La Maraña is a non-profit organisation based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that promotes imagination and participatory design as tools for sustainable community development. Deeply rooted in principles of equity and collaboration, La Maraña empowers Puerto Rican communities to become active participants in shaping their own environments — ensuring that those most affected by urban and rural transformation are directly involved in the decision-making and design processes that define their futures.
The organisation’s projects span diverse contexts across the island, from supporting farmers in developing supplementary income during off-harvest seasons to assisting fishing communities displaced by Hurricane Maria as they rebuild their livelihoods and reconnect with their land and sea. In many cases, this work explores how tourism can evolve into a form of community-led economic resilience rather than external exploitation.
Through its Participatory Design Lab, La Maraña also provides seed funding and design mentorship to grassroots initiatives, enabling communities to rehabilitate shared spaces, develop micro-enterprises, and reimagine public and cultural infrastructure. Its approach reframes design and planning not merely as aesthetic or technical disciplines, but as vital tools for social justice, inclusion, and environmental stewardship — helping to ensure that Puerto Rico’s future is imagined and built collectively from within.
For more information, please visit: www.lamarana.org
