We are artists, urban planners, and cultural researchers
We’re a team of creative humans inspired by art and community.
We see public spaces as creative canvases for building inclusive and vibrant places. With our experiences across public art management, cultural planning, and creative placemaking, we connect you to your public art goals by turning artistic possibilities into impactful realities.
STEPS Team
Alexis Kane Speer
Executive Director
Alexis (she/they) is responsible for STEPS’ strategic planning, partnership development, and fundraising. Inspired by the city and the people who bring it to life, she has 20+ years experience leading public art, cultural planning, and community building initiatives, for which she has received numerous awards.
Anjuli Solanki
Program Director
Anjuli (she/her) oversees STEPS’ community, cultural planning, agency, and public art portfolios, including supporting the teams and developing the partnerships that make them possible. She is a painter and public artist with 15+ years in community engagement, public programming and urban research.
Bailey Laing
Public Art Associate
Bailey Laing (she/her) is an arts administrator with a background in Art History and Psychology. She is passionate about supporting inclusive artistic endeavours, environmental sustainability and community building. She holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from Queen’s University, where she studied the positive impacts of community-engaged arts on well-being.
Collin Zipp
Public Art Manager
Collin (he/him) manages the design and implementation of public art and artist capacity building programs. He is a multidisciplinary artist and arts administrator who brings 10+ years of experience to the team. Collin is dedicated to fostering lasting relationships between artists, artworks, and communities.
Kamini Murthy-Korteweg
Operations Manager
Kamini/Kam (they/them) is a community artist, systems designer and operational leader. Working collaboratively with nonprofit teams, Kam creates systems, workflows and processes that empower collective and individual resource management. With unyielding curiosity, they weave hands-on education into every project, big or small.
Livia Whynott
Cultural Planning Program Assistant
Livia Whynott (she/they) is a student at Toronto Metropolitan University, majoring in Urban Planning with a minor in Geography. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has completed many client studios and research projects. Now working for STEPS, she is ready to apply her skills to foster vibrant communities.
Mariam Hosseiny
Communications & Operations Associate
Mariam Hosseiny (She/They) brings a people-focused approach to project coordination, communications, and operations. With a background in political science and psychology, she is passionate about creative storytelling, cultural engagement, and fostering meaningful connections between artists, communities, and the public.
Melissa Van de Vooren
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Melissa (she/her) is a versatile marketing professional, performer, and vintage seller with a background in broadcast television and over 10+ years of experience across North America and internationally. Melissa is creative, with a passion for storytelling, strategy, and content creation.
Safia Khaled
Operations and Outreach Associate
Safia (she/her) is an Egyptian-born artist and organizer who is passionate about the intersection of wellbeing, community-building, and culture. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology from McMaster University. With a wide range of experience, she has driven and sustained community-based initiatives across music, art and culture.
Sophie (Sam) Mitjavile
Cultural Planning Manager
Sophie (she/they) has a background in cultural planning, programming, and arts administration. She is passionate about creating inclusive public spaces through creative placemaking and is committed to the representation of diverse voices.
Yelizaveta (Liza) Mishko
Cultural Projects Coordinator
Liza (she/her) is an urban and community planner. She is passionate about placemaking and creating equitable communities with an interest in designing for play. She applies a people-first approach to community planning.
Board of Directors
Did you know STEPS Public Art is governed by a national Board of Directors? Our ability to bring positive impact to communities across Canada is thanks to the Board’s diverse experiences in business development, law, cultural planning, charitable fundraising, finance, and more.
Ammar Mahimwalla
City of Victoria
Carl Brundtland
9 Story Media Group
Cherlyne Knox (Treasurer)
Artbooks
Jo Flatt (Board Chair)
Allied REIT
Maureen Healey
Ontario Culture Days
Michael Vickers
Brampton Arts Organization
Miriam Kramer
(Vice Chair)
OCAD University
William Skura
City of Toronto
Yusra Khan
De Lage Landen Financial Services
Past Board Members
- Adam Molson, Daniels Corporation (STEPS Tenure: 2016-2022, Interim Chair in 2022)
- Alex Apostolopolous, Regimen Labs Inc (STEPS Tenure: 2018-2022)
- Annabel Vaughan, ERA Architects (STEPS Tenure: 2014-2016)
- Candace Hook, The Centre for Creative Arts (STEPS Tenure: 2023-2025)
- Craig Hudson, Tulip (STEPS Tenure: 2020 – 2026)
- Dave Kranenburg, Kendal Hills Farm (STEPS Board Chair: 2014-2016)
- Mojan Jianfar, City of Toronto (STEPS Tenure: 2018-2022)
- Rich Appiah, Appiah Law (STEPS Tenure: 2016-2023, STEPS Board Chair: 2017-2021)
- Robyn Small, TD (STEPS Tenure: 2020 – 2025)
- Stuart Keeler, TD (STEPS Tenure: 2025)