Feet First Staff

Caitlin Callaghan, Safe Routes to School Event Coordinator

...while deep in thought on a walk we discovered the answers to life's greatest questions?

...we discovered a new animal species during a walk through the woods?

...everybody proudly chose to walk?

Why walkability matters to me:

A long time ago, I went through a very difficult period in my life.  I was about 17 months old and struggling with self-transportation.  I knew there had to be a more efficient way to get to my destination that didn't involve bruised knees and scraped palms.  Then one day I learned an extremely valuable skill, one that I still utilize today - bipedal locomotion!  Once I learned how to walk, my world opened up and my adventures were endless.  Walkability matters to me because as recent infrastructure has been designed to accommodate the car, it seems walking, the most reliable and traditional mode of transportation, has taken a backseat to the gas-guzzling vehicle.  If we could create more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, I think we could build a community full of joyful people returning to their toddler glory days of walking.

My experience:

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2010.  I was very fortunate to both live and work in a community that made walking not only easy and accessible, but safe as well.  Although there were times (usually while walking in a negative 15 degree Wisconsin blizzard) when I wanted a car, I am proud to say I have made it so far without owning a car.  Furthermore, I feel satisfaction when thinking about the gas and money I have saved by not driving.  After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, I lived in Switzerland for a summer, nannied, and played with kids before moving to Seattle to work with Feet First.  I am elated to work for an advocacy organization whose ideologies are in line with mine and I look forward to continuing to promote walkable communities!

Gia Clark, Active Communities Mapping Specialist

 What if...

...just one quarter of all the roads in America was transformed into public land for recreation, wildlife and food production?

...we spend the same amount of money in our school system as we do for street engineering?

...we designed our neighborhoods, communities, towns and cities for people, not for cars?

...more people could walk to work?

Why walkability matters to me: 

Walking is the most simple and intuitive way to move. We often take it for granted and as a result we often do not plan our cities to accommodate walking. It is my aim, as a staff member at Feet First, to create maps and other outreach material that will encourage people to walk and in turn raise awareness for the need to design cities that encourage walking.

My experience: 

My undergraduate training in Public Health and a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture position me well to address the complex relationship that exists between the built environment and public health patterns of health and wellness.

Outside of Feet First, I am a founding member of Alley Cat Acres and the Light Table Design Collective.

Jen Cole, Safe Routes to School Program Director 

What if... 

...you carried a ukulele on your next walk?

...we all had an hour of quiet time built into every day?

...parents weren't afraid to let their children walk to school?

...your teen promised you 1 minute of walking for every 15 minutes they spend in front of a screen?

...I'm not in as big of a rush as I think? 

Why walkability matters to me: 

My focus at Feet First is to make it easier and safer for children to walk to school.  While I am thrilled that this work can contribute to child health and fitness, and fascinated by traffic calming forces and engineering, my heart is in the community building that comes from people walking together.  When parents or guardians walk their children to school, they are more likely to enter the school, to meet others in the community, and to become active partners in their children's education.   That's just one way the simple act of walking adds to the richness of communities and contributes to a brighter future. 

 My experience: 

I hold a Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington and have over 17 years of experience working for and with schools.  Prior to joining Feet First, I coordinated the kids’ stages for the Northwest Bookfest citywide festival 4 years in a row, and served as PTA president at my children’s elementary school for 2 years.

What if...

...The morning commute made a positive impact on your life, instead of a negative impact on the environment?

...The transportation infrastructure of our cities was designed with feet in mind, and not tires?

...Public transportation, bicyclists, and pedestrians were the majority presence on our roads, and personal cars were the minority?

Why walkability matters to me:

Being able to meet all transportation needs with your own two feet empowers you. To not be shackled by rising fuel prices, heavy traffic, or limited parking is an amazing freedom. Car culture may be marketed with the idea of freedom and the open road, but it limits us more than we realize. Driving also cuts us off from our communities, reducing our opportunities to stop and chat with others, window shop while we walk, or read local flyers and posters. I care about walkability because it helps me stay in touch with myself, my neighbors, and the world I am a part of.

My experience:

What if...

…there is the world everyone is proud of their walkable communities?

…we could meet and make more friends by walking?

… instead of taking a bus or driving for a short trip, we could save a money and buy a small present for ourselves?

Why walkability matters to me:

Walking provides me a new way to discover my surroundings. For instance, I found an old-fashioned penny candy store on my way back from school in childhood. I found a secret short cut route to home when I explored my neighborhood.  I found a park we can see a great view of Seattle during my morning walk. 

When I came to Seattle I didn’t know much about the bus system here so I walked a lot. Even after living here for a long time, I prefer walking. It is not only because I want to be healthy, do exercise, and save money, but also because I’m looking forward to encounter new happiness and surprise, which enriches my life.

My experience:

I’m studying international business and English at University of Washington and now having internship at Feet First. I am taking a break from my university in Japan and came to Seattle 10 month ago.  Since I have been here, I have met people who have different backgrounds and cultures. I also have experienced great natural setting. I have worked at a farmer’s market in Portland, and the experience there makes me appreciate the environment and communities more.  I’m very glad I am involved with Feet First, which encourages people to walk and enjoy their health!

