Category: Event

One Minute, One Slide: Racial Inequities in Walking & Gateway Cities Walkable TOD

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 September 23, 2020 on Zoom.

Ayesha Mehrotra

Hi, I’m Ayesha Mehrotra. After interning with WalkBoston last year, I’m thrilled to be back this fall working on a few projects that speak to WalkBoston’s commitment to advocating for every community across Massachusetts, and promoting equity through improving the built environment.

Amongst these projects is a report on racial disparities in walkability. In Massachusetts and across the country, neighborhoods with predominantly Black and brown populations tend to be the least walkable, have among the worst health outcomes, and are already bearing the brunt of climate change. All of these factors are related, and the result of decades of racist planning policies. WalkBoston’s report highlights the mechanisms through which these inequities have persisted and makes specific, actionable recommendations to guide communities and decision-makers who wish to address racial justice.

We’re also partnering with MassINC and UMass through a Solomon Foundation grant to conduct walk audits around transit hubs in 5 gateway cities, and make recommendations for improved streetscapes, as well as social infrastructure like open spaces, public art, and storefronts. Better access to transit is core to advancing equity, and we know the best way to do that is to ensure walkability.

One Minute, One Slide: Allston I90 – The Saga Continues

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 September 23, 2020 on Zoom.

Bob Sloane

A long time ago, in a public meeting not too far away –

It is the year 2014, amidst a period of development in the commonwealth. Neighborhood residents and statewide advocacy organizations alike come to hear about the Allston Multimodal Project from MASSDOT, set to reshape a corner of Allston with a new VIADUCT, a gateway to BOSTON for the rest of the COMMONWEALTH. Years pass.

Advocates and neighbors alike cheered when SECRETARY POLLACK considered building the project at ground level, with newly connected neighborhoods and a vision for better transit before, during, and after construction. It was a victory for all in the MASSDOT process. Years pass.

Now – in 2020 – a new VIADUCT is back on the table, and looms large over every discussion – wider and higher than ever before. The ground level option seems doomed. The Charles River in Allston is a tremendous asset that should be restored, enhanced, and made accessible. A new, wider VIADUCT, that would stand above the river and shade its park, will be built if a compromise is not reached.

Advocacy leaders are in agreement – let’s lower the VIADUCT to the ground and let the neighborhoods (Allston, Brookline, Cambridge, Brighton and Boston) form a level constellation so they can see each other and the river with its walkers and bikers.

Learn more about the Allston Multimodal Improvement Project (Allston I-90)

Recording of WalkBoston’s 30th Annual Celebration & Golden Shoe Awards (September 23, 2020)

Recording of WalkBoston’s 30th Annual Celebration & Golden Shoe Awards, held on Zoom on September 23, 2020. (Inspired? You can still give and be a part of the event’s fundraising effort!)

Agenda/Timeline:

Introduction/Welcome – Emma Yashar, Board President
Year (and a half) in Review – Stacey Beuttell, Executive Director
Project Highlights / “One Minute, One Slide” [all staff, pre-recorded video]
Corporate/Foundation Thank You – Brendan Kearney, Deputy Director
Fund-A-Need – Matt Lawlor, Board Secretary
Presentation of Golden Shoe Awards – Stacey Beuttell
- Boston Public Library – David Leonard, President
- Coalition for a Better Acre/Lowell Walking Champions – Billy Heath
- Age Friendly Walking / Tufts Health Plan Foundation – Nora Moreno Cargie
- Age Friendly Walking / Boston Age Strong Commission – Emily Shea
Keynote Introduction – Stacey Beuttell
Video Introduction – Dorothea Hass & Ann Hershfang [pre-recorded video]
Keynote Speaker – Mark Fenton, a nationally recognized public health, planning, and transportation consultant, an advocate for active transportation, and former host of the “America’s Walking” series on PBS television.
Question & Answer – Mark Fenton & Stacey Beuttell

Thank you for all your support over the years!

One Minute, One Slide: Althea Wong-Achorn Intro & Beat the Bay State Challenge

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 September 23, 2020 on Zoom.

Althea Wong-Achorn

Hello, my name is Althea Wong-Achorn, and I am the new Development Director here at WalkBoston. Seeing as we can’t get together in person I want to take a quick moment to introduce myself. Before WalkBoston, I worked at the USS Constitution Museum, where last year I led the Museum’s most successful gala. It raised over $670,000, which was $300,000 more than they had ever raised before. Before that I spent 7 years at the Boston Children’s Museum where I created their Destination Events program to increase community involvement with events such as the Boston Mini Maker Faire.

On a personal note, I am a Classics nerd and bookworm, I always wanted to be Kristi Yamaguchi, I am addicted to tea and completely obsessed with my dog. I am also extremely excited to join this wonderful team and I can’t wait for some of the great programming we have coming up, like our Beat the Bay State Challenge. We’re asking you to sign up to walk or run around the commonwealth with us for the month of November, to help us raise funds and awareness about the work that we do. We also have sponsorship opportunities and fun swag. So check out our event website at WalkBoston.org/Baystate and if you have any questions about the challenge, fundraising, or anything development, just ask me! Thank you!

One Minute, One Slide: WalkMA & Framingham Youth Walking Advocates

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 September 23, 2020 on Zoom.

LeighAnne Taylor

I’m LeighAnne Taylor, Program Manager at WalkBoston.

The WalkMassachusetts Network is a statewide network of multi-sectoral groups working on walking across the Commonwealth. In February, WalkBoston staff and members of the WalkMassachusetts Network convened for our second Network-wide forum in Framingham to provide opportunity for members to connect and share best practices. During the half-day forum, members shared their local wins for walkability and participated in “advocacy clinics,” aimed to strengthen their walking efforts. We are excited to build on the momentum of this forum and are planning for WalkMassachusetts Network virtual events. Join the network and stay tuned.

The second project I’ll highlight is WalkBoston’s Youth Working Towards Walkable Streets initiative with the MetroWest Boys and Girls Club in Framingham. With funding from the MetroWest Health Foundation, we are working with an enthusiastic group of 6-8th graders to teach them about the elements of walkable communities and to help them build skills to advocate for community change. In January, we kicked this work off with a series of practice-based learning sessions. We look forward to picking this work back up in 2021 and are excited to support these youth leaders in making changes to the built environment and local policies to support safer, more enjoyable walking in Framingham.