Daniela Peterson
Daniela Peterson has worked at the Trust for Public Land since 2018 bringing a strategic, informed approach to their work with communities. As a brown, immigrant social worker from Chile, Daniela’s personal, professional, and volunteer experiences have given her a comprehensive understanding of community dynamics, especially relating to disenfranchised populations. As a social worker, and with 15 years of experience working with nonprofits, city government, a juvenile detention center, and public schools, Daniela has adeptly cultivated both neighborhood and institutional partnerships that bring stakeholders like residents, community leaders, and faith-based organizations to the forefront of the planning process. Leveraging the vision and creativity of local artists, Daniela’s work provides space for all ages to lend a voice and a hand in community development. Although her work is based primarily in Chattanooga, Daniela seeks to create replicable community strategies, such as the recent East Lake Free Family Photo Day, which gave families the chance to have professional photographs taken in their neighborhood park. Daniela has presented at national placemaking convenings, and has received recognition for her work in Chattanooga, including Footprint Foundation’s Footprint Award (2019), La Paz Chattanooga’s Latino Leadership Award (2017), and a recent feature on the Benwood Foundation blog, Bread and Belonging: Daniela Peterson, Creative Placemaking Fellow, Trust for Public Land. Daniela serves on the Board of La Paz Chattanooga.