Tendaji Ya’Ukuu [ten-DAH-he, yah-OO-koo], multifield specialist and sustainability/arcology advocate, has always had a passion and drive to push the bounds of what it means to serve communities that face immense disparities. They are a Renewable Energy Tech associate graduate and Urban Planning student.
Tendaji has been a part of organizations like SUNY, Public Allies, Jewish Child Care Association, Grand St. Settlement, Association of Neighborhood Development, & The Laundromat Project and continues working alongside impactful leaders and colleagues to catalyze significant change. Utilizing their professional experience and education to champion equitable renewable energy and urban planning initiatives, Tendaji's ultimate goal is to create innovative and sustainable solutions that improve the conditions of the people around them. They plan to achieve this by prioritizing the equitable redevelopment of existing neighborhoods to expand affordable-weatherized housing, green spaces, clean energy, reliable public transportation, and economic opportunity.
They recently started working as our Ecological Justice Coordinator, collaborating with community leaders, partners, and residents to lead clean mobility projects and equitable neighborhood adoptions of regenerative and cooperative economies. In their spare time, they are equally excited to be working on three community projects: ManyXMovements, a digital hub for people power building; EcOtesha, an arcological co-housing cooperative focused on sustainability and human flourishing; and The Bi+ Youth Project, an advocacy group for bi+ individuals.
Photo by Blanc Photographie