Yumi, an architect and member of the American Institute of Architects, has lived for almost 25 years in Highland Park where she and her husband Doug-- a third generation Highland Parker, also an architect and her partner in work--raised their twins who attended D112 and D113 schools, and are both graduates of University of Chicago.

Yumi is a longtime volunteer in Highland Park who is deeply grateful for the many caring and compassionate people she has had the opportunity to meet and work with for over two decades.

Read Yumi's answers to the Highland Park Patch's questions here. -

Highland Park Resident, Dedicated Public Servant focused on improving life for families in our community. I will be a NEW voice for city vitality: supporting existing valued businesses, innovation to attract new ones, contributing to better urban design of infrastructure, buildings, and green spaces. I will bring a holistic approach to revitalizing Highland Park.

Environmental Advocate: Years of Dedicated Service

Yumi represented D112 on the City’s Green Alliance of Highland Park, this intergovernmental group shares energy conservation ideas. She advocated for environmental sustainability as a member of the D112 Strategic Planning Team which created the district’s 5-year Strategic Plan. Her work to raise awareness about climate change goes back many years: Yumi was a featured speaker at the United Nations 2008 CTAUN conference on climate change representing a team that created a middle school curriculum addressing global warming.

Yumi’s and Doug’s firm Ross Architecture won the Green Homes for Chicago Competition in 2000. As a winning design, Ross Architecture’s affordable green home was built. Yumi and her husband installed a full solar array on their garage roof plus solar hot water panels on their home’s roof so their household is fully solar. Great for the environment and significant budget savings too. She will continue to advocate for sustainability on City Council.

D112 Education Foundation, Board Member

Yumi, the Foundation’s film committee and Board, co-founded the acclaimed Reel 112 Film Festival. Yumi invited her friend renowned film critic Milos Stehlik of Facets Multimedia to help create and guide this annual film festival for D112 middle school students. Filmmaking education became embedded in D112’s Creative Media Arts curriculum, a highly successful partnership between D112 teachers and the Foundation. The film festival is in its 7th year and continues to partner with Facets, Chicago.

8 Years on District 112's Board of Education

Elected to eight years on D112’s Board of Education, Yumi has strong experience as a public servant. She was D112’s board liaison to the D112 Education Foundation, Community the Anti-Drug, the City of Highland Park’s Human Relations Commission, and the North Suburban Special Education District. She stands on principle but works hard to listen to different opinions.

The Art Center of Highland Park,

President, Board of Directors

As a deeply engaged President, Yumi is involved throughout The Art Center. Yumi has focused on bringing highly respected artists to The Art Center, strengthening educational offerings, and bringing diverse voices to the Board that more fully represent the City of Highland Park and surrounding communities. As a 24-year Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Women's Board member and longtime art advocate, she has extensive knowledge and contacts in the art world. If elected to the City's leadership, she would leverage these resources to enrich Highland Park.

D113 Education Foundation, Executive Committee Member, Recent Past Co-President

As part of the leadership team of the Foundation, Yumi worked to foster innovation throughout D113. She has worked directly with administrators and led multiple successful fundraising events funding educational grants that impact every child in Highland Park.

Harvard University's Graduate School of Design

Masters in Architecture

Yumi earned her Masters in Architecture degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Growth and Structure of Cities from Bryn Mawr College. If elected, she will bring her strong educational background and experience to work on Council.

The Chicago Architecture Biennial,

Board Member

As a member of CAB's Board, Yumi works with fellow designers and Chicago civic leaders to bring internationally recognized architects and designers to Illinois to work on projects that impact local communities as well as raise local, national, and global awareness of vitally important design issues including equitable access to resources, housing, climate change, and gun violence in communities.