Background and Expertise
Aisha is a land use planner and urbanist with a deep commitment to creating equitable, sustainable, and vibrant communities. Based in Toronto, Aisha also channels her creative energy into photography, focusing on both street and portrait photography. Her work, which includes projects like “Bathroom Break” and “By the Sea,” captures the essence of everyday life and the transformations within her surroundings.
Motivation and Inspiration
Aisha draws her motivation from the clarity of her vision and its impact on the communities she serves. She believes that a well-defined vision and a focus on the people it benefits enhance both personal drive and project effectiveness. This alignment makes her work more meaningful and impactful.
Her motivation is also fueled by the integration of her passions—urban planning and photography. By blending these interests, Aisha captures and conveys the essence of the communities she works with, merging creative and practical aspects into her projects. This dual focus helps her stay dedicated and inspired.
Aisha finds fulfillment in projects that address pressing needs and offer tangible benefits to communities. Seeing the direct impact of her efforts reinforces her commitment and drives her to continue striving for positive change. Reflecting on her journey, she stays connected to the core values that inspired her entry into urban planning, using them to guide her work and enhance its impact.
Embracing Your Unique Path
Aisha offers valuable advice for those entering the field of urban planning. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and harnessing the power of one’s unique background and experiences. Each person’s story and perspective are assets that can greatly enrich their professional journey.
Aisha encourages newcomers to make their unique experiences a strength and to explore diverse opportunities within the field. She underscores that you don’t have to fit into traditional roles or paths; instead, you can create a career that aligns with your interests and passions. Building connections through lateral networking and reaching out to individuals who share similar experiences can open doors and provide invaluable support.
Reflecting on the Past
Looking back, Aisha wishes she had started networking earlier and balanced her academic focus with creating connections. While she valued her studies, she recognizes the benefits of early engagement with the field and learning from others. Additionally, she reflects on her research paper and acknowledges that pursuing topics she was more passionate about, such as housing and equality, would have been more fulfilling.
Highlighting Milestones
A notable project Aisha enjoyed working on involved developing a five-storey student-focused housing project in Kensington Market, where she had to navigate the community’s sensitivities and worked to ensure mindful planning. Aisha also takes pride in a twenty-storey building project in North York designed specifically for people with developmental disabilities. These projects exemplify her commitment to impactful, meaningful work and reflect her dedication to addressing the real needs of communities.
