Sessions you can't miss at the National Walking Summit

walking-summit1 It's here! The National Walking Summit kicks off tomorrow with an impressive agenda highlighting innovative ideas to increase the number and safety of pedestrians in communities nationwide.

Alliance staff will be there, eagerly learning from an incredible line-up of keynote speakers, including the father of environmental justice, Dr. Robert Bullard, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, and closing keynote Mr. Ron Sims, a civic volunteer active in health, education, environmental and social equity issues.

I'll be moderating and presenting in several break-out sessions — and I'll be joined by more than a few Alliance member organizations, from Oregon Walks to Walk Boston. With such a jam-packed schedule, here's our list of presentations you can't miss.

If you're not in DC for the event, don't worry! Follow all of the action on social media via #WalkingSummit.

Wednesday October 28

Opening Reception and Poster Session (5pm – 7pm)

Enjoy a reception and networking opportunity while exploring posters from the following participants:

Noel Mickelberry, Executive Director, Oregon Walks: Overcoming barriers to walking to school: A family-based approach to getting around on foot
Stacey Beuttell, Program Director, WalkBoston: Walk to school? But how do I get to the front door? Walkable campus design principles for K-12 Schools
Jaime Fearer, Planning & Policy Manager, California Walks: Catalyzing Partnerships for Safe & Walkable Communities: Lessons Learned from the Community Pedestrian Safety Training Program

Thursday, October 29

Vision Zero: What is It and Why Does It Matter? (10:15 – 11:45am)

Everyone is talking about Vision Zero. But what is it, really? And how does it fit into our work to make communities great places for walking? Join us to learn more about the basics and how some are using Vision Zero as a powerful, new tool for change in their communities.

Moderator: Christy Kwan, Programs & Outreach Director, Alliance for Biking & Walking

Panelists:

Leah Shahum, Founder/Director, Vision Zero Network
Nicole Ferrara, Executive Director, Walk San Francisco
Noel Mickelberry, Executive Director, Oregon Walks
Caroline Samponaro, Deputy Director, Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets

Walking and the Environmental Movement – Joined at the Hip? (2:15 – 3:45pm)

The environmental movement in America has many shared objectives with walking and walkability advocates. Mode shift away from cars reduces air emissions, and reducing suburban sprawl means both compact communities that are scaled for walkability and less pressure to develop natural landscapes. To build greater collaboration between the environmental and walkability movements, environmental experts working at the intersection of transportation and urban sustainability will engage with conference participants to discuss how our movements can work together.

Moderator: Wendy Landman, Executive Director, WalkBoston

Panelists:

John Olivieri, 21st Century Transportation, National Campaign Director, United States Public Interest Research Group
Kevin Mills, Senior Vice President of Policy and Trail Development, Rails to Trails Conservancy
Deron Lovaas, Director, Federal Transportation Policy, Energy & Transportation Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

Data & Partnerships: Crucial Building Blocks Toward Walkability (2:15 – 3:45pm)

Solid data and strong partnerships are becoming increasingly important in our work to ensure great places for walking. What have communities done to gather and make the most of data? And how do (sometimes unlikely) partnerships further the cause? Join us with your ideas and questions.

Moderator: Michelle Teng, MPH, Project Manager Lead, Kaiser Permanente

Panelists:

Elizabeth Thompson, Principal Planner, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
Eric McAndrew, President and Creative Director, McAndrew Company
Stacey Beuttell, Program Director, WalkBoston
Krystian Boreyko, Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security-Highway Safety Division

Show Me the Money: Finding the Funding for Pedestrian Improvements (2:15 – 3:45pm)

Highlights creative funding strategies at the state and local levels to find or leverage funding, including how to make your case employing social media and funding techniques.

