DCD Summer Design Studios 2026 | Meet Our Team
To kick off our Summer Design Studios, we would like to introduce you to the amazing group of educators, TAs, and admin that will facilitate this year's summer programs. We are especially excited to share that three DCD program alumni -- Nica, Enrique, and Jis -- will be joining us this summer as Teaching Assistants!
Our teaching teams will guide our students in Creative Change and Design/Build over the next 6 weeks as they learn design skills and develop community service projects, and our admin will provide the necessary support to help make this the best summer experience possible. Read on to learn more about each of our team:
DESIGN/BUILD STUDIO
Emma Fague (she/they) is a furniture designer and educator passionate about empowering future designers. She oversees administrative functions at DCD as the Operations Manager, and supports many of our afterschool programs as a lead design educator. She is excited to resume her teaching role this summer as one of the lead Design/Build educators!
Lillyanne Fisher (she/her) loves to create, especially alongside others. An artist, community programmer, and recent graduate of RISD Sculpture, she believes in the transformative experience of art education. She sees collaborative making as one of the most powerful ways to cultivate community and can't wait to create with DownCity Design this summer.
Enrique Salgado (He/Him) is an alumni of DCD returning once again, but now as a TA. Enrique is excited to come back and share the wisdom and skills he has gained throughout his journey with DCD!
Millie Cheng (she/her) is a furniture design student at RISD who enjoys making, teaching, and exploring how design can shape the way people experience the world. She joined DCD because she values design as a collaborative process and loves helping students turn ideas into tangible outcomes. This summer, she’s excited to guide students through everything from research and prototyping to fabrication while working with real clients and community partners.
CREATIVE CHANGE STUDIO
Apollo Rios Lomba (he/they) is a Black Latino trans-masc visual storyteller that blends physical and digital media. They were born and raised in Providence, RI and they have a BFA from Pratt Institute in Communications Design: Illustration. Their body of work lovingly spotlights people of color by using elements of Black culture with epic fantasy, dynamic movement, and bright chromatic colors. Apollo was the Graphic Design Educator during the school year and is excited to continue working with young creatives at DownCity Design this summer!
Catalina Martínez (she/her) is an artist, educator, and recent graduate of the Printmaking MFA program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Her artistic practice explores how meaning is created through everyday experiences, focusing on the relationships between people and the ordinary objects that shape domestic life. As an educator, Catalina is passionate about fostering collaborative and creative learning environments where students can think critically, make with intention, and design in community for community. She believes that creating together is a meaningful way to build knowledge, curiosity, and connection.
Nica Santoro (she/her) is a current student at Rhode Island College pursuing a BFA in Painting. As a DownCity Design alumni, she is enthusiastic to be spending another summer working with fellow young designers to bring beautiful art installations into the Providence community. She is super excited to work with everyone this summer to create something that will positively impact the Providence community!
Jis Wilkins-Speaks (he/him) is an incoming sophomore at RISD where he is pursuing a BFA in Painting. His passion for working with youth stems from the extensive amount of accessible art programs he was in as a child (including DCD!) and a desire to be able to give back to his community. He can’t wait to see what incredible projects and fun memories come out of this summer!
SUMMER ADMIN
Marlyne Jacquet (she/her) is a lifelong Rhode Island resident. Over the last decade she has served in various roles in education and community settings with youth. Marlyne is an alumna of Central High School and received her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from URI and MPA from Roger Williams University. She brings her exceptional organizational skills, experience in school settings, and passion for education to her role as DCD’s PCTA Site Director and Summer Program Manager.
Angel Ramos (he/him) is a lifelong RI resident and proud graduate of College Unbound, where he earned his BA in Organizational Leadership and Change. As the Program Coordinator, he brings a decade of experience working with and for the Providence community to DownCity Design’s afterschool and summer programming. With a passion for community building and education, Angel is excited to help students develop confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of belonging this summer.
Anna Snyder (she/her) is an educator and designer with a long-standing commitment to equitable, youth-centered arts education programming. A former DownCity Design educator, she taught Graphic Design at Providence Career and Technical Academy, helping students use visual communication as a tool to connect with and enrich their communities. As DownCity Design’s Education Director, Anna is looking forward to supporting summer studios and all DCD programs that help young people design for a more sustainable, just, and joyful future.
Quyen Nguyen (they/she) is an undergraduate student at Brown University studying Economics and International and Public Affairs with a focus on Development. Quyen joined DownCity Design as our Engagement and Evaluation Fellow because of her passion for supporting community-based initiatives that foster youth development and empowerment, helping young people discover their passions and envision their futures by accessing educational opportunities. As an artist, Quyen believes visual arts and design have the power to amplify marginalized voices, strengthen community ties, and create more equitable societies.
Yolizbeth Lozano (she/her) is a visual designer and storyteller dedicated to reducing barriers to art and design education. As DCD's Community Engagement Manager, she channels that belief into programs and communications that speak across age, language, and experience, helping make design tools and knowledge more accessible and engaging. She is looking forward to sharing all the incredible work and fun that happens this summer with the Providence community!
Hannah Demerritte (she/her) is an artist and avid art history enthusiast currently studying Glass at RISD. She is passionate about creating environments that nurture young creative minds in every institution and community she’s apart of. As DownCity Design’s Summer Communications Intern, she is looking forward to documenting all the creativity and vibrant community that this summer will foster, all while building meaningful relationships beyond the lens.
Adrienne Gagnon (she/her) co-founded DCD in 2009 to help people design and build solutions for their communities and was later awarded the 2013 RI Innovation Fellowship for her plan to expand design education in RI. She has served as adjunct faculty in RISD’s Architecture Dept, where she taught a course on socially engaged design. Prior to her work with DCD, Adrienne was Education Director for Providence CityArts for Youth and a curator for SFMOMA. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale and received her MA in Design Education from RISD.
