CicLAvia, the most successful open streets organization in North America, is moving into its next phase as co-founder and Executive Director Aaron Paley has announced plans to focus on the event production aspect of CicLAvia. The CicLAvia board of directors has launched a search for a new Executive Director who will work with Paley in his new role as Executive Producer and the rest of the CicLAvia team as the organization continues with its strategic plan towards expanded growth and organizational sustainability.
Applicants may apply online by clicking the button at the end of this announcement.
Since its first event on October 10, 2010, CicLAvia has quickly become the largest and best-attended open streets event in the United States, with tens of thousands of people enjoying each of the dozen CicLAvia events to date. As car-centric streets are transformed into temporary public space, participants are able to experience the city by biking, walking, skating and using other forms of non-motorized transportation. Propelled by a strong founding partnership with the City of Los Angeles and subsequently with Metro, CicLAvia has galvanized the conversation about the kind of city Los Angeles can become with greater car-free options. CicLAvia’s success is now a model for other open streets events around the world.
“CicLAvia is ready to move on to the next phase. I’ve always said that I wanted to take CicLAvia from blast-off into orbit, and I think we’ve made it. Now, it’s time for me as one of the founders to step aside as the Executive Director and allow the organization to achieve its next level of success,” said Paley. “I’m excited that I will continue to work with CicLAvia and thrilled that CARS will continue innovating for the future of Los Angeles, as we did by helping give birth and form to CicLAvia.”
“Everyone who came together to bring this idea of CicLAvia to Los Angeles was grateful that we had one of the best urban event planners in the country among us,” said Stephen Villavaso, CicLAvia Board Chair and co-founder. “Aaron and Community Arts Resources are incredible partners who saw the vision that the coalition had for CicLAvia and have been able to convert that vision into the success it is today. We are thankful that Aaron has created such a strong foundation for future CicLAvia leaders to build upon.”
CicLAvia has been cited by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation as a catalyst for changing how Angelenos view their city streets, and for inspiring policy and infrastructure decisions at the government level. The organization has helped to inspire the city’s budding Great Streets movement, while introducing new audiences to the ease of public and active transportation, as well as the impressive cultural and civic assets that exist among the many neighborhoods of Los Angeles County.
The new Executive Director is expected to take the helm by the October 2015 CicLAvia - Heart of LA. The transition is not expected to affect CicLAvia planning for the remaining three 2015 CicLAvia routes and 2016 events.
