Vanessa Gallego

Bio: Vanessa is a mobility advocate and currently works south of 22nd Street with Familias Unidas Ganando Accesabilidad (FUGA), organizing bike rides and mobility events in the project area. Her experience includes communicating with the general public, safety on arterial roads, and connections to neighborhoods, parks, and schools. It is important to her to be able to communicate with her community while relaying input and ideas to this plan. She has a strong connection with Barrio Santa Rita as a legacy, small business owner in the area, Recyco, Inc. Vanessa feels strongly that representation matters when it comes to equitable mobility. As a climate action advisor for the City, equity is a top priority when it came to accessibility and reduction of harm from historic disinvestment. To her, a “thriving community” is a healthy community with clean air, fast transit, and walkable sidewalks with shade to combat heat island effects where local investment, small businesses, home ownership, and safety are prioritized.