Radical Future(s) Panel & Breakout Session Overview
Friday, May 2nd • 9 AM - 4 PM • Portland, Oregon
💫 The Radical Futures Summit brings together thinkers, doers, and builders to explore what it takes to reimagine and redesign broken systems—by and with those most impacted. Through bold conversations, deep connections, and collaborative sessions, we’ll examine how to move toward the just and liberated futures we envision.
💫 We know the future needs to be divergent from where it is now. It will take courage, gumption, resilience, grace, creativity, and a lot of love to get there. We wish to hold space to explore real tensions, practical strategies, and powerful visions—especially around the challenge of truly designing with, not for.
💫 We use the term futures (plural) because the path forward is not singular—there are many possibilities for what comes next, and for how we get there. This event invites us to consider not only what we change, but who leads, how we collaborate, and what we design together.
Learn More at bit.ly/radicalfutures2025
💛 Save Your Spot Today – Ticket Prices Increase Starting April 28 💛
Opening Keynote Speaker
Dr. Denise Fairchild
Dr. Fairchild is a movement elder and visionary, with decades of leadership in energy democracy and climate justice. She’s president emeritus of Emerald Cities Collaborative, and a 2021 Climate Breakthrough Awardee—the largest individual climate award in the world, and only the second U.S. recipient to date.
She also is the founder of the Ubuntu Climate Initiative and will ground the day in the values of Ubuntu—interdependence, community-led transformation, and ancestral wisdom—inviting us into radical future(s) that are regenerative and rooted in love.
“We are a mycelial network of wisdom, talent, and deep-rooted connection. Now, we rise.”
AM Panel and Breakout Information
Reclaiming Our Future(s): Reimagining Systems Through Data, Design, and Collective Action
This panel highlights bold approaches to redesigning systems across housing, climate action, philanthropy, and community strategy. With lived experience, research, and cross-sector expertise, panelists will unpack how to challenge the status quo—offering models of justice-driven design, data-informed advocacy, and solidarity-based solutions. The session includes breakout discussions to explore specific levers of change for transforming housing systems and reimagining philanthropic accountability.
Moderated by Jooyoung Oh, a designer, conflict facilitator, and educator with deep roots in equity-centered design and healing justice
Panelists include:
Carolina Castañeda del Río - Founder, Evolve International - Carolina is a systems leader and executive coach committed to equity and community transformation. With roots in psychology and family therapy, she designs culturally responsive strategies that support wellness, housing, and early childhood systems. Her cross-sector approach blends trauma-informed care, operational leadership, and coaching to strengthen communities and drive impact. Carolina will be leading an AM breakout session exploring mutual resiliency and mutual accompaniment frameworks.
Camille Idedevbo - Director of Community Strategy & Evaluation, 1803 Fund - Camille brings deep experience in community engagement, philanthropy, and strategic design. At 1803 Fund, she leads initiatives that support Black-led organizations in Portland, developing collaborative, equity-centered models of funding and partnership. Her work emphasizes accountability, capacity-building, and long-term impact. Camille will be leading an AM breakout session on equitable, Black-centered funding design in Portland.
Jacen Greene - Assistant Director, Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative, Portland State University - Jacen is a researcher, educator, and social entrepreneur focused on housing justice and community impact. At PSU, he leads cross-disciplinary efforts to translate data into action, helping public and nonprofit partners better understand and respond to homelessness. His work bridges research, design thinking, and systems-level change. Jacen will be leading an AM breakout session on housing data and evidence-based advocacy and will be available for 1-on-1 Lunch-hour Lightning Chats; more details below.
Maria Stamas - Climate Justice Attorney and Policy Strategist - Maria is a climate justice advocate, policy strategist, and systems thinker focused on building life-affirming governance models. Through her current role anchoring the Ubuntu Climate Initiative’s Power Circle, Maria advances water, energy, food, and land justice rooted in commons economies and cultural regeneration. Her work centers democratic power-building within Black, Indigenous, and frontline communities.
AM Breakout Sessions
Making Data Matter: What Housing Numbers Tell Us—and What They Don’t
Led by Jacen Greene
A hands-on session exploring how to interpret housing and homelessness data to inform action and advocacy.
Accountability for Transformation: 1803 Fund Philosophy
Led by Camille Idedevbo
A session unpacking 1803 Fund’s equity-centered, Black-led model for philanthropy and partnership.
Leading with Care: Mutual Resiliency & Accompaniment in Practice
Led by Carolina Castañeda del Río
A reflective, practice-based session introducing mutual resiliency and mutual accompaniment frameworks—tools to support equity-centered leadership, collective healing, and organizational transformation.
PM Panel and Breakout Information
Future(s) By Design: Designing equitable systems through imagination, collaboration, and transformative practice
This panel highlights transformative approaches to designing for impact across government, philanthropy, technology, and community. Panelists will unpack how they’re reimagining systems through equity, imagination, and cross-sector collaboration—offering participatory tools, data-informed insights, and future-focused frameworks to drive change. The session invites participants to consider what it means to build radical futures together.
