In a world where concrete grids often overshadow the spaces that truly connect us, Vicki Estrada has spent her life shaping the in-between. A landscape architect, urban planner, civic leader, and quiet revolutionary, Vicki’s work isn’t just about designing cities, it’s about nurturing the soul of a place. As President of Estrada Land Planning in San Diego, she brings vision and grace to spaces that invite connection, beauty, and belonging. But Vicki’s story is more than professional acclaim. It’s one of courage, love, and resilience. In 2005, she came out as a transgender woman, publicly, powerfully, and with a bravery that still echoes. She transitioned not only in her personal life but in her civic and professional roles, becoming a symbol of quiet dignity and unwavering authenticity in a field not always known for its inclusivity.
Today, Vicki leads with heart. She serves on eleven civic boards, most of them unrelated to LGBT causes, not because she hides who she is, but because she believes in leading by living. Her work, whether in city planning or transgender advocacy, is guided by a deep belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and included. She is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter. A woman who cherishes earrings, Nordstrom skirts, and sunny days in San Diego. A woman who has learned, through both joy and sorrow, that love is not defined by gender but by presence, trust, and devotion. It is my honor to share this conversation with Vicki, a woman whose story reminds us that the most transformative designs begin not with lines on paper, but with the courage to live authentically.
Monika: Today, it's my pleasure and honor to interview Vicki Estrada, a landscape architect, urban planner, civic visionary, and President of Estrada Land Planning, a renowned landscape architecture firm based in San Diego. Hello, Vicki!
Vicki: Hello, Monika. I’m truly honored that you chose to interview me. And thank you for everything you do for our community around the world. I’m so glad we get to talk about something deeply personal, something we’ve both experienced in our own unique ways. Our journeys to womanhood may be different, but they share a common thread.
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| An example of a large scale plan Vicki prepared. |
Monika: You’ve had such an impressive and multifaceted career, could you walk us through some of the milestones and share what led you to focus on landscape architecture?
Vicki: Well, I have owned my own design firm now for 29 years, almost half of my 61 years. I currently have 8 employees. Growing up, I wanted to be an architect but realized while in architecture school that what makes a city great is not an iconic building here or a tower there. It is what happens between buildings, how the buildings are arranged, that makes cities great. This is what landscape architects do.
There is a misunderstanding by most that because the word "landscape architect" has the word "landscape" in it, we are "fancy" gardeners. It is much more far-reaching than that. I heard a story once by a famous landscape architect that if you imagine the earth as a canvas, architects put dots on the map, engineers connect the dots, but landscape architects are the only ones who can literally paint the entire canvas. I never forgot that story and have never regretted my decision to change from being an architect to being a landscape architect. We seem to be much more open and able to think on a larger scale. In many ways, it feels like we shape not just spaces, but the very way people move, feel, and interact within their communities.
Monika: Some say that architecture isn't just about construction, but about crafting a sense of openness through carefully considered smaller spaces. From your perspective as a landscape architect, how do you view the relationship between small spaces and the larger environments they shape?
Vicki: From a landscape architect’s perspective, the spaces we create are really the sum of a series of smaller spaces, so in a way, that statement is correct. A lot of what we do is planning and urban design and does not even involve construction as such, but rather determining what the future urban form of a city or a community will look like. The product is a master plan that guides architects and planners, illustrating and recommending various design guidelines and standards. It’s about envisioning how people will live, move, and feel in these spaces, and helping create a blueprint that supports both functionality and beauty.
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| The Barrio Logan Community Vision Plan prepared by Vicki. |
Monika: You led the development of the 1989 Balboa Park Master Plan in San Diego, a process that spanned nearly a decade of public meetings, debates, and community input. What were some of the major challenges in navigating such a complex and politically charged project?
Vicki: It was long, that’s for sure. It took that long because there were so many stakeholders and community members with differing viewpoints. The final result was a combination of good design decisions and political compromises that we had no choice but to incorporate into the plan.
For example, there is a large historical bridge that traverses a canyon and freeway in the park that is the only vehicular connection between east and west in the core of the park. I wanted to close the bridge to automobiles and make it pedestrian and bicycle only, which I still believe is the right thing to do, but the major museums in the park felt that if the bridge was closed to cars, the museums would go bankrupt. So they lobbied the elected officials and got their way. Despite the compromises, I’m proud that the plan still serves as a guiding vision for preserving and enhancing one of San Diego’s most beloved public spaces.
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| The Balboa Park Master Plan. |
Monika: In your view as a landscape architect and urban planner, which American city comes closest to representing the ideal blend of livability, design, and community? What would your version of a truly ideal city look like?
Vicki: A great question. I love the excitement, Central Park, the ethnic diversity, the city form, the culture, the food, and the transit-friendliness of New York City, but every time I visit (my son and grandson live there), I come back more stressed out than before I arrived. Everyone is always in such a hurry, rush, rush.
So to me, the ideal city would need to be walkable and bikeable, with lots of trails and great natural open spaces, including plenty of parks. It should offer vibrant cultural activities like public art, museums, music, and social gatherings, along with great food and restaurants. The city should have memorable architecture, an interesting topography that’s not too flat, lots of street trees, a pleasant climate, and a logical urban form, not sprawling like Los Angeles.
That being said, the ideal city does not yet exist; however, there are several that come close. San Diego and San Francisco probably top the list. I’ve found that the most successful cities are the ones that prioritize people over cars and community over sprawl.
Monika: You transitioned while running your business. Did you face any loss of clients or professional challenges as a result?
