Category: Announcement

WalkBoston is Hiring a New Executive Director!

WalkBoston Executive Director Job Description

What we’re looking for:
WalkBoston is looking for an Executive Director to lead the organization into an exciting next phase which will include implementing the newly developed Strategic Plan, expanding our organizational reach statewide, and continuing our advocacy and organizing efforts in support of safe pedestrian infrastructure and public policy.

Who we are and what we do:
WalkBoston, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization, makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment and more vibrant communities. We have a vision of a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks. Our small, committed staff work as a team to make change: whether it’s getting a crosswalk painted in a neighborhood or influencing Massachusetts state policy to make streets safer for all. Key to our effort is the value we place in Community, Equity, and Partnership.

As the first pedestrian advocacy organization in the country, for over 30 years WalkBoston has been an industry leader and cutting-edge advocacy organization. As an innovator in the walkability field, WalkBoston has helped pass legislation and write pedestrian design manuals; created walks, maps and wayfinding systems; led the nation’s first Safe Routes to School program; promoted healthy living campaigns; and publicized the economic value of good walking environments for business success. We’ve used tactical urbanism and social media to tell people’s stories to help make changes to street design, policies, and to drive public sentiment for projects.

What the Executive Director will do:
Our next Executive Director will lead the organization and further our mission of making walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment, and more vibrant communities. The Executive Director will be a leader who believes in WalkBoston’s mission, vision and values, and is an excellent communicator and coalition builder with a demonstrated commitment to racial equity principles. The Executive Director will be tasked with implementing our newly developed equity-centered Strategic Plan.

The Executive Director will uphold WalkBoston’s values of community, equity and partnership and work towards a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a track record in managing budgets, staff, and fundraising and/or comfort with asking for money. Professional or lived experience in the following is desired but not required; fundraising for a small non-profit, advocating or organizing among diverse populations, knowledge of transportation planning, urban planning, or public health, and board recruitment / retention.

WalkBoston is seeking a diverse (race, age, geography, background and experience) candidate pool. The Executive Director is a leader who can apply a varied set of professional and lived experiences to the betterment of WalkBoston. We encourage individuals to apply who share a passion for our vision, mission, and values and enjoy contributing ideas on how we can become stronger as an organization.

Job responsibilities:
Administration and Management
Lead 5 to 6 person staff to execute day-to-day responsibilities that further the mission and achieve the strategic plan.

Hire, supervise, and evaluate all staff while maintaining up-to-date human resources practices and protocols for the organization.

Develop annual operating budget, monitor grant and contract budgets, review monthly financial reports, oversee payroll, and manage our accountant and bookkeeper consultants.

Program Support
Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence in advocacy initiatives and grant-funded projects. Guide and support staff to ensure program goals and deliverables are met.

Monitor new program development to advance WalkBoston’s reach in Massachusetts.

Maintain relationships with state agencies, municipal staff, advocates, allied organizations, and subject matter experts to stay informed of and shape policies and project implementation.

Fundraising
Oversee implementation of annual fundraising plan with the Deputy Director of Operations.

Cultivate relationships with various organizations, foundations, corporate and individual donors, and perform other donor stewardship activities.

Negotiate fee-for-service agreements with partners dedicated to the advocacy and awareness building goals of the organization.

Board of Directors Coordination
Meet regularly with the Board of Directors (currently 10 evenings/year) to provide program, financial, and advocacy updates. Solicit feedback and input from Board members to shape WalkBoston advocacy initiatives, policies, and procedures.

Meet regularly with the Executive Committee to review monthly financials, set Board meeting agendas, and address any other organizational issues.

Support recruitment and training of new board members.

Develop and maintain relationships with Board members to best support their engagement with the organization.

Desired qualifications:
Expertise in non-profit and/or business management, including but not limited to skills in organizational structure, operations, and finance.

Strong public presentation skills to represent the organization in the media and other public forums.

Collaborative leadership style that values broad perspectives and provides an environment for people of all races, genders, abilities, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive.

Coalition builder.

Demonstrated commitment to racial equity principles.

Lives in or willing to move to Massachusetts.

Compensation:
Full-time position (37.5 hours/week)

Annual salary range: $90,000 – $110,000 based upon prior work experience

Standard benefits include holiday compensation, paid time off, health insurance, and flexible scheduling.

In-state travel is required.

