Vision Zero Network: Putting Pedestrian Safety First
Vision Zero Network held a webinar, “Changing Deadly Streets: Learn the Facts in Prioritizing Safety for People Walking”, on August 12. Dr. Robert Schneider, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Dr. Rebecca Sanders, Founder and Principal Investigator Safe Streets Research & Consulting, LLC; and Seleta Reynolds, General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) discussed key findings from a recent study that identified the top fatal pedestrian crash “hot spots” in the U.S. The webinar also covered actions that transportation agencies can take to identify these dangerous roadway corridors and make them safer.
Read Vision Zero Network’s webinar summary.
In other Vision Zero Network news, Program Director Jenn Fox was quoted in a news article about U.S. scooter rental firm Bird’s plans to trial a geo-fencing system to slow their scooters down in pedestrian-heavy ‘community safety zones’ such as schools and parks. Commenting on the initiative, Ms. Fox said, “It is fantastic when companies innovate to support community traffic safety. Community Safety Zones can support localities working to improve safety for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. We’re impressed by the initiative and Bird’s efforts to listen to local communities and respond to community feedback.” Bird’s initiative is being piloted in Miami, Marseille, and Madrid.
U.S. Digital Response: ProjectNursingHomes.org
The Tobin Center at Yale University has partnered with U.S. Digital Response to create a user-friendly, interactive tool that allows users to see how many nursing homes in a given area have a high level of connectivity to other nursing homes, thus increasing the chances of spreading and receiving infections.
The research data gathered on these previously unmeasured staff connections between nursing homes is being shared with nursing home decision-makers and public health officials so they can implement protective measures in hyper-connected homes, activate early warning systems to let connected nursing homes know when there is an outbreak in a home with shared staff, and, ultimately, save lives.
Digging Deep: Helping Kids Through Tough Transitions
“Change is Tough, But So Are We”, a webinar hosted by Digging Deep on Wednesday, August 25, focused on how to promote flexible thinking and a growth mindset in kids and teens so they can feel confident in their ability to deal with whatever comes their way, from small day-to-day disruptions to major life-changing events. Certified Child Life Specialist and expert behind ChildLifeMommy.com Shani Thornton was the event’s guest speaker.
Check out Digging Deep’s blog to learn more on topics of emotional resilience.
The Council for Global Equality: Supporting LGBTQ+ Afghans
As the Taliban returns to power, leading the international community to worry about the potential for a rise in extreme violence directed at members of the LGBTQI+ community in Afghanistan, The Council for Global Equality (TCGE) has been sharing the work different organizations are doing to help LGBTQI+ Afghans. TCGE has shared articles about, and tweets from, Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based nonprofit that helps LGBTQI+ people flee state-sponsored violence. Rainbow Railroad is currently engaging with the Canadian government to identify and refer LGBTQI+ Afghans in need of emergency assistance.
An article by Advocate listed TCGE as one of several important organizations working internationally to protect human rights for LGBTQ+ people worldwide.
Board Member Highlight
Barbara Rhomberg
Community Initiatives Board of Directors Service: October 2019–present
Barbara Rhomberg is a partner in Kavanagh Rhomberg LLP, a law firm that represents nonprofit organizations and their charitable donors on the unique legal issues of the nonprofit sector. Her work includes forming nonprofit organizations and obtaining tax-exempt status, planned and charitable giving, limits on lobbying and campaign intervention for exempt organizations, grant compliance, endowments and donor-restricted funds, nonprofit mergers and dissolutions, unrelated business tax, and nonprofit corporate governance.
Before launching her own practice in 2012, Barbara was an attorney in the University of California’s Office of General Counsel, representing the University on charitable giving matters and advising on the use of endowment funds. Barbara also taught nonprofit organization law as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, and also taught nonprofit law to students in USF’s Master of Nonprofit Administration program. She is currently chair of the California Lawyers Association Business Law Section’s Nonprofit Organizations Committee.
Barbara received her J.D. with distinction from Stanford Law School, and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Before law school, Barbara worked as a nonprofit administrator at the Sierra Club Foundation and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, and she was an aide to an Oakland city councilwoman.
Barbara is also a member of the Northern California Planned Giving Council, the California Political Attorneys Association, the American Bar Association, and the Peninsula Estate Planning Council.
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