While I was in Portland for a writing workshop, I intersected with Shelli Romero for a walk and talk. Shelli and I first met ten years ago during a WTS (Women in Transportation Seminar) event to visit girls participating in an afterschool program. Our aim was to teach the importance of participating in public involvement processes. Shelli works with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). At the time, she had a position in community affairs and had recently started her business, Rose City Chica, a career coaching enterprise.

Early in the pandemic, I noticed Shelli and I shared a fondness for walks and flowers. I was delighted we were able to catch up recently in-person during one of these neighborhood adventures. This kind of activity hits the sweet spot in my Venn diagram of climate-friendly travel, slow travel, and equitable access to outdoor recreation. As we walked and talked, Shelli took pictures of flowers.

What follows are my questions and Shelli’s responses and photos, snapshots from our conversation.

What nourishes you, lights you up, compels you, refreshes you about these walks?

I’m an extrovert, and the early days of the pandemic were really challenging for me. I started going for walks for everything, just to get out and not feel so isolated. The walks are also a good activity for health and dealing with racial health disparities. I like exploring the neighborhoods around here. Each has their own feel.

This rose was the first flower we encountered. I was wowed by the delicate colors - pale yellow petals edged with pink or lavender. “It’s a Peace Rose,” Shelli told me.

I want to breathe in this flower.

Why flowers?

I haven’t had success growing things, but I love seeing what other people grow. I’m really close with my dad, and he grows flowers. I also love color. I need it around me.

We approached a yellow honeysuckle, and I stopped to check its scent. It wasn’t the hour when the flower is especially fragrant, but it was still yummy. Shelli put her nose to a flower, too.

Congratulations on your ten-year anniversary with Rose City Chica! How did you come up with the idea for it and how did you know it was the right time to launch?

I was between jobs and went on a ton of info interviews, like twenty a week. I’d been in government and had my first experience with transportation. Through all those conversations, I met someone who became a champion and took my twice monthly calls until the community affairs position I had been waiting for opened. That’s when I began working on Outer Powell, a project that includes neighborhoods with predominantly low-income people, immigrants, people of color, and transit dependent folks.

I outgrew my community affairs position and decided I wanted to become an area manager. I had some setbacks. When they happened, I saw them as a message that there was something better coming. It took three years of trying and waiting, and now I’m an area manager in central Portland, which includes the area I’ve been working in for years. I couldn’t be happier. I just finished a big milestone with Outer Powell, and construction will start next year. It’s unusual to see a project through from inception to completion. Construction will take five years, so it’s not done yet, but, yeah, there’s such a sense of accomplishment.

Shelli stopped at a bushy evergreen about as tall as her. “Is this rosemary?” She ran her hands along the branches and sniffed. Her face lit up. “Yep.”

With Rose City Chica, I mostly coach women, people of color and GLBTQ community members. At first it started as a pay-it-forward kind of thing because so many people had been so helpful to me. I loved it, and then I got really busy coaching. That’s when I knew it was time to formalize the business. Career coaching has a rhythm to it. When I’m busy at ODOT, I have less coaching and vice versa.

This deep pink dahlia was about the diameter of a dessert plate. Raspberry cream anyone?

What do you experience as barriers to outdoor recreation?

Time. And schedule. When can I actually go?

We walked along a quiet neighborhood street without sidewalks. A tree with green fruit caught my attention. Quince? No, the fruit wasn’t the right shape or texture. “Hey, Shelli, I think this is a persimmon tree.” The fruit was silky smooth and squashy, similar in size and shape to donut peaches. Fuyu.

What do you see as other barriers to outdoor recreation?

Transit access. If you don’t drive, how do you get there? Personal safety is an issue, too. And sidewalks. Take this neighborhood as an example. Infrastructure can really help or hinder access. On outer Powell, we’re building sidewalks, cycle tracks, adding crossing beacons and other treatments most of us take for granted that make it easy to get around. There are great parks like Powell Butte, which is a nature park, and Ed Benedict Park where there’s a skate park.

Even the stem side of dahlia blossoms are worth a photo. Doesn’t it look like the bloom’s center is green?

You mentioned you enjoy kayaking. Do you have your own kayak?

No. I have friends who have an extra kayak, so sometimes I borrow theirs. Other times I rent one. I’m actually afraid of the water. I had a near-death drowning experience when I was eight years old. It’s good to lean into the fear, right?

I love this view of fall leaves from inside the tree and the visual texture. Autumn is upon us along with evidence of Portland’s hot, dry summer.

I love this view of fall leaves from inside the tree and the visual texture. Autumn is upon us along with evidence of Portland’s hot, dry summer.

Do you have travel planned or places you’d like to visit?

Israel, Jordan and Brazil. But with Covid, travel is messed up, and I don’t have plans for international travel anytime soon. I love to go places though. I’ve been to six continents. There’s a lot of opportunity for travel without going to another country, and I’m looking forward to a trip to the South to explore the area from a Black perspective.

This peach-colored dahlia has a similar color to the sky at the end of our walk.

 The sky softened to pale orange from the setting sun as we returned to Shelli’s street. I bussed and walked back to my room at the Bluebird Guesthouse. By the time I returned, it was dark, and Shelli had posted our walk on Facebook with the five plant pictures here: “9,744 steps and 4.6 miles in this evening with gal pal Heidi Beierle! Thanks for the convo and company, Heidi!”