Our Story

For the last decade we worked at Visual Thinking Strategies as facilitators, coaches and program managers. Our programming linked us with inspiring partners like The New York Times Learning Network, Nearpod, the University of Oregon, MOCA (The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles) and The Kennedy Center: Turnaround Arts to name a few. A lot of our time was also spent in schools with teachers and administrators desperate to close achievement gaps and to build inclusive classrooms. As our professional development programming chipped away at the problems they were trying to solve, our partners wanted more. More time - more personalized trainings - more feedback. Their vision for more became our mission and Upper Left Projects was born.

Now we work in a variety of settings, getting to know each organization and school, helping them to identify the growth and change they want to achieve. Then we build professional development experiences to meet the needs - dipping into our backgrounds in design, education, facilitation, content selection and coaching. This is uplifting, challenging work and we love it.

Kim Aziz

Kim Aziz (she/her) is a facilitator, educator, and the Co-Founder of Upper Left Projects. As a Certified Facilitator, Trainer, and Coach of Visual Thinking Strategies Kim designs immersive learning experiences that challenge perspectives and spark meaningful dialogue.

Her work equips professionals with essential skills in visual literacy, and collaborative problem-solving, fostering more inclusive and effective communication. Through Upper Left, Kim designs programming for an incredible range of clients including the University of Washington and NIKE to nonprofits, museums and community farms.

Kim is a recently designated Fulbright Specialist, holds a Master of Education from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. A New Yorker at heart, she has found a true sense of home in Portland, Oregon.

kim@upperleftproject.com

Mirka Jablonski

Mirka (she/her) is a partner at Upper Left Projects, developing and facilitating programs and experiences for groups around the Pacific Northwest. Mirka relies on the Design Thinking process to develop curriculum, image sets, and audience-centered experiences.

Mirka comes to this work after years as a Portland Public Schools librarian. Her background also includes being part of the Nike team, and a member of the Education Department at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

While things are a bit quieter in her multi-generational household with her daughters off to college, Mirka has mostly been playing ping pong with her mom and trying to figure out the best way to cut a mango. She does most of her thinking on the trail, running ideas by her dog Shelby.

mirka@upperleftprojects.com

Our Story

Kim Aziz

Mirka Jablonski

Credits