Last week, we were excited to support and amplify the release of the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Walking & Walkable Communities. And we certainly weren't alone: From USA Today to Johnson & Johnson, from Kaiser Permanente to the International Council of Shopping Centers, a diversity of partners is mobillizing to "make walking a national priority."
During the live webcast, the Surgeon General himself lifted up the role of local advocacy organizations, emphasizing the need to initiate change at the community level with the input and buy-in of a full spectrum of stakeholders — especially those in areas that bear the disproportionate impact of public disinvestment and health disparities.
How can your organization play a positive role in advancing the Call to Action? Here are 6 ways to #StepItUp in your community.
Tomorrow: Learn what the Call to Action can mean for YOUR organization
Join America Walks for a free webinar tomorrow, September 15, at 1 p.m. Eastern to get an exclusive briefing from the Lead Scientific Writer on the Call to Action. Learn how to use the Call to Action in your own community and hear how two leading organizations plan to take advantage of this exciting document. Sign up here.
Tomorrow: Get the latest from Capitol Hill
As the Surgeon General and U.S. Department of Transportation noted during the CTA release last week, discussion about the next federal transportation bill is heating up in Congress, with implications for biking and walking. Join Caron Whitaker, Vice President of Government Relations for the League of American Bicyclists, tomorrow, September 15, at 1 p.m. Eastern for a briefing on the latest developments from Capitol Hill. Register here.
Wednesday: Enhance and expand your Vision Zero work
The Vision Zero movement is rapidly gaining momentum across the United States, with a growing list of cities committing to a time-bound goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities. With many action plans focused on areas like engineering and enforcement, how can biking and walking advocates work with city and state leaders to ensure that — as the Surgeon General emphasized — the voices of all stakeholders are heard so we can co-create infrastructure improvements and policing strategies that work for everyone? Learn more and register!
Apply for an America Walks Micro-Grant
America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative have announced a new micro grant program designed to assist local walking advocates build on the momentum of the newly released Surgeon General’s Call to Action. This one time award will fund 10-15 community groups up to $2,500 for activities designed to increase local walking programming and stimulate community demand for infrastructure improvements that provide accessible, safe walkable places for the entire community. Grant applications are due by 5:00pm EDT on October 15, 2015. Read more here.
Apply for funding from Advocacy Advance
Rapid Response Grants help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Are you working on a campaign to increase walking in your community? Review the Advocacy Advance grant guidelines here — grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we'll respond to your request within two weeks. Learn more and apply here.
Attend the National Walking Summit
The National Walking Summit — coming up October 28-30 in Washington, D.C. — is the premier opportunity for national organizations, companies, agencies, and local partners to convene to share best practices and stories, increase the visibility of these key issues, build support among federal agencies, and create momentum for the work ahead. This year, the Surgeon General will be among the keynote speakers, along with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Fox and noted equity leader Dr. Robert Bullard. Learn more and sign up here.
