Shina Shayesteh
Shina Shayesteh serves as Strong Towns' Publishing Systems Manager. She self-identifies as a jack of all trades, with a background in editing, history, education, healthcare, linguistics, research, and digital art. She lives in Austin with her partner, dog, and cat. When not working, she enjoys hosting dinner parties for her friends, learning new crafts, starting (and rarely finishing) writing projects, and exploring local businesses around town.
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A well-intentioned focus on making streets that are safer to move along and across often misses the mark on creating places where people want to be.
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A verb became a noun. A process became a product. And an approach became an adjective.
“My heart feels like it died that day. My whole life has been affected and I can’t seem to grasp it back. I feel as if I can’t breathe at times.”
Have we optimized for a built environment that's hostile to its original inhabitants?
Car-oriented suburban design often leaves people navigating empty, isolating spaces that feel unsafe—even in the middle of the day.
