hello my name is Emiliano firm I’m currently senior at the University of
currently senior at the University of
currently senior at the University of Richmond
Richmond
Richmond studying environmental studies and
studying environmental studies and
studying environmental studies and anthropology note not art I don’t have
anthropology note not art I don’t have
anthropology note not art I don’t have an artistic bone in my body I can’t draw
an artistic bone in my body I can’t draw
an artistic bone in my body I can’t draw paint sculpt sing or dance and I’ve
paint sculpt sing or dance and I’ve
paint sculpt sing or dance and I’ve never really considered myself a
never really considered myself a
never really considered myself a creative type but earlier this year I
creative type but earlier this year I
creative type but earlier this year I curated an art exhibition at the
curated an art exhibition at the
curated an art exhibition at the University of Richmond downtown and
University of Richmond downtown and
University of Richmond downtown and despite my aversion to all things
despite my aversion to all things
despite my aversion to all things artistic it has been one of the best
artistic it has been one of the best
artistic it has been one of the best experiences I’ve had since coming to
experiences I’ve had since coming to
experiences I’ve had since coming to Richmond three and a half years ago the
Richmond three and a half years ago the
Richmond three and a half years ago the exhibition is titled transportation
exhibition is titled transportation
exhibition is titled transportation today and tomorrow envisioning a Greater
today and tomorrow envisioning a Greater
today and tomorrow envisioning a Greater Richmond through photographs by local
Richmond through photographs by local
Richmond through photographs by local artist Dean whitbeck and interviews
artist Dean whitbeck and interviews
artist Dean whitbeck and interviews conducted by yours truly and my
conducted by yours truly and my
conducted by yours truly and my supervisor Alexandre Byram we were able
supervisor Alexandre Byram we were able
supervisor Alexandre Byram we were able to create a thoughtful impactful
to create a thoughtful impactful
to create a thoughtful impactful representation of a complex social issue
representation of a complex social issue
representation of a complex social issue transportation now I’ll admit
transportation now I’ll admit
transportation now I’ll admit transportation isn’t the most glamorous
transportation isn’t the most glamorous
transportation isn’t the most glamorous topic but it’s essential it’s what gets
topic but it’s essential it’s what gets
topic but it’s essential it’s what gets us from our homes to school or work or
us from our homes to school or work or
us from our homes to school or work or the grocery store we literally couldn’t
the grocery store we literally couldn’t
the grocery store we literally couldn’t get anywhere without it and yet how many
get anywhere without it and yet how many
get anywhere without it and yet how many of us really think about our
of us really think about our
of us really think about our transportation on a daily basis we get
transportation on a daily basis we get
transportation on a daily basis we get in our cars and we go for many people in
in our cars and we go for many people in
in our cars and we go for many people in Richmond however it’s not that simple as
Richmond however it’s not that simple as
Richmond however it’s not that simple as many of you probably already know
many of you probably already know
many of you probably already know Richmond has a public bus system G RTC
Richmond has a public bus system G RTC
Richmond has a public bus system G RTC it isn’t perfect buses aren’t always on
it isn’t perfect buses aren’t always on
it isn’t perfect buses aren’t always on time the current bus routes are mostly
time the current bus routes are mostly
time the current bus routes are mostly restricted to the city while the current
restricted to the city while the current
restricted to the city while the current job opportunities are mostly out in
job opportunities are mostly out in
job opportunities are mostly out in Henrico and Chesterfield counties so the
Henrico and Chesterfield counties so the
Henrico and Chesterfield counties so the buses don’t really connect the places
buses don’t really connect the places
buses don’t really connect the places people live with the places people work
people live with the places people work
people live with the places people work when construction or a traffic accident
when construction or a traffic accident
when construction or a traffic accident gets in the way buses are rerouted and
gets in the way buses are rerouted and
gets in the way buses are rerouted and some stops are skipped over completely
some stops are skipped over completely
some stops are skipped over completely when you’re running five minutes late
when you’re running five minutes late
when you’re running five minutes late and you have a car you arrive at your
and you have a car you arrive at your
and you have a car you arrive at your destination five minutes late when
destination five minutes late when
destination five minutes late when you’re running five minutes late for a
you’re running five minutes late for a
you’re running five minutes late for a bus there might not be another bus for
bus there might not be another bus for
bus there might not be another bus for an hour then what do you do
an hour then what do you do
an hour then what do you do Richmond has been working diligently to
Richmond has been working diligently to
Richmond has been working diligently to improve its public transportation system
improve its public transportation system
improve its public transportation system just in the last few years a team from
just in the last few years a team from
just in the last few years a team from the city and G RTC leadership developed
the city and G RTC leadership developed
the city and G RTC leadership developed the Richmond transit
