writer-researcher, urbanist + facilitator

working at the intersection of culture, policy, and civic engagement to create more equitable, inclusive and sustainable cities and systems.

Based in Berlin and working internationally, Diana Raiselis serves as Research Lead for VibeLab, as a Researcher for the Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence, and consults, guest-lectures, and facilitates around arts, nightlife, and urban innovation. Their current work draws upon past experience directing and producing new plays in Chicago’s theater scene with an emphasis on queer stories, as well as designing, facilitating, and organizing civic leadership programs for Coro Southern California and Civic Education Project.

Their varied practice is inspired by the notion of “real utopias”: dreaming expansively and working pragmatically to bring about other possible worlds with curiosity, rigor, and care.

Diana regularly presents and moderates roundtables, workshops and conference sessions. Speaking engagements have included UNESCO Futures Summit, UN-Habitat World Urban Forum (UAE, PL), CTM Festival (DE), MIL Lisboa (PT), Panama Crossroads (PA), EXPOBAR (CO), International Nightlife Association (ES), Montréal Night Summit (CA), and at Fraunhofer-Institut (DE), Leiden University (NL) and University of Paris (FR). They have guest-lectured at MIT, University of Arts Berlin (UdK), Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, ArtCenter Berlin, University of Colorado Denver and the University of the Underground.

Diana is a past recipient of cultural, civic leadership and public policy fellowships including Salzburg Global Seminar, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. They hold an M.Sc. with Distinction in Urban Studies from University College London and a B.A. summa cum laude in Theater and Civic Engagement from Northwestern University.