In Fall 2024, BikeWalkKC will offer its first Community Transportation Academy open to metro residents of Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte counties. Anyone interested must submit an application. We are limiting the class size to 15 people. If there are more applicants than spaces available, we will select applicants to ensure a diverse mix of backgrounds and geographic representation.
Over the course of ten weeks, participants will:
- Learn how the bi-state Greater KC transportation system is planned, designed, funded, and built (and who is responsible for what!)
- Understand how transportation insecurity impacts access to jobs, training, health care, groceries, and other essential services
- Gain a deeper awareness about how transportation relates to equity, health, housing, climate protection, and more
- Explore the impact of systemic racism and historic redlining on today’s built environment and how they impact residents’ ability to move around the region
- Learn how “regular” folks can advocate for changes and improvements in your community
- Have “homework” assigned between each meeting, for example a piece of writing to read or a video to watch. (Don’t worry, it won’t be too much!)
View the academy schedule and topics for more detailed information.
Location: We anticipate a mix of in-person meetings at a central regional location and virtual meetings over Zoom. Each session will be either in-person, or Zoom only; sessions will not be hybrid.
Schedule: The academy will take place every Tuesday evening 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm from August 20 through October 29 (NOTE: No class will be held on September 17). Light refreshments will be provided.
Stipends: We are not able to provide onsite childcare services, but we are able to offer stipends to help participants with things like babysitters/childcare, transportation, internet access, and other possible expenses that may cause a burden for someone to attend. The amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please note if you need a stipend to attend the academy.
Language: As a pilot program, this first academy will be delivered in English. If successful, we will plan to provide other language options for future academies.
Feedback: We will ask participants for honest and thoughtful feedback on their experience in the academy. Help us make future academies better and more useful!
Applications are now closed. We will be contacting selected applicants during the week of July 22nd.