Moderated by Reilly Martin, Executive Director at Technologists for the Public Good, and a nonprofit leader driven by building up organizations, people and public interest tech
Panelists include:
Michael Ellsworth – Co-Founder, Civilization - Michael is a designer and civic strategist whose work explores the power of design to drive collective change. As co-founder of the creative agency Civilization, he collaborates with mission-driven organizations to create campaigns, spaces, and systems that educate, engage, and inspire. His practice emphasizes cultural stewardship, clarity, and impact. Michael will be available for 1-on-1 Lunch-hour Lightning Chats; more details below.
Yuri Kim – Program Officer, Gates Foundation - Yuri is a philanthropy leader advancing economic mobility through equity-driven, data-informed strategy. At the Gates Foundation, he connects institutional resources with community-grounded realities, building systems that reflect the lived experiences of those most impacted. His work bridges policy, design, and strategic investment to drive long-term change.
Nikoyia Phillips – Director of Community Impact, Port of Portland - Nikoyia is a public sector strategist and creative placemaker committed to transforming systems from within. At the Port of Portland, she leads equity-centered initiatives that elevate culturally rooted engagement and participatory decision-making. Her work weaves facilitation, design, and power-shifting practices to build more inclusive civic infrastructure. Nikoyia will be available along with a colleague from Port of Portland for 1-on-1 Lunch-hour Lightning Chats; more details below.
Michelle Shevin – Founder, Future Preservation Society - Michelle is a strategist and former institutional funder focused on futures thinking, narrative change, and long-term visioning. Drawing from her experience at the Ford Foundation and other philanthropic institutions, she supports communities and organizations in reclaiming the tools of imagination while navigating the funding landscape. Michelle will lead a breakout session on how to talk with funders—bridging bold ideas and institutional realities with clarity, courage, and strategy; more details below.
PM Breakout Sessions
Futuring Alongside Funders: Clarity, Courage, and Long-Term Vision
Led by Michelle Shevin
A candid, collaborative session on demystifying funding, translating jargon, and building futures-thinking capacity alongside—and from within—funding institutions.
Designing for Collective Impact: Lessons from the Field
Led by Michael Ellsworth
A design-focused session exploring how creative strategy can drive civic and cultural change.
Hot Topics with TPG
Led by Reilly Martin
An open, participatory session exploring emerging issues in tech, equity, and the public good.
⚡️ Lunch-hour Lightning Chats (aka the Mini Advice Booth)
Looking for a quick gut-check, fresh perspective, or some bite-sized wisdom?
A handful of our featured panelists and a few special guests are offering 15-minute one-on-one “Lightning Chats” during the lunch break—think of it as your Mini Advice Booth for real-time insights on a question, challenge, or idea you’re working through.
🗓 Sign-ups open the week of the Summit
🎟 Priority goes to early bird registrants
Attendees will be able to sign-up for time with the following:
Carolina Castañeda del Río (Evolve International)
Mutual resiliency, trauma-informed leadership, systems change
Michael Ellsworth (Civilization)
Design for impact, brand storytelling, creative strategy
Jacen Greene (Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative)
Using data for advocacy, cross-sector collaboration, housing systems
Mark Janchar (City of Austin)
Civic tech, service design, prototyping
Yuri Kim (Gates Foundation)
Engaging with philanthropy
Nikoyia Phillips (Port of Portland)
Participatory design, Culturally specific outreach and engagement, Tactile urbanism, Systems change strategy
June Reyes (Port of Portland)
Community engagement, Facilitation, Building community partnerships
Maria Stamas (Ubuntu Climate Initiative)
Energy democracy, Commons-based governance, Bioregional organizing, Climate justice
Schedule Snapshot
Speaker Bios
Camille Idedevbo (She/Her), 1803Fund
Camille brings a breadth of experience in cultivating community, strengthening organizations from within, and applying the power of design for social good. At 1803 Fund, she leads the development of a cohort-based model for strategic partnerships—designing capacity-building programs that foster collaboration, innovation, and shared outcomes. Camille’s work at the 1803Fund centers relationship-building and accountability, supporting a growing community of Black-led organizations working together to create lasting value for Black Portlanders.
Carolina Castañeda DEl río (She/Her), Evolve international | Social Venture Partners Portland
Carolina brings deep experience in building equitable systems, coaching mission-driven leaders, and designing culturally responsive strategies for community impact. At SVP Portland, she leads community investments that align donors and nonprofits to drive systems-level change across early childhood, housing, and economic opportunity. As founder of Evolve International, she supports organizations with executive coaching, DEI planning, and trauma-informed leadership development. Carolina’s work centers cross-sector collaboration and leadership capacity-building to advance equity for Latinx and underserved communities across Oregon.
