Community Initiatives Associate

Rita Musello Kelliher is a Brooklyn-based urban planner with a background in education and workforce development programming. Originally from Somerville, MA, Rita moved to Washington DC to study public policy at George Washington University. While in DC, she joined the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) where she worked with community-based partners in cities across the U.S. to design and implement a range of career-focused programs. In eight years with IEL, she managed numerous Federal grant projects and specialized in performance management and partnership development.

Rita went on to receive a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute, where she explored the intersection of urban space, equity, and sustainability. She worked as an Environmental Justice Fellow with NYC-EJA and Good Ole Lower East Side (G.O.L.E.S). She was also a 2023 Forefront Fellow with Urban Design Forum.

As a Community Initiatives Associate, Rita’s focus is collaboration with the Exchange’s network of local partners. When not working, you can find her biking around the outer boroughs or lying in one of NYC’s many parks.