Posted November 8, 2023 in Weblog

America has a freeway downside. It additionally has freeway fighters from throughout the nation working collectively to unravel it. Final month, practically 50 freeway combating advocates gathered in Cincinnati, OH for the first-ever Freeway Fighters Grassroots Summit. Every advocate introduced with them their expertise campaigning to reconnect communities divided by highways and/or to cease new highways from inflicting further injury. They traveled to Cincinnati each to encourage and be taught from one another in addition to collectively develop methods that advance the nationwide motion. For a lot of, it was their first time assembly their friends from different cities and states. 

The state of the freeway combating motion: who’s combating and why?

Over the course of two days collectively, advocates found the frequent experiences that compelled them to turn out to be freeway fighters.

For Adam Greenfield of ReThink35 (Austin, TX), the struggle is about creating a greater place to dwell for individuals dwelling round highways. “I dwell three blocks away from I -35… I can hear the roar of the interstate freeway in mattress. I breathe in its poisonous emissions inside my home. I’ve to cross it frequently and it’s harmful and scary to cross.”

Remedying injustices and empowering communities have been additionally key elements. Sito Negron of the El Paso Streets Coalition cited “the inequity, the inherent unfairness of placing freeways by predominantly low-income communities” as considered one of his motivations. Suzanne Mayer of Hinge Neighbors, Inc. (Rochester, NY) needed to verify group members have energy on the subject of choices about what to do with highways. “If not us, nobody’s going to do that. Nobody’s going to be sure that the voice of the neighbors goes to be heard right here.”

Advocates shared the mutual challenges they confronted. Advocates from California grappled with find out how to maintain their division of transportation accountable for reaching the state’s environmental and local weather objectives. A teenage coalition from Portland, OR was spurred to motion as a result of a freeway growth threatened their center college. In New Orleans, an alliance of residents questioned find out how to restore a Black business hall and Second Line parade route now lined by a freeway.

On the finish of the day, constructive visions for a future with out damaging highways prevailed. “We might be in communities the place we’ve got the sources we’d like. That cash in direction of freeways may go in direction of creating communities,” stated Nailah Pope-Harden of ClimatePlan (Sacramento, CA). “So I may stroll to the grocery retailer or experience my bike to the grocery retailer and really feel secure.”

Studying from one another, inspiring a motion

The Summit additionally introduced collectively freeway fighters so they may be taught from one another find out how to advance their campaigns. Advocates from New Orleans and Cincinnati shared find out how to craft a community-driven marketing campaign narrative and work with the media to get the message out. Advocates from Portland, Minneapolis, and Houston provided their experiences attracting supporters and volunteers and internet hosting occasions that show individuals energy. Peer-to-peer studying was a essential a part of the Summit. “This helps us discover individuals who’ve already accomplished lots of totally different sorts of combating, and say, ‘Oh, we are able to use these instruments,’” stated Suzanne Mayer. “‘That is how we’re going to do it.’”

On the Summit’s second day, advocates brainstormed alternatives for collective motion at each the state and nationwide ranges, together with a shared coverage platform calling for a moratorium on freeway constructing and redoubled efforts to reconnect communities. Many took inspiration from the opportunity of joint motion and dealing collectively to construct extra equitable and sustainable communities. “Connecting and attending to know individuals and seeing the fights which can be occurring elsewhere. It’s greater than inspiring,” stated Molly Cook dinner of Cease TxDOT I-45 (Houston). “It’ll change me and the best way that I struggle freeways for the remainder of my life.”

America Walks wish to thank the Devou Good Basis, the McKnight Basis, and the Summit Basis for his or her beneficiant sponsorship of the Freeway Fighters Grassroots Summit. We might additionally wish to thank the 73 particular person donors who helped fund advocate journey to the Summit.