Availability for occasional early morning, evening, or weekend hours is required.

Currently, WalkBoston staff is working on a hybrid model, with a flexible number of days spent in-person. We have a shared office space at the CIC in Downtown Boston which we share with several other transportation advocacy organizations.

If you are interested in the job but do not meet all the desired skills and qualifications, please do not hesitate to apply! The successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed and will undoubtedly grow into others.

WalkBoston is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, ability, age, or veteran status. We work hard to ensure diverse slates of candidates for openings at our company.

To apply email a resume and cover letter answering the question “What relevant experience, skills and assets would you bring to the role of Executive Director?” to jobs@dev.walkboston.org by December 16th.

World Day of Remembrance is this Sunday, November 20th

World Day of Remembrance is an annual international event during which we gather as a community to reflect upon those we’ve lost and commit ourselves to improving our roads.

In 2022 so far, over 2,000 lives have been lost to, or seriously injured by, a traffic crash in Massachusetts — not including the countless friends, family, and loved ones impacted as well. On November 20th, we’ll recognize each person impacted during this year’s World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic crashes. The MA Vision Zero Coalition is marking the occasion by laying down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts State House, one blossom for each person killed or seriously injured in a crash in 2022, and supporting events across the state to remember those lost in traffic deaths.

We invite you to join WalkBoston and the rest of the MA Vision Zero Coalition in recognizing World Day of Remembrance by taking individual action or joining/planning events in your community. Please see our World Day of Remembrance 2022 Toolkit to learn more about how you can recognize World Day of Remembrance. Here are the list of events happening across the state:

The MA Vision Zero Coalition will be laying down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts state house, one blossom for each person who was killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash in 2022. The display will be out from 10am through the rest of the day. The following buildings and structures will be lit up in yellow on the night of the 20th: Government Center MBTA Station, Boston City Hall, the Zakim Bridge, the Fore River Bridge, the Burns Bridge, and the Longfellow Bridge.
Walk Bike Springfield & the Holyoke BikePed Committee will host an event on November 20th at 2pm at the Springfield Library (220 State Street).
WalkMedford will be hosting a vigil on November 18th at 11am with Mayor Lungo-Koehn. Exact location in Medford Square TBD
WalkBike Worcester and District 5 City Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, are hosting a Worcester World Day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20th in front of Chandler Magnet School, 525 Chandler Street, at 3:00 pm.
The City of Pittsfield will light-up facades at all downtown locations in yellow in honor of World Day of Remembrance.

For more information and a complete list of events, visit https://www.visionzerocoalition.org/wdr.

Additionally, to address this public health crisis, the Coalition is urging our legislators to take action that could save lives. We have sent a letter to legislators demanding the passage of H.5103, An Act to reduce traffic fatalities — crucial legislation that could drastically improve traffic safety. This is a common-sense bill that would improve the safety standards for large trucks and protect vulnerable road users sharing the road with them. You can send a letter using our sample script below.

SAMPLE COMMENT LETTER
To: Representative William Straus (William.Straus@mahouse.gov), Senator William Brownsberger (William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov)
CC: info@visionzerocoalition.org
Recommended email subject: Please take action on H.5103 An Act to reduce traffic fatalities
Sample script:
Dear Representative Straus and Senator Brownsberger,
Please support the swift passing of H.5103 An Act to reduce traffic fatalities — a common-sense bill that would improve the safety standards for large trucks and protect vulnerable road users sharing the road with them. This legislation will save lives on our roadways, and I encourage you to take rapid action to pass this law to make our roads safer now, not later.
[Talk about why this issue matters to you: how you get around the city, how you or someone you know has been impacted by a crash, etc]
The World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic violence is this Sunday, November 20th. I hope that come that day, we can celebrate the passing of this significant step toward safer roadways.
Thank you,
[full name
street address
city/town, state, zip
phone:
email: ]

From Pilot to Permanent– Sidewalk Snow Clearing Progress in Boston

WalkBoston was excited to see that Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok announced this week that the City of Boston has plans for more sidewalk plows and an expanded Sidewalk Snow-Clearing Program this winter. This is a big deal!

Thank you Mayor Wu, Councilor Bok, Public Works, and the many people that have worked to move sidewalk snow clearing from plan to pilot to what will be a normal part of Boston’s snow clearing response, with ~80 Bobcats available for the effort. This is very exciting, and we know many people that have volunteered or worked at WalkBoston are really, really, pleased since this has been a frustration (and opportunity for improvement) that has been highlighted for years!