Moderator: Molly O’Reilly, Board Member, America Walks

Panelists:

Wendy Alfsen, Executive Director, California Walks
Ellen Zavisca, Transportation Planner, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization
Jill Locantore, Policy and Program Director, Walk Denver

Using Innovative Technology Tools to Advocate for Improved Walkway Infrastructure (2:15 – 3:45pm)

Featuring two new and unique GIS tools to assess walkability and the walkway network, promote utilitarian and leisure walking, and support local advocacy efforts.

Moderator: Ellen Vanderslice, M. Arch., Volunteer, Oregon Walks

Presenters:

J. Scott Parker, M. Eng., Volunteer, Oregon Walks 
Chad V. Tucker, B.A., Volunteer, Oregon Walks
Bernardita Calinao, PhD, CEO, WALKspan

PlayStreets: Repurposing Streets for Play (2:15 – 3:45pm)

PlayStreets is an initiative that reclaims and redefines public space by temporarily closing streets to auto traffic and creating ‘pop-up play spaces’ for youth and adults. In the same way that Open Streets events advance the walking environment, PlayStreets changes the conversation around what streets should be used for, and who they should primarily serve. By literally letting kids ‘play in the street’, this initiative helps shift the paradigm that defines streets as car-only spaces that are hostile to pedestrians, and allows residents to experience them as valuable public places that can enhance rather than detract from community livability.

In this session, you will learn about: the history of PlayStreets; the recent renaissance of the PlayStreets movement in places including Chicago and Seattle; different models of PlayStreets programs; and lessons learned from practitioners. This session will also include interactive demonstrations of group play activities that are appropriate for a ‘street’ setting.

Moderator: Surili Patel, Senior Program Manager, Environmental Health, Center for Public Health Policy , American Public Health Association

Panelists

Melody Geraci, Deputy Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance
Seth Geiser, Public Space Specialist, Street Use, City of Seattle Department of Transportation
Bryan McCormick, New England Account Manager, Playworks

Walkability Success-o-meter: How to Lead, Measure and Fund Community Change (2:15pm – 5:15pm)

In this interactive workshop, you will learn and practice how to convene and leverage relationships to gather and unite collaborative partners around a shared vision and shared measures for action and change, including improved health outcomes. Learn about innovative funding strategies and evaluation metrics to keep these projects going. This session will feature case studies including Eat. Play. Live… Better, NJ; LiveWell Colorado Springs; and from advocacy organizations within the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

Moderator: Christy Kwan, Programs & Outreach Director with the Alliance for Biking & Walking and Advocacy Advance

Panelists:

Aubrey Day, Strategy Coordinator, LiveWell Colorado Springs
Erin Bunger, Senior Research Associate, Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services (CREEHS), Montclair State University

Creating Age-Friendly Cities: Empowering and Involving Older Adults (4:00 – 5:30pm)

The session will describe, discuss and brainstorm tested, effective and fun ways to engage seniors in advocating for walking improvements. We will then look at the actions of senior residents in two communities and how they are improving the walkability of their neighborhoods. Leave with tools to recruit and engage seniors into the walking movement.

Moderator: Jeanne Anthony, Sr. Project Manager, Education & Outreach, AARP Livable Communities

Panelists:

Ivory Craig, Associate State Director, AARP Mississippi
Andrea Bozarth, Associate State Director, AARP Kansas
Wendy Landman, Executive Director, WalkBoston

Turning Grief into Action: Powerful Advocates for Vision Zero (4:00 – 5:30pm)

Far too many people experience the loss and trauma of traffic violence in our country. Some inspiring members of our community are turning that grief into action through on-the ground advocacy for safe streets. Learn the inspiring stories of their increasingly powerful and successful efforts.

