I believe that streets are more than just conduits for movement — they are mirrors of our social values and manifestations of power. Every curb cut, lane marking, or traffic signal is a reflection of choices we’ve made (or failed to make) about who belongs, who is protected, and who is cared for.
Too often, these choices reinforce inequity and conflict. Streets that are designed primarily for cars produce predictable outcomes: disconnection, danger, environmental destruction, and a degradation of social norms. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Drawing on my background in peacebuilding and urban planning, I approach streets as places where processes, investments, and designs either enable or inhibit well-being, trust, and belonging. I’m interested in how we can reimagine our streets as truly public spaces that invite connection, joy, and collective stewardship. I’m dedicated to exploring how our mobility policies can create the conditions where a child biking to school, an elder crossing the street, or a neighbor waiting for the bus feels seen, safe, and supported. I’m motivated by a vision of our transportation system that builds stronger communities — and ultimately, a healthier democracy.
Streets can — and should — be designed to cultivate this kind of renewed civic commons.
They can — and should — attend not just to the mobility of care, but to the care of mobility.
They can — and should — be designed with the recognition that the way we shape our streets shapes us.
Indeed, we can — and must — enable peacebuilding by ensuring our streets care for everyone.
Peace and Planning 