The Marion County Public Health Department in collaboration with Health by Design have recently launched a local Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, entitled Reaching for a Healthier Marion County. This program will focus on engaging African-American residents in five census tracts on the Eastside of Indianapolis to develop plans and take action to address pedestrian safety issues. In particular, the project will focus on the built environment and aligning with community culture.
Please accept this letter as an invitation to join a community action group that will conduct the following activities:
- study the issue of pedestrian safety including neighborhood crash statistics
- participate in a neighborhood walk audit
- assist in the development and promotion of culturally relevant key messages
- recommend community champions and potential future Health by Design staff to sustain the project
The community action group will meet on September 19, 5:30 – 8:30 PM at the Avondale Meadows YMCA to
share knowledge, experiences and opinions and participate in a walk and bike audit of the neighborhood.
It is important to engage a diverse group of people within the African-American community including youth, elders, people
with disabilities and parents with young children. At the end of the project the community will have had the opportunity to share their knowledge and advocate for infrastructure to ensure walking and cycling are safe, convenient, and encouraged.
Please indicate your availability to attend the September 19 meeting at the Avondale Meadows YMCA no later than September 16, 2019. In the meantime if you have any questions please contact me at (317) 721-5712 or ksligon@gmail.com.