OUR 2024 GALA HONOREES

CONSTANCE MARKS Filmmaker

Constance Marks (Producer, Director) is an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker. She is the founder and president of Constance Marks Productions, Inc., a documentary production company based in New York City. Marks began her filmmaking career over 35 years ago as an assistant editor for the renowned Cinema Verite pioneers, David and Albert Maysles. Marks’ critically acclaimed films have been shown theatrically, broadcast widely, and garnered numerous awards.

Her productions include: BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and has been exhibited worldwide to critical acclaim, and GREEN CHIMNEYS — a full-length documentary feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and aired on HBO. Marks has produced numerous films focusing on important social issues including homelessness, the elderly, experimental charter schools, teen pregnancy and substance abuse recovery residences.

Magnusson Architecture and Planning  PC Fernando Villa, FAIA

Fernando Villa has more than 25 years of international design experience focused on sustainable, affordable and supportive housing and mixed-use developments.

As MAP’s lead designer, Mr. Villa has worked on a wide range of projects, including AIA National Housing Award winner MLK Plaza and AIANY Design Award winner St. Augustine Terrace. His Creston Avenue Residence was included in the NYC Public Design Commission’s “Designing New York: Quality Affordable Housing.” Mr. Villa is currently overseeing Highbridge and Carmen Villegas Apartments, both passive house developments that received NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence awards as well as Blue Ribbons for Design Excellence through the program.

He has elevated the standards for affordable and supportive housing, linking design quality to the missions of his clients, empowering residents and challenging the stigmas of this typology.

Mr. Villa is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and served as the co-chair of the New York Chapter’s Housing Committee. During his tenure as co-chair, the committee’s work was recognized twice in five years with the AIANY Vice Presidential Citation for Design Excellence.

He is a member of NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects), involved with the New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, The Architectural League of New York, the Society of American Registered Architects and the Municipal Arts Society, and an international juror in design competitions.

Mr. Villa holds a B.A. from Pontificia Bolivariana University in Medellin, Colombia, and attended graduate programs at Pratt Institute, The New York School of Interior Design, and the Institute of Classical Architecture.

OUR 2024 ANNUAL GALA SPONSORS