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Photovoice is a process by which people can identify, represent, and enhance their
community by capturing visual images. It in trusts cameras to the hands of people
to enable them to act as recorders and potential catalyst for social action and
change in their own communities.
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And in 2011 we started coordinating a Safe Routes to School of Central Alabama
program, specifically the Walking School Bus. So in the school year 2011-2012, we
had over 200 students register, total miles walked were around 500. Just in the fall of
2012 when the program has continued students walked over 690 miles.
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Complete Streets insures that streets are safe, accessible, and convenient for all
users of the roadway. Including pedestrians, bicyclist, users of public
transit, motorist, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
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What we’ve been working on is Complete Streets. Basically trying to get people to
look at streets a different way. Trying to get them to view it as a public space, as
kind of a resource for the community. Get people out. Get them walking, biking, and
things like that. And it’s been really amazing how many elected officials and
how many people in the community have kind of just embraced this idea. It’s
something that’s going back to the Forties. Kind of what our communities
use to be built on was the ability to walk wherever you wanted to go. So that’s
been really encouraging to see elected officials kind of get on board with that.
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Happy to see so many great programs funded by the Community Foundation.
Among them is the great work at Avondale Park. Which has reopened in
the last year or so to great acclaim from the neighborhood. And I’m equally
fortunate that I live in the neighborhood around Avondale Park and so I’m able to
walk there and enjoy doing that on my own, but also to push a stroller with one
of my grandchildren in it.
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The Tiger Grant, which we just received this last year, was the big success. I think
that’s going to provide the needed jumpstart for the Red Rock Ridge and
Valley Trail System which will, I think have a transformative effect on Jefferson
County. And I think once we get the first part of this trail system in with the
Complete Streets, the trails, the bike lanes, I think the community will see the
impact it’s going to have. And once you’ve put a trail in people will use it,
once you’ve put sidewalks in people will use it. We have a number of really
wonderful programs in this community which will benefit by these sidewalks,
trails, the Walking School Bus for example. I think once you have
communities being able to connect with each other and connect within the
community you’ll start getting ideas for farmer’s markets, playgrounds, you’ll get
more of a sense of community.
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