Moderator: Mark Plotz, Program Director, National Center for Bicycling & Walking

Panelists:

Judith Kottick, Founding member, Families for Safe Streets, NYC
Amy Cohen, Founding members of Families for Safe Streets, NYC
Cathy Tuttle, Executive Director, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways

Fundraising on the Move: Crowdfunding for Cash and Community Engagement (4:00 – 5:30pm)

Crowdfunding is expected to raise over $10 billion in 2015, and is getting a lot of buzz these days. Join ioby to hear how this versatile fundraising tool can help walking advocates increase their funding and grow community engagement. ioby is a national, nonprofit crowdfunding platform designed to support community-led, neighbor-funded projects. Their vision of ‘crowd-resourcing’ makes it relevant to a wide variety of walking advocates from the sectors of public health, community development, philanthropy and more. Through real-life case studies of successfully-funded projects, this session will give attendees a firm understanding of when and how to use crowdfunding effectively.

Presented by Ethany Uttech, Partnerships Manager, ioby (in our back yards)

Engaging Diverse Communities Through Advocacy (4:00 – 5:30pm)

Walkable communities benefit all ages, ethnicities and abilities. Learn about three innovative programs that successfully engaged diverse communities to advocate for walking.

Moderator: Robert Ping, Technical Assistance Program Manager, Walkable and Livable Communities Institute

Panelists:

Wendy Alfsen, Executive Director, California Walks
Joan Cook, Special Projects Manager, Health by Design
Gosia Kung, Founder and Executive Director, WalkDenver
Zelia Gonzales, Youth Leader, California Walks
MariaJose Diaz Ayon, Youth Leader, California Walks

Evening Program: An Evening of Stories (7:30pm – 9pm)

Join us and emcee Misty Tripoli, Creator of the GROOVE Method and Founder of the World GROOVE Movement, at the Cities Lounge for an evening program of stories for leaders from the field. Get inspired, motivated, and energized from engaging and lively advocates who have challenged their communities and succeeded in increasing walking and making America a great place to walk. Learn more about Misty Tripoli on our Keynote Speakers page.

This storytelling event will give you a variety of perspectives on strategies to increase walking in your community. Whether increasing your health, making your community a more inviting place to walk, or even looking at the benefits your community will get with more people walking, the stories are sure to leave you inspired to create change in your own community.

Friday, October 30

The Transformational Power of Safe Routes for Seniors (9:00 – 10:30am)

AARP experts will discuss transportation and mobility issues for aging adults and how to use the new AARP Livability Index. Then take a deeper dive into three California communities that are working on Safe Routes to Seniors programs, effectively making walking conditions safer for older adults through these campaigns.

Moderator and Panelist: Jana Lynott, AICP, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, AARP Public Policy Institute

Panelists:

Jaime Fearer, AICP, Planning & Policy Manager, California Walks
Jim Stone, Executive Director, Circulate San Diego
Erisy Watt, Project Director, COAST

Is Vision Zero Right for My Community? A Hands on Session to Assess (9:00 – 10:30am)

Sure, Vision Zero sounds good…but is it the right strategy for my community? Is the timing right? Who should lead the efforts? Join us for a hands-on session to work through these questions and more. Active participation is a must. And we promise to make it worth your while!

Moderator: Leah Shahum, Director, Vision Zero Network

Round Table Facilitators:

Robert Ping, Technical Assistance Program Manager, Walkable and Livable Communities Institute
Kari Schlosshauer, Pacific Northwest Regional Policy Manager, Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Melody Geraci, Deputy Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago

Site Visits, Walking Tours and Safety Audits (9:00 – 10:30am)

Start with an interactive discussion about easy, fun and effective strategies for raising awareness of challenges facing people who walk and ways they can improve them. We’ll also talk about road safety audits and walking tours. Both can be great ways to develop partnerships, document needs and inspire government agencies to make commitments. After that, we’ll take a walking tour that enables participants to experience challenges that most people would miss if they were viewing conditions via google maps or windshield surveys. While walking, we’ll identify problems, recommend solutions, and talk about next steps and challenges to moving from recommendations into reality.

This session has a Walk & Talk component, please dress for outdoor activity.

Led by Sally Flocks, President and CEO, PEDS, and George Branyan, Pedestrian Coordinator, DC Department of Transportation (DDOT)