Helen Lundell, Feet First Blogger

What if...

...we could get all our exercise going places we actually needed to go?

…getting from A to B could be a fun, safe, game to play with others?

...people’s journeys to work could make them feel more in touch with nature?

Why walkability matters to me:

I was lucky enough to grow up in a walkable area of the UK, with local shops around the corner, a larger commercial center a bus ride away, and the heart of London just a hop on the train. When my father moved to New Jersey when I was in my teens, I came to visit during the summers. I remember walking out of his house, ready to explore, and realizing that there wasn’t anywhere to…..go. I walked up to the end of the road, where the sidewalk ended, and then walked back again. I asked my mum where the shops were, and she said the only way to get there was by car. 

Personally, I like being able to leave my house and get somewhere. 

More generally, I believe strongly in the potential role of the built environment (and the way it shapes how people behave) in influencing the health of communities.

My experience:

I graduated with an M.S. in Communication from Cornell University in May 2011. In my degree, I focused on communication issues surrounding taking action on the social determinants of health (which include the built environment, infrastructure, education, social support, and economic conditions). Before then, I had worked as a qualitative market researcher in London, and served as a Health Information intern at Cancer Research UK. I believe that changing the places where we live, and how we move within them, can change our lives- and so I am very excited to be working with Feet First!

Lisa Quinn, Executive Director 

What if ..... 

…your grandparent was not inside their home, afraid to cross the street?

…you could get all your needs met by walking?

Why walkability matters to me: 

I am passionate about increasing the number of people becoming active, while taking care of our planet.  I believe to thrive and be resilient everyone should be able to walk to the store, school, library, to a friend’s house or to their local farmers’ market.  Walking in lots of ways is the cornerstone for public health, social equity, climate change, community engagement, safety and transportation. While walking is a biological construct, our built environment has caused a division of our social construct. When we invite cars to our communities, with free parking, large streets and highways, we decrease the opportunities for people to walk. Promoting walkable communities, for me, is a simple and eloquent way to engage in our space and the place where we live.

My experience:

Over the last 17 years I have been involved in the sustainable transportation industry while working for the City of Tacoma, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments on the Central Coast of California, a consulting firm in Palo Alto, California, the University of Washington and numerous non-profits, including  BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation) in Vancouver, Canada. I have developed award winning social marketing campaigns, facilitated and trained employees, received over $500,000 in grants and designed programs to leverage every $1 spent $5 was returned in volunteer and business contributions. 

I graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor in Science in Advertising (do you find humor in this? You should!) with an emphasis on sociology and environmental studies. I walk my talk--I have been car-free most of my adult life and select to go by bike, bus, and foot. I am  grateful to have been rewarded with jobs that align with my values.

Megan Risley, Feet First Blogger

What if...
...you could improve your personal health by using your car less?

...you could make a difference in the health of the planet by walking more?

...you could add extra money to your budget because you didn't have to deal with the high costs associated with personal cars?

Why walkability matters to me: 

Because people and the planet matter to me.  It's certainly about natural - and thus healthy - transportation (our legs!), but it's about so much more, as well.  Striving for walkability symbolizes, to me, that we, as creatures with immense power to form and change our world, are using such authority to care for all of life, that we have more than simply ourselves and our convenience in view, and that we have hope for the future.  Walkability is a huge part of sustainability, and working towards more of each in our communities communicates that we care about the health of our own bodies, those around us, and our life support (the planet).

My experience:

I am a graduate from Seattle Pacific University (SPU).  I have a degree in theology and have been involved in the environmental movement for the last two years (though I should note that I have, as long as I can remember, recycled and been bothered about throwing things away).  I was on the Student Leadership team of a nationwide network of college students called Renewal: Caring for Creation where I helped organize informative events on SPU's campus, coordinated with other student leaders across the country to put together and distribute packets about making more sustainable choices both personally and in church and campus settings and wrote for their blog.  Four years ago, I gave up my car completely when I moved to Seattle.  A year ago, I began completely vegan.  Since then, I have offered to educate my friends, roommates and any other interested people about environmentalism and its many facets.

Lee Warnecke, Development Officer

What if... 

...you walked to your neighborhood farmers' market instead of driving to that big box store?

... walkers had the support network and advocates that bicyclists have?

...you could add years to your life just by walking more and eating better? Would you do it?

Why walkability matters to me: 

Walking your neighborhood builds communities, it encourages interactions, and leads to experiences that connect people to places. When we design environments for cars rather than pedestrians we lose a sense of belonging and divide neighborhoods and cities. By fostering the necessary environment changes to encourage walking we increase our physical activity in an era where diet and exercise related illness has lead experts to predict that children will live shorter lifespans than their parents. Walkability matters because it is one of the easiest ways to combat the obesity epidemic while developing communities and revitalizing neighborhoods.

 My experience: 

I have managed marketing campaigns, worn sign boards on street corners, studied politics and coordinated grants. I come to Seattle fresh off a gig at a community development non-profit growing a nascent farmers' market into Oregon's Favorite Small Farmers' Market.   In the last few years I have spent time interning with One Laptop Per Child, served on the Lane County Food Policy Council, and been a member of the leadership team for a Healthy Cornerstores Initiative in the lower Willamette Valley.