Author: WalkBoston

WalkMassachusetts Network: February Meeting Recap

WalkMassachusetts Network: February Meeting Recap

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The WalkMassachusetts Network hosted its first virtual network meeting on Wednesday, February 16th. Members ranged from WalkBoston staff and board members, resident advocates from community groups, Mass in Motion coordinators, and representatives on various municipal boards and commissions. Through our introductory discussion, it became clear that there was significant overlap in what topics people were looking to learn about from each other — from holding state agencies accountable on policies and programs that support pedestrians, such as sidewalk snow clearance, to the differences that rural communities face as compared to more urban and suburban communities.

While it is unfortunate that many of the issues advocates are organizing around are present in communities across the Commonwealth, despite the variety in geography, density, and demographics — it is also encouraging that so many individuals are interested in building strong coalitions to advocate for the necessary changes to make Massachusetts more walkable.

If you haven’t already joined, visit walkmanetwork.org to learn more and sign up to receive emails about upcoming events and programming. We also hope you’ll join us for our next network meeting on Wednesday, March 16th at 1 pm! Register here.

Meet Kyle Robidoux: WalkBoston’s 2022 Annual Celebration Keynote Speaker

Meet Kyle Robidoux: WalkBoston’s 2022 Annual Celebration Keynote Speaker

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We are pleased to announce that our 2022 Annual Celebration Keynote Speaker this year is Kyle Robidoux!

Kyle is a tireless advocate who has focused his professional and personal career on building community. He has spent 20 years working in the nonprofit sector, including as a housing advocate helping individuals staying in shelters find permanent homes and as a community organizer. Most recently he has directed three programs for a local blindness organization.

Accessibility is a matter of great importance to him, not just as an advocate, but as an individual who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye disease that first affects your night vision and often leads to complete blindness, at age 11 and was declared legally blind at 19.

Kyle can also personally attest to the power of walking and why access to safe walking environments is crucial. In 2010 Kyle was close to 250 pounds, heading down the path to type II diabetes, and having a hard time playing with his young daughter. He began to walk. Then he began to run. Today he has completed over 25 marathons and ultramarathons, including five Boston Marathons and three 100-mile races.

Kyle now works for the City of Boston as the Assistant Director of Housing Stability for the Mayor’s Office, after a short stint as Chief of Staff for Boston Mayor Kim Janey’s District Council/President’s Office. Prior to working for the city, over the last 15 years Kyle has worked for three mission-driven nonprofits: the Director of Volunteer Services and Community Planning for MAB (Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired), the Director of Community Planning and Leadership Development for Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, and the Director of Civic Engagement for United South End Settlements. In addition Kyle is an active volunteer, serving as Board Chair for FriendshipWorks and a member of the Commission for People with Disabilities.

Want to hear what Kyle has to say about accessibility and walkability? Join us on Wednesday, March 30 at 5:00pm on Zoom.

Sign up for the Annual Celebration now!

Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2022 Golden Shoe Awards winners!

WalkBoston Receives $165,000 Grant from Point32Health Foundation

WalkBoston Receives $165,000 Grant from Point32Health Foundation

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WalkBoston was awarded a three-year $165,000 grant from Point32Health Foundation to advocate for policies that support, advance and result in age- and dementia-friendly walkable communities.

“WalkBoston is a leading advocate on transportation issues important to older adults and a strategic partner to the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative. The grant will support WalkBoston’s work to engage older people in walk audits in communities with significant needs and train new advocates. The new trainers will collaborate with state and local agencies to share the data and advocate for transportation solutions that support healthy aging in communities across the state.”

Building on the legacy of service and giving established by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. This is one of 10 new community investments to organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island totaling more than $1.1 million. The grants support community-led solutions to remove barriers that perpetuate inequities and advance policies and practices that create more inclusive communities 

“The pandemic has revealed significant gaps in our transportation, housing and food systems that disproportionately affect older people and communities of color,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Point32Health Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Point32Health. “To create communities that work for everyone, policies should honor and reflect community voices.”

About Point32Health Foundation

Building on Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s values of service and giving, Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. The Foundation advances equity-focused solutions in healthy aging, access to healthy food and behavioral health in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

 

Board Spotlight: Welcome Tony Wain and thank you to our departing board members!

Board Spotlight: Welcome Tony Wain and thank you to our departing board members!

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We are excited to welcome Charles Anthony “Tony” Wain as a new WalkBoston Board member!

Prior to joining us he was a Senior Lecturer at Babson College in Accounting & Law. He also spent 30 years working in financial and management consulting for Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte) and Digital Equipment Corporation. His areas of interest are business modeling and financial planning and analysis. Tony was a two-term member of the board for Community Action Partners (CAP) of the Harvard Business School Association of Boston and is a Trustee and Treasurer for the Native Plant Trust (formerly New England Wild Flower Society). He currently consults through CAP with non-profit agencies in the areas of general management, business plan development and management control systems.

We also want to take this moment to express our gratitude to our outgoing board members: Amy Branger, Erik Lund, and Greg Rogers for their leadership and guidance over the years.

Thank you for helping us make Massachusetts a safer and more walkable place!