It’s week 9 of the 2017 legislative session, which kicked off February 1st and will end in early July. Following is our monthly update from the For Every Kid Coalition and the statewide campaign:
1. Ask your legislator to support HB 3230.
2. Stories from recent Safe Routes to School Town Hall meetings.
3. Preparing for a hearing: your next opportunity to turn out for Safe Routes to School.
4. Meet Darla Robbins, a fellow For Every Kid Coalition member.
1. HB 3230, our Safe Routes to School bill, needs sponsors. How can you help? It’s easy to connect with your representatives. Please email or call your elected officials; share with them your personal story about why you support funding for Safe Routes to School. Be sure to include: “Because of my story—along with thousands of other stories from For Every Kid supporters—we urge you to sponsor HB 3230. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership reports that when streets are made safe around schools, 25% more students will walk and bike to school, but when those projects are combined with education programs, 40% more kids will walk and bike to school. Education programs—in addition to street safety improvements around schools—are a great return on investment. Please sponsor HB 3230.” More about the bill here.
2. Stories from Safe R
outes to School Town Hall meetings. Over the past few months, more than 225 people have turned out to share their stories about Safe Routes to School. Thanks to everyone who came out! We are excited to share what we heard at these town hall meetings (like Darla’s story in this letter), when we meet with our legislators over the next few weeks, as they work on drafting the next transportation package. Want to help by taking a meeting in Salem with an elected leader? Let us know!
3. Preparing for a hearing: what you need to know. We are hoping HB 3230 gets a hearing in the next couple weeks. As soon as we know more, we’ll let you know! Our For Every Kid outreach team will:
- Notify all coalition partners via email, sharing action alert language and social media posts.
- All of the For Every Kid Coalition and supporters (that’s YOU!) will forward the action alert and start collecting RSVP’s for those who can be there to testify.
- Make 500 phone calls to help turn people out to the hearing.
- Host a call-in testimony workshop for anyone who RSVP’d and those who want to learn how to craft effective testimony.
- At the hearing: get 25 OR MORE people to show up for Safe Routes to School and HB 3230, ready to testify!
4. Meet other Safe Routes to School supporters: Darla Robbins is a Springfield resident, a mom, and a member of the Page Elementary PTA. She leads a walking school bus in her community as part of the Springfield Safe Routes to School program, helping kids walk to school safely. Recently, Darla wrote a letter to Senator Beyer, asking him to support Safe Routes to School programs like hers. Thank you, Darla, for being a local and statewide Safe Routes to School For Every Kid advocate!
For Every Kid is a growing coalition of community, public health, and social justice organizations who are seeking to ensure safe routes to school for every kid across Oregon. Coalition Leaders include American Heart Association, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, The Street Trust (formerly the Bicycle Transportation Alliance), Commute Options, Oregon Walks, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, OPAL Environmental Justice, Community Alliance of Tenants, the Community Cycling Center, advocates from Eugene and Medford, and many more. Read more about the coalition at ourhealthystreets.org/foreverykid.