Damon Rich is an architecture worker and partner at HECTOR, an urban design, planning, and civic arts practice. He previously served as planning director and chief urban designer for the City of Newark, New Jersey, chief of staff for capital projects at New York City Parks, and founder of the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP). His work has been recognized by the MacArthur Fellowship, Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, MacDowell Artist Residency Program, and Loeb Fellowship in Advanced Environmental Studies.