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Quardean Lewis-Allen
Founder + Executive Director, Youth Design Center | Forbes Under 30 | Crain's Under 40
Professional Background
Quardean Lewis-Allen stands as a beacon of innovation and commitment to community development through his role as the Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Design Center. This nonprofit youth creative agency, formerly known as Made in Brownsville, has become a critical resource for young individuals in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas. The center operates at the intersection of education, technology, and mentorship, focusing on addressing the underrepresentation of young people in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) professions. Lewis-Allen’s initiatives aim to tackle cyclical poverty and promote community revitalization, demonstrating his dedication to creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
With over ten years of interdisciplinary design experience, Quardean has effectively bridged the gap between public and private sectors. His work reflects a deep commitment to community-led design and tactical urbanism, showcasing his belief in the power of collaborative efforts to enact meaningful change.
In addition to his leadership role at the Youth Design Center, Lewis-Allen has made significant contributions to academia as an Adjunct Lecturer at prestigious institutions, including City College of New York and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. During his time at NYU, he also held the position of Human-In-Residence Fellow, further solidifying his influence in the education sector. His passion for mentoring the next generation is evident in his approach to teaching and community engagement.
Education and Achievements
Quardean Lewis-Allen's educational journey is as impressive as his professional accomplishments. He pursued his Master of Architecture (M.Arch I) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where he honed his architectural skills and developed a keen understanding of design's role in social impact. His studies also included a unique international experience at Le Laboratoire in Paris under the guidance of renowned architect Anne Lacaton.
Prior to Harvard, Quardean earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University at Buffalo. His educational background is further complemented by studies at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, and portfolio development courses at Pratt Institute, which have equipped him with a rich foundation in both architecture and art.
Quardean’s commitment to social change and empowerment through design has not gone unnoticed. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Emerging Leaders Fund from the Claneil Foundation and recognition from Crain’s as one of their Under 40 leaders. He was also named among Forbes Under 30 and received the People of Promise Award from America’s Promise Alliance. His work has garnered him a fellowship from Echoing Green’s Black Male Achievement initiative, underscoring his dedication to uplifting the Black community through innovation and education.
Notable Contributions
Quardean has held key positions that showcase his leadership and creativity. As the creative force behind the Youth Design Center, he has crafted programs that empower young minds through design education and STEAM initiatives. Additionally, he served as Creative Director at Significance Labs, where he worked on impactful projects that reflect his vision of merging design with social advocacy.
His fellowships, including the Community Solutions Greg Jackson Community Fellowship and the Echoing Green BMA Fellowship, highlight his proactive approach to community engagement and his ability to inspire others to take action. His experience as an architectural designer at Perkins Eastman and his earlier roles in academia reveal his multifaceted skills and highlight his ability to blend design principles with community needs.
Quardean’s work as a writer and content producer for the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Digital Communications not only showcases his ability to articulate complex ideas but also emphasizes his knowledge of how design can be communicated effectively to diverse audiences. His early experiences, including various internships, provided him with a solid foundation in architectural principles and practices, allowing him to develop a holistic view of the design process and its impact on society.
Community Engagement and Future Aspirations
Quardean Lewis-Allen's commitment to community engagement is evident through his participation on the Board of the Brownsville Community Development Corporation, actively shaping the future of his home community. His vision for the Youth Design Center is to continue expanding its reach and resources, fostering an environment where young people are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Looking ahead, Quardean aims to further strengthen partnerships with local organizations, educational institutions, and businesses to create more opportunities for young people in underserved communities. His relentl
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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