In this episode, I sit down with Isa Gaillard and Valeria Menendez from Equitable Cities, an organization with planners, researchers, and advocates transforming the way people move through their communities. Rooted in justice and lived experience, Equitable Cities addresses the inequities that have shaped America’s transportation systems, from highways that divide neighborhoods to underfunded public transit.
We explore why transportation is a justice issue, how historic policies and funding decisions continue to restrict mobility for communities of color, and what it means to design streets that allow everyone to move safely and freely. Isa and Valeria also share how Equitable Cities bridges the gap between community members and policymakers, and the transformative projects that are redefining access and opportunity across the country.
Check out the groundbreaking work of Equitable Cities at www.equitablecities.com and read more about Isa and Valeria below.
Isa Gaillard is a Senior Planner at Equitable Cities. He has experience in environmental justice, sustainable transportation, and capacity building. As an undergraduate student, Isa received a Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for his efforts engaging diverse communities to promote cross-cultural collaboration. During his graduate studies, he developed a framework for how cities can integrate environmental justice into their planning processes. Prior to joining Equitable Cities, Isa developed and led the Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM) Community of Practice and supported the Greenlining Institute’s capacity building projects.
Valeria Menendez is a Senior Associate at Equitable Cities. She has an impressive interdisciplinary background, holding a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Planning. She has a comprehensive understanding of environmental and social dynamics, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Valeria is currently working on the Virginia Walkability Institute in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, and with various communities around the country through the US Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program.
