New Staff Q&A: Kristopher Fortin Grijalva
OEC is excited to introduce our new Transportation Program Director, Kristopher Fortin Grijalva!
Hailing from Southern California, Kristopher grew up connected to his community by transportation, walking, biking, and bussing his way around town from elementary school through college. This experience – coupled with a deep love for writing – led him to a 13-year career in journalism and transportation advocacy in the Greater Los Angeles area. His background spent fighting for clean, equitable transportation options made him the perfect person for the role.
To learn all about Kristopher – from his love of local corner stores, to career highlights and summer playlist recs – read below!
What was your dream job when you were a kid?
I wanted to be an archaeologist. I saw Jurassic Park and was like, “Dinosaurs are cool. That sounds awesome!” But in preschool, I wanted to be president of the United States. You know, not ambitious at all.
Since you didn’t become an archaeologist or President (yet), what led you to the type of work you’re doing now?
After I squashed my ambition to dig up dinosaur bones, I realized I was always writing. That skill really opened up a lot of my work. It gave me the opportunity to do some journalism, and that work later turned into me doing community work, as well. That community work was very specific in transportation. So I could see how writing very much helped to guide me toward where I ended up. When you’re writing, you’re having to reflect about spaces, places, and people. My writing definitely helps to facilitate where I am today.
What were some early things you read that had a big influence on your life and your writing?
I remember this story in the L.A. Times about the Kirov Ballet, which was coming into town. It was just about a dance troupe from a place that I had no familiarity with, but I was just so interested in this random story. I had a habit when I was a teen to cut out newspaper clippings, and post them on the wall like posters. And this was one of them. I think it probably connected with me because I liked musicals back then, like Moulin Rouge. And being able to portray art in such a beautiful way was so cool. I did end up going to their show, and I was blown away. I was like 15 years old or 16 years old going with a few friends, and it was just a completely magical experience.
What have been some of your proudest achievements throughout your career?
I was a director with Santa Ana Active Streets in California. We did a mixture of education and advocacy. One of the projects that really exemplified a lot of what we did was called the Willard Safe Street Project. It was in the neighborhood of Santa Ana that has experienced a lot of gentrifying forces. A lot of residents had their rent increase, a lot of displacement, a lot of disinvestment, when nearby neighborhoods and downtown had seen a lot of investment. This largely immigrant community had really been overlooked, and not represented well throughout its history.
With the Willard Safe Streets project, we were able to get in the first artistic crosswalk in the city in this neighborhood. In Portland, a common thing that you’ll see is art in the intersections. So this was the same concept, but on crosswalks – and using that as a safety strategy, similar to what’s done here. We partnered with community groups like the Willard Neighborhood Association, and regional government agencies to make it happen. It was about a two-year initiative.
I’m really proud of that project because we knew what our role was. We were familiar with the community, but we wanted to help it prosper in its own ways. We even went so far as to gather data, so the Neighborhood Association could apply for grants themselves. The question wasn’t just, “How do we help out and make this project happen?” – it was also, “How can we invest in this community so they can keep on doing the work, and keep being champions?” We were always thinking about that. If we ever go away, we wanna make sure that folks don’t feel that they are dependent on us and that they can actually take the mantle. And I still try to treat my work that way.
What is your favorite mode of transportation?
It’s tough, but I will say trains. When I was back in California, I’d ride between counties using the commuter rail or Amtrak. I loved it. There’s something so poetic about long-distance travel on a slow moving train. It just feels so peaceful. It really does kind of feel like you’re transporting to a whole other world.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I like to bicycle around town, and cook as much Mexican food as I can. I also love just walking around the neighborhood and getting to know local businesses. I pride myself on becoming a regular at local stores – if not on a first name basis, at least they know who I am at some point.
Whether it’s the corner store, the restaurant, or my barber… I really thrive on taking life slowly, so I can appreciate the intricacies of even the one-mile radius.
There’s this Latino market right near where I live. I found out that the owners are from Guatemala. I’m half Honduran, so we got to chatting and they were like, “Do you want to come to our Posadas that we’re hosting?” (Las Posadas is a Christmas-adjacent party celebrated in Mexico, and has various iterations in Latine American communities). And I went to it! They fed me, played lots of music, and I ended up dancing with the whole family that was there. I loved it. I wouldn’t be able to experience that if I wasn’t taking my time with the people I’m getting to know locally. That’s been my experience. I’ve been very fortunate to have those little nuggets of awesomeness. It’s beautiful.
What are you listening to these days?
I’ve been listening to this band called Son Rompe Pera. They’re a marimba punk band. It’s badass and a lot of fun. There’s definitely regular Mosh pits at their shows, which is gnarly because they’re all like playing on the keys. It’s good summer music.
What’s your favorite place in Oregon?
I’m gonna kind of go back to my one-mile radius. When I walk in my neighborhood, I see an ecosystem. Whether it’s the houses, the corner stores, the birds or the woods – it’s all nature in a sense. There’s a life to it all. Seeing what’s in bloom, the trees bearing fruit, a friend hooking me up with flowers from their family farm – I find so much vibrancy just around my block. I love my little neighborhood.
What are you biggest hopes for the future of Oregon?
So, I’ve only been here a year. I think I still have a very narrow view that’s constantly expanding by being with OEC and just living here. But one thing I’ve always heard about Oregon – and I still hear it when I talk to folks in California – is the “whiteness” of it. But I think that stereotype erases a lot of experience. So I think one of my biggest hopes for Oregon is for it to further define itself, and feel empowered by the multitude of experiences that are actually here – whether it’s rural experience, coastal experience, metropolitan experience, or the POC experience. I want Oregon to continue to empower those underrepresented voices.
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