Talking Zoning, Zombie Apocalypses, and Authentic Engagement
Last week we sat down with Teska Senior Associate and newly AICP-ed planner, Francesca Sallinger to connect on her formative beginnings, path to planning, and engage in a quick series of this-or-that.
Francie started at Teska Summer of 2017 after earning her bachelors and masters degrees in planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. A tried and true Chicagoan, Francie was born and raised in Rogers Park and lovingly confides that “stroller tours” with her mom as a kiddo turned her on to a love of neighborhoods and the world of planning. Flash forward to college, Francie opted to take Ken Salo’s “Human Rights in the City” seminar while a then sociology major, and the rest, as they say, is history. She was hooked and switched majors the following year… and we are so glad she did. Read on!
Q: Communication and engagement is such a life skill and must for planners and placemakers. How does one excel at such?
A: Honestly, you don’t really learn communication in high school or college. Yes – writing courses and a speech class I took helped… those taught best practices, how to present and tell stories… but putting that to the test with real projects and real people changes how we communicate. Sharing stories and engaging with folks when there are personal elements and experiences, real factors and futures involved. Authentic engagement and communication is something you really learn by doing and I am continuing to learn!
“Authentic engagement and effective communication is something you really learn by doing.”
Q: What silver linings have you seen come out of the pandemic?
A: How we rethink public space is going to be really interesting -- how we use our streets and sidewalks. On an emotional level, it seems like folks have a greater appreciation for their immediate surroundings. Simple things, like walking outside in their neighborhood, aimless strolling… no one is in a hurry, there is a lot of good lingering going on. People seem more in touch with what’s going on, more hyper local, engaging with their neighborhoods and businesses. That is a really cool thing for planners to recognize. The more folks care about their neighborhood the better!
“People seem more in touch, more hyper local. And the more ppl care about their neighborhood, the better!”
Q: If urban planning was an ice cream flavor what would it be and why?
So I am going to take some creative liberties here and not choose a single flavor, but rather say it would be an ice cream sundae. Planning is built on a solid base, a foundation -- i.e. the scoops, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry - the history, people, partners, etc. And everyone knows a sundae isn’t a sundae without all the toppings -- you need many components, not one flavor -- it is a celebration of all the many ingredients.
“An ice cream sundae. Everyone knows a sundae isn’t a sundae without the toppings. Planning is a celebration of many ingredients.”
Q: A few words on Teska?
A: The thing that first attracted me to Teska, without really knowing you all... (and has proven true) is the firm culture. It is extremely down to earth, we like what we do, respect each other, and care deeply about our clients and the communities we serve. Our work speaks to that.
“Our firm culture is extremely down to earth - we like what we do, respect each other, and care deeply about the clients and communities we serve.”
Q: Looking back on the past few years, what projects really pushed you and why?
A: On a general note, zoning. It is like learning a new language - it involves legal aspects, style, form, location… the nitty gritty micro and macro aspects of development. It is so important, interesting, and pushes me out of my comfort zone. I also just really love the breadth of projects we are involved with. They force me to use both sides of my brain -- technical aspects, spreadsheets, mapping, and zoning… graphic design, formatting, creative engagement, outreach and talking with folks. Projects that involve both left and right brain thinking.
“Zoning, it’s like learning a new language.”
Q: This or That
- Forest or ocean - ocean
- Cake or pie - pie
- Muffin or bagel - bagel
- Dog or cat - dog
- Podcast or book - podcast
- Mullet or mohawk - mullet
“Mullet or mohawk… mullet”
Q: What is your advice for the youth of America?
A: Life advice, professionally and otherwise -- stay curious and ask questions whenever possible. We are never done learning and that’s how you learn best, by connecting with people who have experience, expertise, and perspectives different from your own.
“stay curious, ask questions”
Q: If you were caught in a zombie apocalypse and could only bring three things related to planning what would they be and why?
A: First, I am ruling out a phone. That’s not allowed since all cell towers will be defunct. CTA is down, cars aren’t working for whatever reason. With that said… I’d bring: (1) a bike to get around, (2) a paper map will generally be very handy, and (3) post-its! A BIG stack (and a marker) -- I’d leave a breadcrumb trail so people could find me in case I need to hunker down and hide somewhere.
“A bike, paper map, and post-it notes… I’d leave a breadcrumb trail.”
True or false, did you travel across the country in an RV?
A: TRUE!