Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #146: April 2018
Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes Partnership. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Join us!
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Safe Routes to School April Enews:
- Join our #MoveEquity tweetchat during International Street Harassment Week
- Take action to address street harrassment on the walk to school—free webinar!
- "It's Time for Safe Routes to School Programs to Start Saying #MeToo"
- "Congress Rejects Big Budget Cuts"
- Ten communities are taking action as part of Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities
- NEW resources to help you start or grow your Safe Routes to School volunteer program
- NEW Bike Train Toolkit—get rolling!
- "California Governor Fails to Add Environmental Justice Expertise to State Commissions"
- Join us for the second annual PlacesForBikes conference
- Let's welcome new staff members
- Correction
Looking for support and guidance on taking action against street harassment and protecting our kids during the trip to and from school?
During April's International Anti-Street Harassment Week's (April 8-14)tweetchat, use the #MoveEquity hashtag to connect with people and organizations doing great work, share your ideas and experiences, and learn about how communities are taking action.
April Webinar: Street Harassment on the Walk to School
For too many students, suggestive comments—along with unwanted touches, demands for smiles from strangers, and other forms of harassment—are regular experiences on the way to school.
Join the Safe Routes Partnership on April 11, 11 a.m. PT | 2 p.m. ET for a webinar and strategy session about how to curb street harassment and make school environments and the walk to school safe for everyone.
Speakers:
- Emily May, Co-founderandExecutiveDirector, Hollaback!
- SydneeCorriders, LMSW, Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP) Coordinator, Steps to End Family Violence
- Sara Zimmerman, Policy and Program Director, Safe Routes Partnership
Register to join the discussion and read the 2017 report, "Wolf Whistles and Creepy Compliments" to learn more about how safe routes to school programs can take action to protect kids from street harassment.
New Blog Post: It's Time for Safe Routes to School Programs to Start Saying #MeToo
We know that street harassment creates shame about maturing, discourages girls from healthy ways of getting around their communities, can affect academic performance, and can escalate into physical attacks. If Safe Routes to School work is intended to create strong and healthy kids who are ready to help build healthy communities, then all of our programs need to take on street harassment.
New Blog Post: Congress Rejects Big Budget Cuts
Congress has finally set FY18spendinglevelsanditincludesgreatnewsforseveraltransportation and healthy communities initiatives that had been slated for major cuts. Read more in this month's federal policy blog.
Ten Communities are Taking Action as Part of Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities
Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities, a program of the Safe Routes Partnership funded by The JPB Foundation, has selected 10 diverse organizations to join a technical assistance program focused on improving safe and equitable local park access and health for people of all ages, races, abilities, and income levels.
As part of the program,eachcommunitywillreceivetrainingandcoachingoveroneyearwhiledevelopinganactionplanforchange. Learn more about Safe Routes to Parks.
New Resources: Start or Grow Your Safe Routes to School Volunteer Program
We Rely on Safe Routes to School Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers highlights strategies for recruiting volunteers and discusses some of the common challenges programs face. Volunteers are the lifeblood of most Safe Routes to School programs.Usethisguidance to help you find volunteers, train them, and keep them coming back!
We Rely on Safe Routes to School Volunteers: Volunteer Appreciation shares ideas and templates for showing your hard-working volunteers how much they mean to your program. Given hectic schedules and competing demands, retaining volunteers can be challenging. Explore ways to ensure that your volunteers stick around!
How to be a Parent Champion for Safe Routes to School describes how parents and families can get involved in Safe Routes to School, though data collection, advocating for school and neighborhood improvements, supporting policy change, and starting programs to enable and encourage more walking and bicycling.
Do you have questions or need support for developing your Safe Routes to School program?
Visit our free office hours, Thursday 12-1pm PST, call us at (619) 729-7318, or email Hannah Williams, our program services manager.
New Toolkit: How to Get a Bike Train Rolling at Your School
Our toolkit, "The Wheels on the Bike Go Round & Round" offers guidance on how to plan and organize a bike train. Learn how to put together and run a bike train program at your school, including initial planning considerations, logistics, promotion, training, and evaluation. The toolkit shares tried-and-true methods, resources, and templates to get you off to a quick start. Whether you are familiar with Safe Routes to School or it is brand new to you, this guide will get you on your way, pedaling toward a successful bike train program.
Regional Update: California Governor Fails to Add Environmental Justice Expertise to State Commission
Our California team has been working with partners across the state to push for more diverse representation on the California Transportation Commission (CTC), culminating in passage of AB179, which requires the Governor to consider experience working in disadvantaged communities when selecting commissioners. Unfortunately, Governor Brown failed the first test under AB179, ignoring the calls of advocates to add equity expertise; instead he reappointed existing members for an additional term.
Conference: Join Us for the Second Annual PlacesForBikes
PeopleForBikes is heading to Indianapolis from May 1-3 for an event that will bring together hundreds of leaders and thinkers to focus on the challenges and opportunities of building better bicycle infrastructure—fast. Learn more and register today or contact or email Morgan Lommele, e-bikes campaigns manager.
In March, We Welcomed New Staff Members
Please join us in welcoming Kori Johnson, D.C., our new community engagement manager and, Danielle Sherman, our new healthy places and parks manager. Learn more about our staff members' roles and history.
Correction: Our March story, “Advocates for High Schools and SRTS in School Design” mistakenly identified Boston as the location of the program. The program is actually based in Newton, MA. Read all about the program's successes.