In Durham, North Carolina, 7 pedestrians are killed every year in collisions with motor vehicles. (more data?).
Seeing and feeling the difference between a car-free street and a car-infested one, the difference between a comfortable walk with visual variety and a long walk through empty parking lots, or the difference between a train ride and a drive through traffic have all become integral parts of my outlook on cities.
My fundamental professional goal is to do uniquely optimal work. For me, this is work that, for whatever reason, I am uniquely well suited to perform and also has significant positive moral impact.
Since 2018, I have been seeking to realize this goal through a variety of experiments, classes, conferences, and volunteer efforts. Over the last two years, it has become exceedingly clear to me that my passions, skills, and values are all aligned towards one fundamental goal: making our built environments more joyful.