Alyssa Edes
Graduate Research Assistant
Pronouns: she/her/hers
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About
Alyssa Edes is a Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) student at UIC and a research assistant at the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP). She is currently working on the Illinois Racial Equity Report on Latine Homelessness, focusing on the successes and shortfalls in policies and programs meant to serve Latine communities. Prior to joining the MUPP program and IRRPP, Alyssa spent more than a decade as a journalist in public media and audio storytelling. At NPR, WNYC, and other outlets, she covered subjects including national politics; the Supreme Court; arts and culture; and the environment. Driven by a commitment to public service, Alyssa is also a community organizer working on issues including bike infrastructure and food insecurity. She brings an innate sense of critical curiosity to the world of planning and policy, with particular interests in the sociology of place; the political and ideological histories of urban landscapes; and the intersections between transit, climate, and equity. She is proud to call Chicago home and believes strongly in the city’s ability to spark joy, create connections, and cultivate communities. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Postcolonial Studies from Emerson College.