Meet Vanessa: LSA’s new Executive Director
This August 18th, Vanessa Cascio will be stepping in as the next Executive Director of Living Streets Alliance. Here’s your chance to get to know her and what she’s most looking forward to in this next chapter with the organization.
Q: You worked here at LSA from 2015 to 2021. What are some of your favorite memories or part of the work that you most enjoyed?
A: Some of my favorite memories are the little moments that carried big meaning. I think about our mobile bike repair events, when a caregiver and their child would show up with a broken-down bike and leave beaming on one that worked again. Or Cyclovia, when people filled the streets with joy—walking, biking, skating, dancing—and hearing a community member share how they were able to see their neighborhood in a new way. Those moments reminded me that this work is about connection, community, and possibility.
I also felt deeply inspired working alongside Safe Routes to School partners and the educators who go the extra mile to make sure students could get to school safely and feel proud of their neighborhoods. One highlight was leading Tucson’s first street mural project at Pueblo Gardens PreK–8. It wasn’t just paint on the pavement. This was a celebration of culture, community expression, and a bold statement that kids deserve safe, vibrant streets. It was the first project of its kind in Tucson, and it was a learning process that LSA was able to build upon.
The community events are joyful reminders of why this work matters, but I also found deep purpose in being part of LSA’s longer-term efforts. It was incredibly rewarding to watch school travel plans evolve into funded projects through Prop 407. Or to work alongside our team and partners to help pass Tucson’s Complete Streets policy. These weren’t overnight wins. They were the result of years of listening, planning, and showing up together.
Q: You lived in Tucson for much of your life. For people who might not know you, what are some things you'd like to share about your background here?
A: While I’ve lived in other places, Tucson has always been home. In many ways, it’s where my family’s story began. My dad went to Pueblo High, my mom to Tucson High. They met at El Casino Ballroom, and to this day, my dad loves to tell the story of biking down 22nd Street for a chaperoned date with my mom. It was the first (and last) time he made that ride. He still jokes that it was worth it, but he remembers clearly how unsafe it felt sharing the road with speeding cars.
When my mom’s family first immigrated to Tucson, they settled on Convent Avenue in Barrio Viejo. She remembers walking everywhere with her three siblings to Drachman Elementary, and on weekends to El Cine Plaza to watch Spanish-language films. A kind staff member would often let them in for free. My grandmother worked more than 20 years at La Suprema Tortilla Factory, now a co-working space, where she led the hand-stretched tortilla line. She never drove a car and walked to work every day, full of purpose and pride.
Even after our family moved to west Phoenix, Tucson remained the heart of our lives. We returned nearly every weekend for holidays, birthdays, Sunday visits. Tucson holds our stories. When I came back for graduate school, I realized how much of the city especially north of 22nd Street I hadn’t really known. It was then I began to see how our streets can either connect or divide us.
Tucson is a city full of stories, and mine is just one. But it’s those personal histories that ground my passion for walkability, dignified transit, and public spaces in the city I’m proud to call home.
Q: What are you most looking forward to doing when you're back in Tucson?
A: Over the past few years, I’ve been living in Washington, DC, a city I’ve grown to appreciate for its walkability and access to public transit. But Tucson holds a certain magic that simply can’t be matched. And when it comes to Mexican food, there’s no competition.
My list of things I’m excited for keeps growing: walking those familiar desert trails, breathing in the unforgettable scent of creosote after a monsoon, and indulging in my favorite comfort foods. I’m especially looking forward to experiencing my favorite parts of Tucson with my seven-year-old. He has a deeper awareness and appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors, and I can’t wait to share Tucson’s natural wonders with him.
Q: You've been working at the Safe Routes Partnership for the past three years and no doubt learned a lot about federal transportation policies, building coalitions and networks, etc. How do you see those learnings and relationships fitting into LSA's future?
A: Over the past three years, I’ve had the chance to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Being part of a national organization gave me an opportunity to dive deep into federal transportation policy, and act as a sort of conduit to state agencies and local communities looking to leverage those policies to actually benefit people on the ground.
