Framewrks 

Cassidy Stratton is a multi-passionate entrepreneur whose mission is to create spaces, experiences, and products that make people feel seen. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Cassidy's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. At age 10, she was buying her own purses and secretly managing a thriving MySpace account. Her passion for digital community building and self-expression led her to study strategic communications at Elon University and earn her master's in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University. Over the last decade, she's explored people-first design thinking through events, campaigns, volunteering and travel (including time lived in Washington DC, North Carolina, and Japan). 

Today, Cassidy works as a freelance event project and production manager. But her latest entrepreneurial pursuit is Framewrks, an eyewear company designing modular frames for underrepresented facial features. Growing up, Cassidy witnessed how her neighborhood lacked basic healthcare resources—most neighbors (including herself) couldn't even locate the nearest eye doctor. This systemic exclusion from essential care inspired her business approach. Framewrks isn't just a business; it's continuing the South Side tradition of creating pathways to better outcomes when the world overlooks us.