Executive Director
Healthy Places by Design
Risa Wilkerson is the Executive Director of Healthy Places by Design, a consulting group serving philanthropy, nonprofit, and community-based organizations across the United States. She provides overarching guidance and strategic vision to fulfill the organization’s mission of advancing community-led action and proven, place-based strategies to ensure health and well-being for all. Risa has nearly 20 years of proven leadership in the healthy communities’ field, with a focus on equity, integrity, and collaboration. She is the lead author (and grateful to a fantastic writing advisory group) of the report Socially Connected Communities: Solutions to Social Isolation. She has extensive experience coaching and providing technical assistance to multidisciplinary community-based partnerships across the country. Risa is an action-driven optimist, abundance thinker, and simplicity seeker.