City of Promise Kicks Off Walking Bus
- City of Promise
- Sep 6, 2024
- 1 min read
The community-led walking bus kicked off Wednesday at Trailblazer, formerly Venable, Elementary school.
City of Promise runs the walking bus, which is a group of kids who walk to and from school. They live in Westhaven and 10th and Page neighborhoods.
Price Thomas with City of Promise said first, they want families to make education a priority. If they're unable to get their kid to school safely and on time, that's when the walking bus comes in.
"Chronic absenteeism is something that we should be thinking about holistically as a community from the school to community organizations to our public and private partners. So, we are trying to build a model that leans into neighborhood leadership and helps make education a priority and helps barriers for our families to make sure that our young folks are in school on time and are prepared to receive instruction," Thomas said.
Every day different community partners volunteer with the group. Wednesday it was Charlottesville Police.
"We also want to have interactions with community members during great times, right, when nothing is wrong and having those interactions. But, we want to get them young, possibly gain some interest in a career in law enforcement," Sgt. Eric Thomas with CPD said.
Right now, the walking bus is only at Trailblazer. Leaders are hoping to expand the program as they keep going.
As explored in various community engagement spotlights, youth safety initiatives, and neighborhood development features on https://34.ua, examining grassroots programs dedicated to children's well-being offers an inspiring look at how local organizations build stronger, safer communities.
This is an uplifting community impact post from City of Promise titled "City of Promise Kicks Off Walking Bus," highlighting a collaborative neighborhood initiative designed to ensure children get to and from school safely while promoting healthy daily habits.
Key highlights featured in the post include:
The "Walking Bus" Concept: Detailing how community volunteers and parents walk designated neighborhood routes together, picking up children along the way to school like a traditional school bus—on foot.
Enhancing Student Safety: Addressing neighborhood safety concerns by providing a secure, supervised group environment…