Category: Annual Report

One Minute, One Slide: Age-Friendly Walking in Boston

One Minute, One Slide: Age-Friendly Walking in Boston

Below is a “One Minute, One Slide” presentation shared by a member of the WalkBoston staff.
Text provided is as prepared for this year’s annual event on March 18, 2019.

Adi Nochur

With support from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation (THPF) and the Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA), WalkBoston has been working on Age-Friendly Walking in the City of Boston to promote safe and comfortable walking for seniors — and by extension everyone. Thanks so much to our partners from the Age-Strong Commission (formerly the Elderly Commission), Boston Transportation Department, Public Works Department and other agencies!

Here we have a fantastic group of “Older and Bolder” seniors rallying for crosswalk safety in Grove Hall. We have now seen pedestrian safety improvements installed at this location, as well as other neighborhoods throughout the city.

We’ve also changed policy at a city level. Thanks to our efforts the City of Boston has committed $90,000 in capital funding for 45 benches, and we look forward to seeing them installed citywide this year.

With a new grant from THPF and MCOA, we’re now taking our work on Age-Friendly Walking statewide. We plan to work in five communities, with a focus on high-need Gateway Cities and rural areas. Stay tuned for more on Age-Friendly Walking: coming soon to a community near you!

One Minute, One Slide: Joey Santana Introduction

One Minute, One Slide: Joey Santana Introduction

Below is a “One Minute, One Slide” presentation shared by a member of the WalkBoston staff.
Text provided is as prepared for this year’s annual event on March 18, 2019.

Joey Santana

Joey joined WalkBoston this year as our office admin!

WalkBoston Statewide Action Plan

WalkBoston Statewide Action Plan

Building on nearly 30 years of advocacy in more than 100 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, WalkBoston has adopted a 3-year plan offering a framework to Make Massachusetts More Walkable. This action plan articulates our working principles, while also defining our focus areas and organizational goals with clear measures of success.

Focus Areas

Working Principles

  • Equity: Address equity and inclusion more explicitly in community engagement strategies and project approaches.
  • Flexibility & Adaptability: Evaluate new technologies and policies that affect the safety of people walking.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Follow and create best practices for the built environment based on impacts to community health, vitality, and resiliency.

Organizational Goals

  • Outreach: Establish new partnerships with community-based organizations and active mobility constituencies.
  • Digital Resources: Systematize access to projects and information.
  • Financial Sustainability: Develop a detailed financial sustainability plan that considers new revenue possibilities.

View the WalkBoston Action Plan 2017 (PDF)

One minute, one slide: #ClearCurbCuts snow clearance video

One minute, one slide: #ClearCurbCuts snow clearance video

Below is a “One Minute, One Slide” presentation shared by a member of the WalkBoston staff.
Text provided is as presented at this year’s annual event on March 29, 2018.

Brendan Kearney 

Board member Nina Garfinkle & I contacted Amy Corcoran Hunt, who posted a message to a South End Facebook Group encouraging neighbors to shovel curb cuts to help those that have strollers or wheelchairs. Here’s what ensued:

That’s been viewed over 60,000 times since it was posted in mid-January! (across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook)

We’ve re-shared it after the next few storms & it has received a big response each time.

If anyone is interested in working w/ Amy and others on our newly formed snow clearance committee, please reach out!