A team of creative humans inspired by art and community
We are artists, urban planners, and cultural researchers.
We see public spaces as creative canvases for building inclusive and vibrant communities. 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.
Hello, Team!
Leadership 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.
Amanda Wand
Operations Manager
Amanda (she/her) is an abstract artist with 10+ years of experience developing, delivering and managing program operations for charities and a social enterprise across North America. She loves working with people and is passionate about supporting artists and making a positive impact in her community.
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.
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.
Grace Lai
Communications Manager
Grace (she/her) oversees STEPS’ marketing and communications team to showcase public art impact and community stories across marketing platforms. She is a marketing specialist with industry experiences spanning across higher education and research, small businesses, and arts 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.
The Team
Ima Esin
Cultural Planner
Ima (she/her) is an urban wanderer and collector of stories. She leads the development and delivery of STEPS’ community-engaged cultural planning services and supports community consultation across the portfolio. She’s passionate about urban spaces that reflect the histories, cultures, and experiences of local communities.
JulieAnn Talisayon
Public Art Coordinator
Julie (she/he/they) is a passionate member of the Toronto Arts community, aiming to serve this city and its creatives, hosting events, and sharing resources and opportunities. They appreciate the struggle for balance between an artist’s want for dedication to their craft and the need to survive, and is a poet and painter herself.
Madison Kennedy
Cultural Planner
Madison (she/her) is interested in concepts around equity, diversity, and accessibility within urban spaces. She has a passion for placemaking and public art, and provides project management support to STEPS’ cultural planning clients to realize public art and placemaking initiatives.
Yelizaveta (Liza) Mishko
Public Art 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.
Hello, Board of Directors!
Did you know STEPS is governed by a Board of Directors? Our ability to bring positive impact to communities across Canada is thanks to their diverse experiences in business development, law, cultural planning, charitable fundraising, finance, and more.
Ammar Mahimwalla
Wiser Projects (British Columbia)
Candace Hook
Centre for Creative Arts (Alberta)
Carl Brundtland
Corus Entertainment (Ontario)
Craig Hudson
Tulip and Treasurer (Ontario)
Jo Flatt
Allied REIT and Board Chair (Ontario)
Miriam Kramer
OCAD University (Ontario)
Robyn Small
TD (Ontario)
William Skura
City of Toronto (Ontario)
Yusra Khan
Yusra Khan Law (Ontario)
Thank you to our past Board of Directors:
- 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)
- 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)