In June, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership will release a new resource guide for SRTS volunteers and professionals, entitled "Implementing Safe Routes to School in Low-Income Schools and Communities." The forthcoming guide highlights promising practices and creative strategies that have been successfully employed in low-income communities throughout the country.

As part of the roll-out of the new resource guide, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership will be holding two webinars to help non-profit organizations and community residents come together and collaborate to develop culturally sensitive, inclusive and successful SRTS initiatives.

Webinar 1: Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST
Register at: http://www.instantpresenter.com/PIID=EE55DE8088

This webinar will focus on efforts at low-income schools designed to engage parents as volunteers and champions for SRTS, as well as strategies to reduce crime and violence near schools. Speakers include:

• Nora Cody, Safe Routes to School Director, TransForm, Alameda County, CA
• Nikki Trevino, Program Coordinator, Austin Healthy Adolescent Initiative, Austin, TX

Webinar 2: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST
Register at: http://www.instantpresenter.com/PIID=EE55DE8089

Low-income communities often have limited access to professional expertise, such as planners and engineers, who are critical to planning and obtaining funds for Safe Routes to School programs. In this webinar, learn about two communities in which the local government or a non-profit stepped forward to collaborate with community residents and parents to implement Safe Routes to School initiatives and build buy-in with city leaders. Speakers include:

• Bill Swiatek, Senior Planner, Wilmington Area Planning Council, Wilmington, DE
• Christy Filby, parent champion, Ridgeway Elementary School, East Moline, IL