Ava Barnett, Neighbor

Ava Barnett is the founder and president of AIB Interior Arch, a Brooklyn-based residential design firm, specializing in the renovation of Brownstones. The firm was founded in 2001 and received the 2007 40 Under 40 Award given by the Network Journal. She is a graduate of the University of Florida's College of Architecture, majoring in Interior Design. Ava graduated with honors and was the sole African American in her studio.

Ava is civic minded and has used her talents to mentor ages ranging from middle school to college graduate students. She has coached students in the NAACP ACT-SO Program, the Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York, Inc and has been a regular guest critic at both Pratt Institute and Fashion Institute of Technology.

She is the current President of the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc. The Brownstoners is a 501(c)3 not for profit volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the community of Bedford Stuyvesant.