{"id":109971,"date":"2025-01-30T19:49:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T00:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sayaspora.com\/?p=109971"},"modified":"2025-05-14T10:31:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T14:31:52","slug":"shaping-cities-empowering-communities-alexandras-journey-in-urban-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sayaspora.com\/en\/shaping-cities-empowering-communities-alexandras-journey-in-urban-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaping Cities, Empowering Communities: Alexandra’s Journey in Urban Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some people have a presence so warm and inviting that even through a screen, they make a space feel lighter\u2014like a safe place to land. \u00a0Alexandra<\/strong> is one of those people. From the moment she smiles, it\u2019s as if she\u2019s inviting you into a space where your thoughts, ideas, and presence matter. Her laugh lingers, wrapping around you like a cozy embrace, making even the weightiest conversations feel uplifting.<\/p>\n

But beyond the warmth she radiates, there\u2019s an undeniable brilliance in the way she sees the world\u2014not with a cold, analytical gaze, but with curiosity, care, and a deep appreciation for the power of community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As the founder of Urban Limitrophe<\/strong> and Untitled Planning<\/strong>, Alexandra is not just redesigning cities\u2014she\u2019s reimagining who gets to shape them<\/strong>. In this conversation with SayaBusiness<\/strong>, she shares the story of her journey, the challenges of being a woman entrepreneur, and her vision for cities that don\u2019t just function but truly belong to the people who live in them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Unexpected Path to Urban Planning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Alexandra\u2019s journey into urban planning wasn\u2019t something she mapped out early on. In high school, she stood at a crossroads, unsure of what career path to take. Then, a guidance counselor took one look at her interests and said, \u201cYou should study urban planning.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the time, she had no idea what that even meant. But as she explored the field, she realized it was about so much more than buildings and blueprints\u2014it was about people. It was about crafting spaces that nurture communities, that make people feel seen, safe, and connected.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With that newfound passion, Alexandra pursued a Bachelor\u2019s in Human Geography, Urban Studies, and Geographic Information Systems<\/strong> at the University of Toronto<\/strong>, followed by a Master\u2019s in Urban Planning<\/strong>. She wasn\u2019t just studying cities\u2014she was learning how to make them better for the people who call them home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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A Life-Changing Trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sometimes, a single experience can shift the course of a person\u2019s life. For Alexandra, that moment came during a trip to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo<\/strong>\u2014her first time visiting the African continent.<\/p>\n

There, she saw something that deeply moved her: resilience, ingenuity, and innovation flourishing despite systemic challenges<\/strong>. The people in these cities weren\u2019t waiting for governments or institutions to solve their problems\u2014they were creating solutions themselves.<\/p>\n

But these stories were missing from the global narrative about African cities. \u201cWhy wasn\u2019t I learning about this in school?\u201d she wondered. \u201cWhy were these stories not being told?\u201d<\/p>\n

So, she decided to tell them herself.<\/p>\n

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Building Urban Limitrophe and Untitled Planning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Urban Limitrophe<\/strong> was born from that question\u2014a project dedicated to amplifying the urban innovations of Africa and the diaspora<\/strong>. At first, she imagined it as a video platform, but when the pandemic hit, she pivoted to audio storytelling, launching a podcast that highlights grassroots urban development projects<\/strong> across the continent.<\/p>\n

Her passion for community-led city-building didn\u2019t stop there. In 2023, she co-founded Untitled Planning<\/strong> with fellow urban planner Sami Ferwati<\/strong>. What started as a media platform<\/strong> to make urban planning more accessible quickly grew into a social impact organization<\/strong> that now works on:<\/p>\n