One of the projects I’m proud of brought over $8 million in community-driven investments to a working-class neighborhood made up of Latino and Nepalese families. These were residents who had been asking for safer streets for decades in a city that often prides itself on being bike-friendly, though not always equitably so. Helping them move from being unheard to seeing real, tangible improvements was incredibly meaningful. It took collaboration with city staff, community coaching, and finding creative ways to bring everyone to the table. That experience reminded me why I do this work. It’s about listening, building trust, and focusing on real solutions that reflect what people actually need.
The current federal funding landscape isn’t exactly easy, but there are a few bright spots. Policy shifts are giving states more flexibility to support walking, biking, and Safe Routes to School and new tools that can be applied to existing funding streams likely to remain in place. And nationally, we’re seeing new energy behind efforts to make streets safer for everyone. Programs like Safe Streets and Roads for All are helping communities of all sizes take action. I’ve already seen that momentum picking up here in Arizona, and I’m excited to help ensure we take full advantage of it.
Safe Routes to School, in particular, has taken on a new level of importance for me. It’s not just a feel-good program. It’s a proven strategy for preventing traffic deaths, improving health, and giving kids more independence. It strengthens neighborhoods in ways that are lasting. But places like Tucson and Pima County are still far from getting the support they need, and I want to help change that.
I’ve been so fortunate to work with partners and state agencies across the country from Pennsylvania to Hawaii on everything from community engagement to quick-build projects. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with decision-makers on Capitol Hill to talk about why this work matters, and I’ve teamed up with state agencies and local advocates to help implement projects that unlock more funding. Along the way, I’ve supported communities as they navigate the often-complex systems that shape their efforts. Each of these experiences has shaped how I approach this work, and now I’m able to bring those lessons, relationships, and tools back to Arizona with a renewed sense of what’s possible.
Q: In thinking about LSA's strategic plan, which pieces/goals are you most looking forward to carrying out?
A: LSA’s new strategic plan is bold and visionary. There’s so much I’m looking forward to helping move forward, but a few pieces really stand out.
First, the stronger and more explicit commitment to public transit. This is deeply personal for me. I came into this work as someone who found themselves dependent on public transportation because I could not afford a car and as a social worker, supporting with adults with disabilities who saw transit as a lifeline. I know firsthand how much access, dignity, and opportunity it can provide or take away. It’s powerful to see LSA not only prioritize transit, but also be part of a growing coalition around it. I’m eager to explore how we can deepen that work and be a strong voice in the local and statewide conversation.
Second, the emphasis on Vision Zero and the Families for Safe Streets work. With my background in public health, I see Vision Zero not just as a transportation issue but as a public health imperative. More and more, there’s recognition that traffic violence is preventable, and we’re simply not doing enough. I’m ready to help push that shift forward.
And finally, I’m especially motivated by LSA’s focus on building a diverse, multicultural movement and investing in advocacy leadership. At a time when so many people feel disillusioned about the state of our democracy, this work feels more urgent than ever. It’s not just about policy wins. It’s about building lasting power, especially in communities that have historically been excluded. If we want this movement to be sustainable and truly reflective of Tucson, this is the path forward.
Q: Looking ahead, what are you most excited about as the new ED of Living Streets Alliance?
A: What energizes me most is continuing LSA’s legacy of valuing how change happens, not just what we achieve. That care shows up in the community-driven process behind Tucson’s nationally recognized Complete Streets policy, LSA’s values-rooted strategic plan, and the deep engagement around equitable transit-oriented development and climate action. It shows up in the relationships we’ve built with school communities to spark lifelong joy in walking and biking. LSA’s foundation is stronger than ever.
At a time when political and social realities can feel overwhelming, I keep coming back to local, people-centered work like LSA’s isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. This is how we build healthier, more connected, and more just communities.
In the last few years, I’ve seen how even well-resourced, progressive places hit roadblocks to advancing sustainable, equitable transportation. Sometimes it's fear of change, sometimes it's protecting the status quo. But one of the most powerful tools we have to overcome that is something Tucson, and LSA, do exceptionally well: organizing. Bringing people together in ways that make change inevitable and uncovering a shared desire for safer streets, stronger communities, and better choices.
That’s the work I’m honored to lead and the future I’m excited to help shape.