Ensuring people can continue to navigate sidewalks and curb ramps in the days after winter storms is critical to making a year round livable city for everyone. Thank you for recognizing that, and finding a way to make this a reality. It is really appreciated!

Lastly, sidewalk snow clearance isn’t just “a Boston thing.“ The most recent round of MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Funding Program for the first time allowed communities to use the money to buy snow removal equipment for pedestrian & bicycle facilities: as shown in the press release, 43 communities across the state did just that!

MassDOT 2022 Moving Together Conference

Last week WalkBoston had the opportunity to attend and table at MassDOT’s Moving Together Conference. It was wonderful to be surrounded by colleagues who are as passionate about the possibilities of active transportation and public transportation as the WalkBoston staff is. Walking, alongside bicycling and public transport, encourages better health, a cleaner environment, and more vibrant communities in Massachusetts.

Iolando, Brendan, Althea and Wendy attended workshops and panels, networked with fellow transportation advocates, and shared about WalkBoston’s work while tabling. It was especially great to talk to so many people on November 1st, day one of this year’s Beat the Bay State Challenge, and encourage them to sign up and create teams!

One panel that stood out to Brendan was “MassTrails – Investments in Trails Across the Commonwealth,” which featured Dan Driscoll and Stella Lensing from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Megan Mello of Kittelson, and Pete Sutton and Kayla Sousa of MassDOT. Officially launched in 2018, the MassTrails Team has recently completed its fourth round of grant awards funding $11.8 million in MassTrails Grants to 81 projects throughout the Commonwealth. The team is seeking to create a cohesive network of trails across Massachusetts; excitingly, Dan Driscoll announced that $40 million was recently appropriated by the Governor for funding the Mystic River bridge crossing and they will be restarting the design process soon!

Check Out Medford’s New Wayfinding Signs!

Last month WalkBoston went on a “field trip” to visit the wayfinding signs we helped the City of Medford design and install this past August. Implemented with funding from a MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant, the signs represent an easy, low-cost measure that makes Medford more accessible and navigable to pedestrians. As Aateka Shashank writes,

“As part of the many ways in which cities can encourage travel by foot or bike, wayfinding signage allows pedestrians to make mental maps and visualize their city by connecting sidewalks and footpaths that lead them to their destinations, rather than by the automobile-oriented street signs.”

Following a team lunch, all members of the WalkBoston staff plus Board Member Nina Garfinkle, who designed the signs, followed a route that began in Medford Square.

We then walked to the Footbridge over the Mystic River, crossing it and taking the River Path. This part of the walk was beautifully scenic and peaceful.

We passed the Condon Shell Bandstand with its beautiful mural depicting the Mystic River. (The Mystic River is a modified form of the Algonquin name “MissiTuk,” meaning “great tidal river” in reference to the Mystic’s tidal waters.)

We also encountered this rain garden and sidewalk bump out at the corner of Winthrop and South Street. Rain gardens help mitigate flooding and pollution from stormwater runoff by providing a permeable surface for precipitation to be absorbed and filtered. This one has the additional benefit as a piece of traffic calming infrastructure, as it shortens the crossing distance for pedestrians and forces drivers to slow down while turning the corner. This is the type of improvement you’ll soon see in the City of Boston with the new Environmental Standards for Green Infrastructure!

WalkBoston eventually reached a Medford landmark on South Street: “Grandfather’s House,” the one depicted in the famous poem “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Lydia Maria Child.

We saw lovely gardens and wildflowers along the way.

WalkBoston also took some time to visit and reflect on the Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum which preserves a 17th century mansion, slave quarters, and the remnants of a 500-acre estate that had been home to the Royall family, “the largest slaveholding family in Massachusetts, and to the more than 60 Africans they’d enslaved. It’s thought to be the only surviving freestanding slave quarters in the northern United States.” Read more about the site here.

WalkBoston ended our field trip at Medford City Hall, where we greeted the Office of Planning, Development, & Sustainability that had approached us in making the wayfinding signs a reality. If you come across the signs in Medford, be sure to scan the QR codes to learn more and submit feedback. WalkBoston was grateful for the opportunity to explore Medford on foot and experience its natural beauty, charming streets and rich history.