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With over twenty years of social impact in the philanthropic, public, private, and non-profit sectors — the systemic design* practice of Daylight exists to facilitate transformation. We work with changemakers* to amplify their power for systems change.*
Systemic design leverages systems thinking and people-centered design to tackle complex challenges
We use changemakers broadly to include every individual, organization, community, and network that believes the status quo needs to change
Social Innovation Generation defines systems change as "shifting the conditions that are holding a problem in place”
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Under our urban landscapes lie ancient streams and rivers that once ebbed and flowed with the seasons. The contemporary Urban Planning practice of digging up pavement to reexpose and restore these natural features is known as daylighting.
In the same vein, Daylight empowers changemakers to surface their potential, wisdom, networks, and energy to drive systems change.
Mission
We believe our work is not for you, but with you. Our practice is dedicated to empowering you to make your vision a reality.
We care about your mission as much as you do. Our shared purpose is in pursuit of your mission.
We believe relationships are transformational, not transactional. We seek meaningful, equitable exchanges of knowledge, ideas, and energy.
We strive for the inclusion of all perspectives. We believe the diversity of ideas, lived experiences, and perspectives is critical to real, lasting impact.
We are committed to seeking justice. We work to name and shift norms, power, practices, and mindsets that perpetuate inequitable outcomes.
Principles
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We believe many of the systems that shape our lives were built on oppression* and extraction.*
We are working to intervene in those systems to create futures built on dignity, joy, and belonging.
Bringing an intersectional* lens, we work to redesign decision-making processes to shift power to those who have been marginalized.
Beliefs
Anti-oppression: We stand for the dismantling of all systems of oppression, including racism, transphobia, capitalism, ableism, colonialism, homophobia, misogyny, etc.
Anti-extraction: We strive to base all relationships, human and non-human, in reciprocity, and advocate for responsible and sustainable environmental practices
Intersectional lens: We recognize that our experiences and access to power are shaped by the intersection of all our identities, be it race, gender, class, and beyond
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Lyndon Valicenti (she/her), founding principal, has 20 years of cross-sector experience leading strategy, policy, and research initiatives on social and environmental issues from climate resilience to equitable community development. Lyndon is a skilled facilitator and has led inclusive design and strategy processes for numerous partners during critical moments of transformation, including The Chicago Community Trust’s pivot to close the racial wealth gap; KABOOM!’s renewed mission to end playspace inequity; and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning as it deepened its practice to bring in historically-excluded voices into regional decision making. Lyndon serves as a civic design coach for City governments around the country with Bloomberg Philanthropies. She is a proud Chicago United for Equity (CUE) Fellow and a New Leaders Council (Chicago) Fellow.
Team
Our team is collaborative and scalable, with a diverse network of Chicago’s most innovative, impact-driven practitioners that can be convened around a project of
any size or complexity. Collaborators we love to work with include:
Stephanie Wade, Ascendant — civic design and innovation
Jen Guzman, Bestola Collective — team and client experience
Jessyca Dudley, Bold Ventures — racial equity in philanthropy
Paola Aguirre, Borderless Studio — collaborative urban design
Anthena Gore, Colere — policy and program design
Joyce Coffee, Climate Resilience Consulting — strategy
Nicolette Stosur-Bassett, Do It Better Design — brand strategy
Cheryl Dahle, Flip Labs — systemic design
Mary Foyder, MF Design Collaborative — trauma-informed design
Marcella Keenan Corona, MK Corona — climate justice
Bina M. Patel, Saathi Impact — healing, justice, and equity
Adria Husband, Shifting Hearts & Minds — equity and justice
Nick Adam, Span — communication design
Josh Ellis, SUM — restorative outdoor experiences
Danielle Gallet, Waterwell — water strategy
Collaborators
We are profoundly grateful to work with ambitious partners, who have trusted us with their visions for a better future. Our work together has been in pursuit of transit and playspace equity, food sovereignty, climate and water justice, community-led design and narrative shaping, connecting people to nature, and reducing youth gun violence.
Partners
Daylight — Empowering Systems Change
773 234 4880
Chicago, IL
