Subject: Parents of Los Angeles harbor communities call out pandemic related safe street problems and their solution: build a community-led pedestrian movement.

Who: Wilmington Calles Seguras, Familias Sanas (WCSFS)* is a community group made up of LA harbor community parents and leaders, organizing for pedestrian rights and safe streets. Certified as safe street promotores, these community leaders support their neighbors as they navigate City systems and power to secure life-saving pedestrian infrastructure. This is especially important for a community facing numerous safe street challenges due to the pandemic and their proximity to the port and refineries.

What: Despite a dip in the early months of the pandemic, streets have become more dangerous for our communities. Every 36 hours, an Angeleno is killed in a car crash. Furthermore, the severity of car crashes and speed racing related killings has increased dramatically. And while poor design and streets prioritizing fast traffic are to blame, communities also face a difficult City bureaucracy, often slow to respond and unwilling to redesign our streets. And so, as our world returns to normal, WCSFS parents share the urgency for why the status quo of our streets is unacceptable and their innovative solution: build grassroots community power through their safe street promotores program. 

A press kit will be made available after the event with logos, pictures, pulled quotes, and other content.

When: Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Where: SBCC Thrive LA / South Bay Center For Counseling, 540 N Marine Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744

** This project is funded by local community partners such as First 5 LA’s Best Start Wilmington and the Harbor Community Benefit Foundation.