During my internship with a sustainable mobility and public transit organization in Bologna, Italy, I worked to address public controversy surrounding the city's new tram system under construction. Working entirely in Italian alongside a team of engineers, educators, and planning professionals, I conducted research and engaged in community outreach and public speaking. I co-hosted an international podcast series with global transportation experts, attended municipal meetings with local mobility officials, and participated in neighborhood sessions to hear residents' transit concerns. I also gave public presentations on sustainable mobility, introducing US urban planning concepts like stroads to Italian audiences, and conducted archival and field research on historical suburban tram lines to write long-form educational pieces for the organization's public platforms.
Arriving in Bologna, I initially thought transit was already perfect because it was so widely used and frequent. I left with the understanding that every city faces complex transit challenges and trade-offs, and I saw real similarities between the US and Italy. Working alongside mentors who shared my passion confirmed my commitment to urban and transportation planning, but more importantly, it taught me that successful planning requires patience, deep listening, and clear communication with the community being served. Navigating professional presentations and technical discussions in Italian gave me the confidence to work through unfamiliar environments, and I am excited to bring this broader perspective back to the challenges of city planning in California.
Orelia Newman