Vicki: I transitioned in 2005. I was full-time for a year and then had my GRS in Trinidad, Colorado. I decided to appear live on our local public radio station on a one-hour news and public affairs show to tell the community about my journey and my desire to become a woman. On the way home from that interview, I decided to go to work as Vicki for the first time. That was my first day being full-time. You can still hear that interview online.
I think that being so public about it made my transition easier. In a sense, the community transitioned with me. As a result, I did not lose any clients. I did lose a few right-wing conservative religious friends (I thought they were friends anyway), but really no clients. Being open and honest created a supportive environment that helped sustain my professional relationships through that time.
Monika: In your view, what are the most pressing goals for transgender advocacy today, and how do you see meaningful change being achieved?
Vicki: I really feel that transgender issues are the civil rights issues of the day. We are where the gay movement was 20 years ago, but we are accelerating fast. Our visibility is becoming greater and greater. There are many ways to instigate change. One is to protest, pound, and demand; one is to force legislation; and one is to gradually infiltrate and lead. This is my approach.
I am on eleven boards and committees, and I chair five of them. These are not LGBT-related but civic ones like Lambda Alpha International, the Media Arts Center San Diego, the Opening the Outdoors Initiative Action Team, the Center for Civic Engagement Leadership Council, Groundwork San Diego, and San Diego Canyonlands (environmental organizations). If we can show the entire community that we can lead and make a difference in the overall quality of life of the community, then little by little, they will all realize that it does not matter that we are transgender. This quiet but persistent kind of visibility, I believe, is a powerful tool in changing hearts and minds.
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| Vicki at a Public Presentation. |
Monika: What do you believe is the most effective way to combat the hate and ignorance that still exist toward the transgender community?
Vicki: The hate and ignorance will eventually be eliminated. I am fully convinced of this. So to summarize, I feel the current issues are simply to be treated like everyone else. Of course, within this goal are bathroom rights, employment rights, family rights, and many others. But the overarching goal is equality. I was asked to write and sing a song at last year’s San Diego Transgender Day of Remembrance. Empowering ourselves was the overarching theme. You can see it performed here. Moments like these remind me that visibility, courage, and community are some of our strongest tools in breaking down fear and prejudice.
Monika: In your view, how well does mainstream media portray transgender lives through films, books, and documentaries? Are we moving in the right direction, or are harmful stereotypes still taking center stage?
Vicki: Well, being featured in the first episode of Sex Change Hospital, I have some firsthand experience with this. As far as documentaries go, there are some good ones, and I honestly feel that the Sex Change Hospital six-episode series was well done and presented an honest impression of what we go through. I still hate the name of the series though, as it was not about the hospital, but about the people.
However, too many documentaries just try to sensationalize our stories for ratings and impact. As for movies, I, like others, am getting tired of the same old stereotypical trans characters, unemployed, depressed, drug addicts, and prostitutes. There are many of us who have good jobs, contribute to the community at large, are not druggies or prostitutes, and have loving families. We need stories that reflect the full spectrum of who we are, not just the extremes that generate drama.
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Vicki with her wife and mother at a banquet
to receive an award for “Inspiring Latina”. |
Monika: The transgender community is often grouped under the broader LGBTQ+ umbrella. Given that "T" tends to be the smallest and sometimes least understood part of that acronym, do you feel trans people are truly being heard and supported within the wider LGBT movement?
Vicki: It is definitely a small “T.” There are exceptions, of course, but I find way too many in the LGB community who do not understand or fight for our cause, our equality. There have been times when I feel that we would be better off separating, in a sense, from the LGB community. There are some directors of LGBT centers who do not really fight for us. As before, there are exceptions, but this kind of naivety should never happen.
But I do not think that separating is practical or even productive. I think we need the gay community to assist in our cause. There are just not that many of us, we need more critical mass to go it alone. So how can we fight for our cause in the overall community if we cannot even garner the full support of the LGB community? I do not think we have done that well. We need to take some leadership roles in local LGBT centers and fight for all of our causes, to fight for all social injustice. That kind of inclusive leadership could help shift the focus toward shared equity and mutual respect.
Monika: In the 1960s and 70s, Harvey Milk became a symbol of courage and progress in the gay rights movement. Do you see anyone in the transgender community today who holds a similar influence or legacy?
Vicki: Several people come to mind: Jamison Green, Mara Keisling, Masen Davis, Kate Bornstein, and Jennifer Boylan, each fighting for our equality in their own unique way. They’ve all contributed significantly to raising visibility, advancing policy change, and creating space for trans voices in the national conversation.
Monika: When you were transitioning, did you have any transgender role models who inspired or guided you through that journey?
Vicki: Absolutely. Dr. Marci Bowers, Jennifer Boylan, and Amanda Simpson. They are all professionals with successful transitions. They were really an inspiration for me. Seeing their strength and authenticity gave me hope that I could build a fulfilling life as my true self.
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| Vicki and her wife, Lynda. |
Monika: Coming out can be a deeply personal and emotional journey, especially when it affects the people closest to us. Looking back, what was the most difficult part of that experience for you?
Vicki: My mother suffered so much when I came out, especially doing it so publicly. She cried daily until she died last year. She was convinced that I was going to go back to being Steve. Being very Catholic, she prayed constantly that I would see the evil in what I was doing. She eventually tolerated me but never accepted me as Vicki. I loved her very much, and causing her that much pain is something I wish I did not have to do. It’s a pain I still carry with me, even as I continue to live my truth.
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Vicki Estrada.
© 2014 - Monika Kowalska
