Cynthia Gibson, and her dog Olive, on a #HikewithMike walk in October 2016.
Idaho Walk Bike Alliance’s Executive Director, Cynthia Gibson, has been awarded a fellowship to participate in the America Walks 2017 Walking College training program. America Walks, a national advocacy organization that promotes walking and walkable communities, announced the names of the 24 local advocates selected on April 20.
The 2017 class of the Walking College represents 19 different states, expanding the reach of the program, now in its third year, to a total of 33 states plus one Canadian province. “We are delighted to welcome this group of passionate community leaders, who are working to improve walkability in urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the country,” said Ian Thomas, State and Local Program Director with America Walks, “Several of this year’s Fellows identify themselves as people with disabilities, and so we expect to include a major focus on issues of access and inclusion in the group’s discussions and community activities.”
The Walking College curriculum has been designed to expand the capacity of local advocates to be effective community change agents. Fellows will complete a six-module distance-education program this summer, covering the science behind the benefits of walking, evaluation of built environments, as well as communication skills and building relationships with decision makers.
In September, they will participate in the National Walking Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota, and develop a Walking Action Plan for improving walkability in their communities.
The newly-appointed Walking College Fellows are:
- Evan Alvarez, a city planner from Urbana, IL
- Ericka Amador, a community advocate from Victoria, BC
- Bradley Armstrong, a community advocate from Logan, UT
- Garrett Brumfield, a community/disability advocate from Roanoke, VA
- Miranda Clements, a multimodal transportation planner from Bowling Green, KY
- Katie Deolloz, a walking professional from Austin, TX
- Cynthia Gibson, a community advocate from Boise, ID
- Carly Haithcock, a transportation engineer from Austin, TX
- Adriana Hochberg, a local government employee and blogger from Rockville, MD
- Amber Hughes, a public health professional from Cottonwood, MN
- Beth Javener, a public health professional from Conway, SC
- Patricia Ann Jewett, a research assistant from Portland, OR • Ana Lucaci, a community advocate from Longmont, CO
- Collisa Mahin, a public health professional from Orange Park, FL
- Jackie Gorsky Mandyck,a community advocate from West Hartford, CT
- Sandra Morris, a community advocate from Smithfield, PA
- Anne Nagle, a health care professional from Wilmette, IL
- Holly Norman, a non-profit professional from N. Wilkesboro, NC
- Karla Osete-Martinez, a community advocate from Rio Rico, AZ
- Jody Reiss, a public health professional from Claremore, OK
- Chelsea Reome, a public health professional from Binghamton, NY
- Theresa Vallez-Kelly, a Safe Routes To School coordinator from Redwood City, CA
- Jan Verstraete, an educator from Highland Park, NJ
- Freda Williams, a public health professional from Hopewell, VA