Usually, kick off in Green Bay involves helmets, pads, tailgates, and Lambeau Field. But on 3 Sept., 27 members of the Greater Green Bay community came together for the first meeting of our fall Transportation Academy. This cohort is made up of residents from various walks of life, all with a commitment to learning together, connecting with each other, and exploring ways to make a positive impact in the community.
Our primary task at the first session was to meet other concerned residents in the community and learn about each other’s interests in transportation. We shared photos and stories from our daily transportation experiences, and talked about things like safety, accessibility, and the kinds of environments that make it possible to get around for those who don’t drive (especially kids, the aging, or people with disabilities that prevent them from driving). We thought about some of the institutional barriers that make change difficult, and the need for all forms of transportation to function as a cohesive ‘ecosystem.’ We talked about some good things, like the friendliness of the bus drivers who work in Green Bay. Someone shared the feeling of joy in connecting with other people through our transportation choices. Another welcomed the feeling of pride when a positive change comes from our work in advocacy.
The second session featured a presentation from Dr. Kirk Harris, Professor of Urban Planning and the founder and director of the Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice at UW Milwaukee. Dr. Harris provided a sweeping history of citizenship, land use, segregation, federal housing and highway policy, urban renewal, and how all those factors shape the built environment we have today. Learning more about the historic disparities in land use provided a heavy lens, reifying the importance of our advocacy as citizens.
We are excited to learn more from guest speakers, and from each other, every Wednesday from now through early November. Members of the Academy will also have the opportunity to dig deeper through a range of thought-provoking readings, videos, podcasts each week. They will also have the opportunity to research and present final projects to the group based on a transportation issue of interest to them. Stay tuned for updates and wish us well as we tackle hard problems and build up the strength of our team!
