​Roots & Rising: South Asian Voices in Urban Planning 🌱🏙️

​At a time when cultural narratives are often sidelined in planning practice, Roots & Rising brings together four trailblazing South Asian planners whose work challenges the status quo. For them, lived experiences and diasporic perspectives are the blueprint to creating urban environments that reflect and respond to the needs of diverse communities. Through their work in land use planning, design, placemaking, and community engagement, these practitioners demonstrate that South Asian voices are not only present, but essential to the future of planning—and that there is space for us in this field.

​Meet the Speakers!

​Sneha Mandhan
Sneha Mandhan (she/her) is an urban planner, architect and educator with an interdisciplinary practice in planning, urban design, architecture, design research, and community engagement. She is an incoming Assistant Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the Toronto Metropolitan University. She has collaborated on a range of city building and engagement projects in the Greater Toronto Area with Monumental Projects, People Design Co-operative, and the Department of Words and Deeds, and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto. She holds a PhD in Planning from the University of Toronto, a Master in City Planning from MIT, and an undergraduate degree in architecture from India. Her work focuses on unearthing and incorporating culture into the planning and design of cities. 🌍✨

​Sindu Sivayogam
Sindu Sivayogam is a freelance urban planner and visual artist based in Oakville. She received her MSc in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and prior to that, received her BES in Planning with a specialization in Urban Design from the University of Waterloo. As an urban planner, she has worked on projects domestically as well as internationally in regions like Syria, Tanzania and Mozambique. As a visual artist, Sindu has produced a multitude of illustrations and paintings, largely tied to her experiences as a Tamil woman, and has worked with organizations including Tamil Guardian and the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research. 🎨🖌️

​Janani Mahendran
Janani is a professional land use planner, working as a Senior Planner in the Development Review Division of the City of Toronto. She works on reviewing planning applications and supports community building and capacity building within Ward 12, particularly within the Little Jamaica, Oakwood Village, and Bathurst-St. Clair area. Prior to her role in development, she worked in the City's Official Plan team, and a Planner in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's Municipal Services Office - Central, and the Provincial Planning Policy Branch. In her spare time, she enjoys making pottery, baking and escaping in a good book. 🏘️🤝

​Naziha Nasrin
Naziha (she/her) is the Program Director of plazaPOPS. She supports plazaPOPS programming by fostering meaningful relationships with local organizations and community partnerships to create inclusive programming and enhance social infrastructure that meets the community where they are. She is a recent graduate from the Masters of Science in Planning Program at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about community development, placemaking and multicultural planning for diverse communities. Her research interests focus on inclusive public spaces such as prayer and multi- faith rooms and ablution stations in public places such as malls, parks and institutional buildings for the Muslim community in Toronto. 🏞️🌲

​Presenter & Panel Moderator:

🎤 Grihalakshmi Soundarapandian
Lakshmi is a Tamil Canadian urban planner and bharatanatyam dancer, blending her passion for culture with her work in city building. A graduate of the University of Toronto's MSc in Planning, she works as a Planner at SVN Architects + Planners. With a background in GIS, Lakshmi currently specializes in land use planning, development approvals, and community engagement. She is also a graduate of Mandala Arts and Culture in Vancouver, and has performed across Canada, Singapore, and India. Whether it be in planning or performance, Lakshmi strives to showcase diasporic experiences and create spaces that cultivate connection and belonging.

​Promotional Sponsor:

​Untitled Planning
Co-Founded by Alexandra Lambropoulos and and Sami Ferwati, Untitled Planning is a social- purpose organization focused on community economic development, innovation, and housing. Through research, advisory, and media, Untitled Planning strives to create actionable insights and transformative strategies for organizations committed to advancing vibrant and resilient cities and neighbourhoods. Their aim is to redefine the landscape of equitable, inclusive urban development and promote community- wealth building.

​Venue:

​Mayil Coffee
Mayil is a cozy, vibrant coffee house in Toronto, founded by Neha and Amal, offering a unique blend of South Indian filter coffee and warm, welcoming vibes. Mayil was born from the couple's deep love for the rich, earthy flavors of South Indian coffee, combined with a desire to create a space that feels like home. With its hand-painted art, cozy textures, and commitment to tradition, Mayil is more than just a café - it's a community hub where conversations flow as freely as the coffee.

​Tickets:

​This event has limited capacity, so register now! We’ve designed this event with intention and care. We want to keep this gathering accessible to all, so we’re offering a pay-what-you-can model.

​If you're able to contribute, we warmly welcome your support. You'll receive payment options in you registration confirmation email.

​Join us for an intimate conversation that explores planning through the lens of cultural experiences - and walk away with some food for thought, new connections, a sense of belonging, or all three! 🌃✨

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