Alejo is a passionate advocate for racial justice in the built and social environment. Having begun their career as a tenants’ rights organizer, they bring an anti-displacement framework to all that they do. Alejo’s planning and research practice is rooted in a critical geographic perspective, examining the intersections of place, identity, and power. They’ve assisted in groundbreaking studies for UC Berkeley’s SafeTREC and Center for Community Innovation while independently researching the intersections of race and road safety enforcement in the City of Oakland.

Prior to joining Nelson\Nygaard, Alejo worked with Bay Area nonprofit and governmental agencies such as Just Cities and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. They continue to be passionate about road safety, active transportation planning, anti-displacement, and community-based participatory research and engagement.