the Richmond transit
the Richmond transit work plan a long document outlining
work plan a long document outlining
work plan a long document outlining several different options for a regional
several different options for a regional
several different options for a regional transportation network thanks to the
transportation network thanks to the
transportation network thanks to the efforts of our VA Rapid Transit a
efforts of our VA Rapid Transit a
efforts of our VA Rapid Transit a non-profit advocacy group bus rapid
non-profit advocacy group bus rapid
non-profit advocacy group bus rapid transit will soon be coming to Richmond
transit will soon be coming to Richmond
transit will soon be coming to Richmond a higher speed bus in a dedicated Lane
a higher speed bus in a dedicated Lane
a higher speed bus in a dedicated Lane called the pulse it will connect Rockets
called the pulse it will connect Rockets
called the pulse it will connect Rockets landing in the east with willow LAN in
landing in the east with willow LAN in
landing in the east with willow LAN in the West and will mean more buses
the West and will mean more buses
the West and will mean more buses shorter wait times and more reliable
shorter wait times and more reliable
shorter wait times and more reliable service for everyone I was inspired by
service for everyone I was inspired by
service for everyone I was inspired by all of these efforts when I began
all of these efforts when I began
all of these efforts when I began curating this exhibition we worked with
curating this exhibition we worked with
curating this exhibition we worked with Tripp Pollard a senior attorney from the
Tripp Pollard a senior attorney from the
Tripp Pollard a senior attorney from the southern Environmental Law Center a
southern Environmental Law Center a
southern Environmental Law Center a group that’s done a ton of legal work
group that’s done a ton of legal work
group that’s done a ton of legal work around transportation in the past few
around transportation in the past few
around transportation in the past few years I interviewed people from our VA
years I interviewed people from our VA
years I interviewed people from our VA Rapid Transit Virginians for high-speed
Rapid Transit Virginians for high-speed
Rapid Transit Virginians for high-speed rail Richmond’s urban transportation
rail Richmond’s urban transportation
rail Richmond’s urban transportation planning division bike walk our VA the
planning division bike walk our VA the
planning division bike walk our VA the Timmins group the better housing
Timmins group the better housing
Timmins group the better housing coalition the Richmond branch
coalition the Richmond branch
coalition the Richmond branch n-double-a-cp
n-double-a-cp
n-double-a-cp the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of
the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of
the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and our very own University of
Commerce and our very own University of
Commerce and our very own University of Richmond what a list these people know
Richmond what a list these people know
Richmond what a list these people know so much about transportation and its
so much about transportation and its
so much about transportation and its impacts our exhibition was shaping up to
impacts our exhibition was shaping up to
impacts our exhibition was shaping up to be educational informative and inspiring
be educational informative and inspiring
be educational informative and inspiring but something was missing from the
but something was missing from the
but something was missing from the dialogue we were constructing
dialogue we were constructing
dialogue we were constructing approximately twenty eight thousand five
approximately twenty eight thousand five
approximately twenty eight thousand five hundred people used G RTC every day
hundred people used G RTC every day
hundred people used G RTC every day that’s twenty eight thousand five
that’s twenty eight thousand five
that’s twenty eight thousand five hundred people
hundred people
hundred people navigating bus schedules waiting at bus
navigating bus schedules waiting at bus
navigating bus schedules waiting at bus stops in all kinds of weather and
stops in all kinds of weather and
stops in all kinds of weather and depending on a publicly provided
depending on a publicly provided
depending on a publicly provided resource to get them to their jobs in
resource to get them to their jobs in
resource to get them to their jobs in the mornings and back home to their
the mornings and back home to their
the mornings and back home to their families in the evenings these are the
families in the evenings these are the
families in the evenings these are the people who use Richmond’s bus system
people who use Richmond’s bus system
people who use Richmond’s bus system every single day and think about what it
every single day and think about what it
every single day and think about what it means for their lives much more often
means for their lives much more often
means for their lives much more often than you or I but they were not the lead
than you or I but they were not the lead
than you or I but they were not the lead authors of the Richmond transit network
authors of the Richmond transit network
authors of the Richmond transit network plan and nobody really asked them if
plan and nobody really asked them if
plan and nobody really asked them if they wanted a new bus so myself and
they wanted a new bus so myself and
they wanted a new bus so myself and several others from you are downtown
several others from you are downtown
several others from you are downtown stood out at the transfer Plaza in
stood out at the transfer Plaza in
stood out at the transfer Plaza in downtown Richmond where people change
downtown Richmond where people change
downtown Richmond where people change buses all day long I was expecting a
buses all day long I was expecting a
buses all day long I was expecting a whole lot of negativity in the months I
