Work Anniversary Spotlight: Maria Walker
How many years have your worked for Circulate and what is your title?
I’ve worked at Circulate for 3 years now, and I’m an Associate Planner.If this is your 3rd or 5th year, which role did you start out as and which role are you in now? Describe the different type of tasks you perform.
When I joined Circulate in 2022, I started as an Assistant Planner fresh out of college. My early day to day work focused on supporting my colleagues with community engagement events and putting my design skills to work across our social media and project deliverables. I am now an Associate Planner and have had the opportunity to grow into a more hands on role coordinating these efforts. With this position has come growth in the work we do, and one of my favorite projects has been designing our new Traffic Calming Course. You’ll often find me next to it and engaging with people at community events. I value how my work connects directly to people’s daily experiences and am excited to continue growing as a planner!
During this time, what’s your most memorable face palm moment? Or what is your biggest achievement to date? Choose one.
One of my most memorable achievements has been coordinating a pedestrian audit with older adults living in City Heights. Throughout our audits, we walk with participants, take observations and photos of street conditions, and document what we learn to prepare a report. Residents shared how meaningful the experience was for them, and one participant surprised us with printed photos they had taken throughout the walk. I never would have expected to receive anything in return, but that moment stayed with me and reinforced why this work matters. Being able to connect with residents of all abilities and see how valued these efforts are within the community made the experience especially meaningful. It remains one of my proudest moments at Circulate.
What are you excited for about the future?
I just got an e bike and am excited to bike more in the coming year! As a professional “Walker,” I’ve spent a lot of time experiencing San Diego on foot, but I’m looking forward to exploring other mobility options and seeing the city from a different perspective. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing as a planner and obtain a few certifications hopefully in the near future.
