For Every Kid is focusing on the 2017 legislative session and will fight for dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) education programs and street improvements near schools.
This is exciting! Representative John Lively of Springfield is our first Safe Routes to School champion!! In the coming weeks we will be working with his staff to draft a Safe Routes to School bill. Our goals are to increase funding for Safe Routes to School, increase safety around schools, and prioritize students and neighbors near Title 1 schools.
Get involved and help improve our streets! Here are five things you can do:
#1 Back to school petition campaign: Help spread the word! We are a third of the way to our goals of 1,500.
In August we started gathering signatures on our new petition in support of Safe Routes to School. This petition will help unite supporters For Every Kid in Oregon. Growing the list of people who support Safe Routes to School will help engage youth and families as we take our message to Salem for the 2017 legislative session. You can help by sharing this messaging with your friends and signing the petition now!
LeeAnne, Amanda Lee, and Steph talked to 200 people at the Jade night market who signed the For Every Kid petition!
#2 Building the coalition and more summer fun: We are meeting with legislators in Eugene, Springfield, Bend, and the Portland metro area to bring some awareness around the need for Safe Routes to School. Our Coalition is preparing to reach out to school districts to help them get involved with the For Every Kid effort. We are looking to assemble an outreach team that takes the For Every Kid petition to the streets in your neighborhood, but we need you! Email leeanne@btaoregon.org if you can help.
#3 and 4, Help make Safe Routes to School for every kid in Oregon by:
- Inviting two organizations to join the For Every Kid Coalition! We learned over the last two years that our large, vocal, and diverse coalition was one of the main reasons we won funding for SRTS in the Portland Metro area. I know we can be even more “vocal” at the statewide level! Bring your partners into the fold! Let’s make Safe Routes to School for every kid in Oregon!
- Do you live in or near Newport, Salem, or Hillsboro? Mark your calendars to attend and testify at one of Governor Brown’s appointed Joint Transportation Committee hearings. See schedule of hearings below. RSVP for testimony tips and sample talking points!
- Newport: September 15, 5:00 p.m. RSVP
Ballroom, Embarcadero Hotel, 1000 SE Bay Blvd, Newport - Hillsboro: September 19, 5:00 p.m. RSVP
Shirley Huffman Auditorium, Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 E. Main Street, Hillsboro - Salem: September 22, 5:15 p.m. RSVP
Hearing Room F, Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street NE, Salem
For Every Kid is a growing coalition of community, public health, and social justice organizations that are seeking to ensure safe routes to school for every kid. Coalition Leaders include American Heart Association, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Commute Options, Oregon Walks, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Opal Environmental Justice, Community Alliance of Tenants, the Community Cycling Center, advocated from Eugene and Medford, and many more. Read more about the coalition at ourhealthystreets.org/foreverykid.