Jacen Greene (he/him), Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative
Jacen is the Assistant Director and Co-founder of the Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative at Portland State University, where he leads interdisciplinary work to address housing insecurity through research, education, and policy innovation. With a background in social entrepreneurship and sustainable business, Jacen designs programs and partnerships that translate data into action. His work bridges academia, community, and public systems to advance housing justice and evidence-based solutions that center lived experience.
Jooyoung Oh, Studio yellow
Jooyoung Oh brings 20+ years of experience in design strategy, research, and facilitation—rooted in racial justice and collective healing. She co-founded StudioYellow, a social design consultancy, and teaches equity-centered design in university settings. Her work spans from field research in Myanmar to trauma-informed facilitation with AAIPI communities. As a Process Work therapist and artist, she leads creative and therapeutic practices that support intergenerational healing, with a focus on state-organized violence against women.
Contact Jooyoung: Website
Maria Stamas (She/Her), Ubuntu Climate Initiative
Maria brings deep expertise in climate justice, democratic governance, and systems transformation grounded in solidarity economics. She currently anchors the Ubuntu Climate Initiative’s Power Program, where she works with Black, Indigenous, and frontline communities to create commons-based cultures and economies through community-led, eco-cultural strategies. Following over a decade of legislative and regulatory advocacy in California at the nexus of energy and housing justice, she co-founded the People’s Utility Commons, where she developed a popular and political education curriculum to transform the energy utility system for more just outcomes. Her work centers relationship-building, shared governance, and collective power—reimagining infrastructure to restore ecological balance and economic self-determination.
Mary Li (she/my name), Studio yellow
Mary’s professional experiences include 34 years of service at Multnomah County delivering training, facilitation, coaching, and consulting within and across County organizations to groups and individuals through a variety of learning and skill building learning experiences and methods; as well as extensive experience with and service to the non-profit sector - domestic and sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, general social justice organizing efforts, culturally specific community development and support. She is a proud Asian American woman working locally, regionally, and nationally within Asian American Indigenous Pacific Island communities, and in allyship with communities of the global majority to survive and thrive.
Contact Mary: Website
Michael Ellsworth (He/Him), Civilization
Michael is a designer and civic strategist focused on empathetic, impactful design for public, private, and nonprofit clients. As co-founder of Civilization, he leads work in brand identity, campaigns, and exhibitions rooted in sustainability and social change. His studio has earned national recognition, including the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, with work in the collections of SFMOMA and the Milton Glaser Design Archives. Michael also mentors students at Portland State University through the Kemeny Design Lecture Series.
Contact Michael: Website
Michelle Shevin (She/her), Future Preservation Society
Michelle Shevin, Founder and Principal at Future Preservation Society LLC, is a technologist and researcher passionate about how technology, policy, and culture intersect to shape social change. Future Preservation Society helps clients navigate complexity and uncertainty with a focus on cultivating the conditions for long-term human thriving. She most recently spent seven years at Ford Foundation as Senior Program Manager of the Catalyst Fund, a $50M+ landmark investment in cross-sector infrastructure to prioritize people and publics in technology change.
Contact Michelle: LinkedIn
Nikoyia Phillips (She/her), Port of Portland
Nikoyia is a public sector leader and equity strategist who blends creative placemaking with organizational change. At the Port of Portland, she leads efforts to embed equity across systems, engaging communities through culturally grounded facilitation and inclusive policy design. Her work draws on a background in curriculum development, stakeholder engagement, and institutional transformation to shift power and advance justice in civic spaces.
Contact Nikoyia: LinkedIn
Reilly Martin (she/her), Technologists for the Public Good
Reilly is a nonprofit leader and public interest technologist with a deep commitment to building equitable, accessible, and people-centered systems. Her experience spans organizational leadership, strategic facilitation, digital equity, and social impact design. Reilly has worked across government, philanthropy, and grassroots movements to strengthen mission-driven teams and technology ecosystems. She brings a values-driven approach to collaboration and a passion for connecting communities to the tools and power they need to shape their own futures.
Yuri Kim (He/him), Gates Foundation
Yuri is a Program Officer at the Foundation, where he supports initiatives focused on economic mobility and opportunity. With a background spanning philanthropy, evaluation, and direct service, he brings a systems-level lens to equity and community impact. Yuri’s work bridges data, design, and public-private partnerships to help institutions better align with the needs and leadership of frontline communities.
Host & organizer
erin stevanus (she/her)
erin is an artist, strategist, and social entrepreneur committed to unlocking the potential of complex systems through foresight and speculative thinking. She runs studio b:ask, a design futures studio, collaborating with leaders across the private, public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to bring to life not-too-distant futures. As the founder of an innovation platform, she support changemakers in design thinking and social entrepreneurship. In her creative practice, erin writes, composes, and performs works exploring speculative futures and the mindsets needed to navigate them. You can also find her facilitating deep listening experiences and crafting live digital soundscapes through the sonic sound lab project, which invites curiosity, exploration, and rest.
Radical Future(s)
Friday, May 2nd • 9 AM - 4 PM • Portland, Oregon
Learn More at bit.ly/radicalfutures2025
