Portland Honors Civil Rights Icon with Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, Safe Routes Team Applies National Conference Insights

Portland residents prepared for the annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day yesterday, celebrating the civil rights icon who bravely integrated an all-white school in 1960 at the age of six. According to a recent announcement by the

City of Portland

, the event encouraged students and families across the city to experience the historical walk, much like Ruby Bridges did 64 years ago. Educators and community members joined the tribute to her courageous act and shared their journeys on social media as part of the event.

As part of its broader commitment to safe school routes, Safe Routes to School personnel, including Infrastructure Coordinator Jeri Stroupe, returned from the National Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. There, they exchanged ideas on program structure and maximizing infrastructure investments. Stroupe, who posed with outstretched arms before a mural in Fort Collins, reported enjoying the opportunity to connect with practitioners from across the country. Safe Routes plans to integrate the conference insights into their ongoing projects in Portland.

The importance of pedestrian infrastructure was highlighted last month during International Walk + Roll to School Day, where participants witnessed the benefits firsthand on NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue, thanks to the Crossing Improvements project. With another set of improvements slated for NE Davis Street and 82nd Avenue expected to begin as early as 2025, the Walk + Roll initiative emphasized the city’s commitment to bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The upcoming project received part of its funding through the City of Portland’s cannabis tax, supplemented by a Rapid Response Construction Grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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