whole lot of negativity in the months I
whole lot of negativity in the months I was working on this exhibition I had
was working on this exhibition I had
was working on this exhibition I had heard all about how the buses are late
heard all about how the buses are late
heard all about how the buses are late and don’t get people where they need to
and don’t get people where they need to
and don’t get people where they need to go one hundred and twenty eight thousand
go one hundred and twenty eight thousand
go one hundred and twenty eight thousand jobs in the Richmond region aren’t
jobs in the Richmond region aren’t
jobs in the Richmond region aren’t accessible by G RTC people had to be
accessible by G RTC people had to be
accessible by G RTC people had to be upset about that
upset about that
upset about that right wrong the ten riders we
right wrong the ten riders we
right wrong the ten riders we interviewed were overwhelmingly positive
interviewed were overwhelmingly positive
interviewed were overwhelmingly positive about their bus riding experience David
about their bus riding experience David
about their bus riding experience David told us it was an affordable way to get
told us it was an affordable way to get
told us it was an affordable way to get around Shakya told us she had great
around Shakya told us she had great
around Shakya told us she had great conversations with the bus drivers and
conversations with the bus drivers and
conversations with the bus drivers and other riders during her commute April
other riders during her commute April
other riders during her commute April told us she loved the bus loved the
told us she loved the bus loved the
told us she loved the bus loved the people and was really just thankful to
people and was really just thankful to
people and was really just thankful to have the resource we asked every
have the resource we asked every
have the resource we asked every interviewee the same question what is
interviewee the same question what is
interviewee the same question what is your vision for transportation in the
your vision for transportation in the
your vision for transportation in the Richmond region community leaders and
Richmond region community leaders and
Richmond region community leaders and transit riders alike expressed hope for
transit riders alike expressed hope for
transit riders alike expressed hope for a regional transportation network that
a regional transportation network that
a regional transportation network that works for everyone people who drive ride
works for everyone people who drive ride
works for everyone people who drive ride a bus ride a bike or walk people who
a bus ride a bike or walk people who
a bus ride a bike or walk people who live in the heart of the city and people
live in the heart of the city and people
live in the heart of the city and people who live out in the suburbs young people
who live out in the suburbs young people
who live out in the suburbs young people who really don’t want to own a car or
who really don’t want to own a car or
who really don’t want to own a car or can’t drive yet and older folks who stop
can’t drive yet and older folks who stop
can’t drive yet and older folks who stop driving a long time ago Kathryn brake a
driving a long time ago Kathryn brake a
driving a long time ago Kathryn brake a planner from Richmond’s urban
planner from Richmond’s urban
planner from Richmond’s urban transportation planning division may
transportation planning division may
transportation planning division may have said it best connected regions at
have said it best connected regions at
have said it best connected regions at work work for everyone
work work for everyone
work work for everyone interviewing both community leaders
interviewing both community leaders
interviewing both community leaders doing great work in the field of
doing great work in the field of
doing great work in the field of transportation and transit riders using
transportation and transit riders using
transportation and transit riders using Richmond’s bus system every single day
Richmond’s bus system every single day
Richmond’s bus system every single day gave our exhibition a diverse collection
gave our exhibition a diverse collection
gave our exhibition a diverse collection of perspectives on opening night our
of perspectives on opening night our
of perspectives on opening night our interviewees came and were able to meet
interviewees came and were able to meet
interviewees came and were able to meet talk about their experiences and discuss
talk about their experiences and discuss
talk about their experiences and discuss the potential for change but social
the potential for change but social
the potential for change but social change doesn’t happen overnight just
change doesn’t happen overnight just
change doesn’t happen overnight just because we put some photographs quotes
because we put some photographs quotes
because we put some photographs quotes and graphics on a wall doesn’t mean the
and graphics on a wall doesn’t mean the
and graphics on a wall doesn’t mean the issues magically resolved so the artwork
issues magically resolved so the artwork
issues magically resolved so the artwork is up what now since the opening we’ve
is up what now since the opening we’ve
is up what now since the opening we’ve hosted several events in the gallery
hosted several events in the gallery
hosted several events in the gallery space that have provided further
space that have provided further
space that have provided further opportunities for people to get together
opportunities for people to get together
opportunities for people to get together and brainstorm tangible and practical
and brainstorm tangible and practical
and brainstorm tangible and practical steps towards regional transportation
steps towards regional transportation
steps towards regional transportation solutions a land use class from the
solutions a land use class from the
solutions a land use class from the University of Richmond School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law heard from two of our interviewees about
