Kelly is a creative director, systems thinker, and strategic designer. She is an entrepreneur who aligns full-heartedly with the mission of The Civic Canopy through her passion for exploring the intersection of civic systems, economic development, and cultural creative vibrancy through human-centered design. Raised in rural Colorado and informed by a background in communication design and arts and cultural management, Kelly’s work as a strategic designer is driven by the belief that through the avenue of creativity and the arts, we can further intersectional justice, community development, and environmentally centered urbanism in the Denver area, Colorado and the rural West. Kelly received her BA in Art History and Leadership from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is pursuing an MSc in Strategic Design from Parsons School of Design. Currently, Kelly applies her background to her work with the Denver-based Western States Arts Federation running a technology product that evaluates the economic vibrancy of the cultural and creative economy.