First Grader + Advocacy = Results
Xander came home from school with a big question: “Mom, why don’t we have more sidewalks?!”
Earlier that day, he had participated in BikeWalkKC’s STEP pedestrian safety program at his school, TA Edison Elementary in Kansas City, Kansas. As they practiced looking both ways and listening for cars, the instructors also showed them how to be as safe as possible when walking along a street that has no sidewalks at all.
“When talking about sidewalks during our STEP program, we could tell students were concerned that there is a lack of safe places for them to walk around the school and in their neighborhoods,” says Nolan Oehrke, Director of Education at BikeWalkKC. “It was inspiring to see how they were identifying that this is a problem while on our guided walk around the school.”
Xander’s parents encouraged his curiosity. “It was a perfect opportunity to teach him about how we can work to make things better in our city. We looked up the mayor’s address online, and he took it from there!” says mom Juliana. Xander wrote a letter to Unified Government Mayor Christal Watson, tucked his school picture in the envelope, and sent it off to City Hall.
It wasn’t long before Xander saw results from his advocacy! Behind the scenes, Mayor Watson and TA Edison’s Principal Cop organized a field trip for the first graders and their families to come and watch a sidewalk being poured at Northrup Park. The students were excited to see the heavy equipment, of course, but they were also excited to talk with city officials and public works employees. “The Mayor, UG city staff, and employees with R&R Concrete all made it a point to praise Xander and other T.A. Edison students for speaking up and advocating for what they want to see in their community,” said Nolan Oehrke.
After the sidewalk field trip, Principal Cop called on Xander during a school assembly to talk about his experience and encourage other students to use their voices to make change. “It’s been a very cool experience,” says Juliana, “Even though Xander has been a bit shy about it all, I can really tell how proud he is.”
So what’s next? Juliana says that Xander’s letter has even inspired the grown ups. According to her, the field trip “was a launching point for us to meet officials, chat with them, and get our foot in the door for hopefully further recognition.” In fact, with support from BikeWalkK on how to navigate government funding, meeting schedules, and community involvement, neighbors are already organizing to attend a public works meeting to ask for sidewalks in the neighborhood surrounding TA Edison Elementary. They have even drafted a proposal with ideas for grant funding!
“It’s so beautiful and inspiring to see so many people coming together for the betterment of our neighborhoods!” says Juliana. “Sidewalks really are the great connector of communities.”
BikeWalkKC’s STEP program, as well as advocacy support and additional activities at TA Edison Elementary, are part of a year-long pilot program exploring the needs of the community and the potential impact of intensive Safe Routes to School engagement with students, parents, school personnel, and community stakeholders. This pilot program is made possible by a grant from John W. & Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.