heard from two of our interviewees about
heard from two of our interviewees about weight as they could get involved as
weight as they could get involved as
weight as they could get involved as future lawyers and leaders just a few
future lawyers and leaders just a few
future lawyers and leaders just a few weeks ago we hosted a dinner to talk
weeks ago we hosted a dinner to talk
weeks ago we hosted a dinner to talk about the role of university
about the role of university
about the role of university transportation in the city of Richmond
transportation in the city of Richmond
transportation in the city of Richmond students faculty and staff from both you
students faculty and staff from both you
students faculty and staff from both you are and VCU came together to talk about
are and VCU came together to talk about
are and VCU came together to talk about what works when we’re trying to get
what works when we’re trying to get
what works when we’re trying to get students into the city and what doesn’t
students into the city and what doesn’t
students into the city and what doesn’t creating opportunities for students in
creating opportunities for students in
creating opportunities for students in particular to become informed
particular to become informed
particular to become informed transportation advocates has been one of
transportation advocates has been one of
transportation advocates has been one of the best
the best
the best of this project the exhibition comes
of this project the exhibition comes
of this project the exhibition comes down in January but our hope is that we
down in January but our hope is that we
down in January but our hope is that we have created lasting partnerships
have created lasting partnerships
have created lasting partnerships between individuals and organizations
between individuals and organizations
between individuals and organizations who wouldn’t otherwise be working
who wouldn’t otherwise be working
who wouldn’t otherwise be working together though the artwork itself
together though the artwork itself
together though the artwork itself cannot fix the issues with Richmond’s
cannot fix the issues with Richmond’s
cannot fix the issues with Richmond’s transportation system the ideas brought
transportation system the ideas brought
transportation system the ideas brought forth from community leaders and transit
forth from community leaders and transit
forth from community leaders and transit riders alike have a better chance of
riders alike have a better chance of
riders alike have a better chance of being incorporated into future planning
being incorporated into future planning
being incorporated into future planning efforts thanks to our exhibition art is
efforts thanks to our exhibition art is
efforts thanks to our exhibition art is a powerful medium for social change it
a powerful medium for social change it
a powerful medium for social change it can prompt dialogue connect people who
can prompt dialogue connect people who
can prompt dialogue connect people who wouldn’t otherwise collaborate and
wouldn’t otherwise collaborate and
wouldn’t otherwise collaborate and create space for voices previously left
create space for voices previously left
create space for voices previously left out of the conversation I hope each and
out of the conversation I hope each and
out of the conversation I hope each and every one of you feels inspired to think
every one of you feels inspired to think
every one of you feels inspired to think about these big social issues in
about these big social issues in
about these big social issues in different and exciting ways and more
different and exciting ways and more
different and exciting ways and more than anything
than anything
than anything next time you’re dreaming big about
next time you’re dreaming big about
next time you’re dreaming big about solving homelessness poverty or
solving homelessness poverty or
solving homelessness poverty or education think about whose voices
education think about whose voices
education think about whose voices aren’t included in your conversation and
aren’t included in your conversation and
aren’t included in your conversation and what you can do to get them to the table
what you can do to get them to the table
what you can do to get them to the table thank you
Emily thank you so much for being here
Emily thank you so much for being here tonight
tonight
tonight I actually took AP environmental science
I actually took AP environmental science
I actually took AP environmental science last year and while I can’t say it was
last year and while I can’t say it was
last year and while I can’t say it was my favorite class it was definitely a
my favorite class it was definitely a
my favorite class it was definitely a topic that really interested me how did
topic that really interested me how did
topic that really interested me how did you get into environmental science my
you get into environmental science my
you get into environmental science my mom has been an environment advocate
mom has been an environment advocate
mom has been an environment advocate since I was a little kid so we just
since I was a little kid so we just
since I was a little kid so we just always spent a lot of time outside
always spent a lot of time outside
always spent a lot of time outside together my mom’s my best friend so it
together my mom’s my best friend so it
together my mom’s my best friend so it just kind of turned into an educational
just kind of turned into an educational
just kind of turned into an educational interest and now I’m a career interest
interest and now I’m a career interest
interest and now I’m a career interest as I’m getting ready to graduate college
as I’m getting ready to graduate college
as I’m getting ready to graduate college well congratulations and thank you thank
well congratulations and thank you thank
well congratulations and thank you thank you for being here
”
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