team Members

The month of September marked seven years in business for MUSE Community + Design.
From humble beginnings as a firm of one working out of coffee shops, MUSE has grown by all measures and is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t look one particular way. MUSE is known for creating a blueprint where one doesn’t exist. Recent examples include developing policies and practices that center equity and inclusion; leading community engagement to improve access to mobility and transit options in Chicago neighborhoods; and designing dozens of interactive and engaging ways to make planning concepts accessible and relevant, empowering neighbors to design their own futures.

While this is a big milestone and we are certainly celebrating, we didn’t get here on our own. We send a hearty thank you to the staff, clients, partners, and collaborators who have been part of this journey with us.

Recent highlights:

• • Wrapping up a comprehensive plan for the city of West Chicago, an especially exciting project because it allowed our team to flex our bilingual competencies;
  • Leading a team of four women-owned firms responsible for facilitation of Phase II of the  We Will Chicago citywide plan, the first such plan for the City of Chicago in more than 50 years; and
  • Member of the inaugural cohort of Brave Space Alliance’s Brave Business Network, which will help us better lead our work in communities and as a place of employment with a gender-inclusive lens.

All of this amazing work has meant we continue to grow. Please join us in welcoming Adam Glueckert, Shashwat Arya, and Ally Brisbin to MUSE Community + Design!

(L-R) Adam Glueckert, Shashwat Arya, Ally Brisbin

• • Adam Glueckert (he/him), Associate
    Adam is a planner and project manager with a passion for environmental justice. He has a master’s degree in Urban Planning from University of Illinois at Chicago and an extensive background in community development and public engagement. 
  • Shashwat Arya (he/him), Associate
    Shashwat is a designer with a background in architecture and fine arts, and brings a community-centered approach to his work. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he developed an interdisciplinary approach to design. He is experienced in architectural design, rendering, drafting and visualization, as well as other forms of visual and applied arts. 
  • Ally Brisbin (she/her), Director
    Ally comes to MUSE with more than a decade of experience in community development. During her five years on staff with a Chicago Alderman, Ally led strategic communications, facilitated 
    community engagement around significant development and transportation infrastructure projects, and supported local businesses as their advocate and liaison to City Hall. Ally leads MUSE’s communications and marketing efforts, and supports our community engagement work.

Head over to our Teams page to see everyone’s new headshots!