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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2012)
Street roots July 20, 2012 BTA ambassadors become roll models for young riders BY MARGAUX MENNESSON But fewer of the parents themselves were interested in taking bike and pedestrian “I want to have your job when I grow up.” safety classes: Are you (the parent) interested in taking hen the Bicycle Transportation bike/pedestrian safety classes? Alliance’s Bike Safety Education African 35% yes instructors hear remarks like this Asian 20% yes from kids they’re teaching in Portland, it’s Slavic 2% yes both rewarding and exciting. If we plan to Latino 38% yes meet the growing demand for bike safety Fergason believes that developing a programs in workforce that is more attuned to schools, we’ll neighborhood experiences will help the bike need to hire safety program connect with new more teaching communities in several ways, from speaking W? jgW staff to teach the the same language over the phone to curriculum - so Bicycle knowing when to plan biking and walking we’re glad to Transportation events so they don’t interfere with church hear that kids or community activities. Alliance w'^ want our The BTA started partnering with jobs! workforce development organizations a few In fact, the years ago, but until this year, the contract BTA is looking specifically to hire new staff with Portland Bureau of Transportation just like these kids — or their older required a certain amount of classroom brothers, sisters, and neighbors — through a teaching experience for instructors to be new workforce development program hired. When the BTA renewed its contract starting this fall. The BTA intends to hire terms this year, Fergason created a revised two new Assistant Ambassadors from the staffing structure that included a new same communities where the BTA is position for Assistant Ambassadors. teaching, said LeeAnne Fergason, education Assistant Ambassadors will work 20-30 programs manager at the BTA. hours per week, assisting full-time “Our educators are very much role instructors in classrooms receiving bike models for those kids. Kids connect with safety education. The curriculum consists of young adults, especially if they are reflective 10 lessons, taught over the course of either of the very neighborhoods that the kids are five two-hour lessons (in one week) or 10 from. ” one-hour lessons (in two weeks). The The BTA teaches bike and pedestrian Assistant Ambassadors will join instructors safety to 5,000 students in Portland Public for lessons six through 10, which includes Schools. Twenty of the 48 Portland schools time both in the classroom and on the that receive the program have mostly non street. white student populations. Most of the focus in these lessons is on Fergason believes both students and their actual hands-on riding skills, such as parents will appreciate having role models learning right of way, practicing right and from the community working alongside the left turns, and keeping eyes on the road. kids as Assistant Ambassadors. She points The BTA has found that the most to a study conducted last year by ENRICH challenging lessons for students to master is with IRCO found that immigrant right-of-way and making left turns. Assistant communities in East Portland schools Ambassadors will provide assistance during expressed support for having their kids these critical skill-building sessions. attend bike and pedestrian safety classes. Fergason says this job would be a good fit Are you interested in having your children for anybody who’s interested in working in attend bike/pedestrian safety classes? education or outdoor education. Applicants African 76% yes do not need to be great, professional Asian 96% yes bicyclists (we’ll teach safe riding skills) and Slavic 50% yes prior classroom experience isn’t required. Latino 68% yes Second language fluency is preferred, CONTRIBUTING WRITER W especially in Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian, and Cantonese, the most common non-English languages spoken in Portland Public Schools. To recruit potential Assistant Ambassadors, the BTA is partnering with organizations like Portland Youth Builders and Self Enhancement Inc. that prepare and Canning jars & equipment, cookware, kitchen tools & appliances Organic cotton sheets, towels, & blankets Natural Kitchen & Home Food dryers 2 1 0 6 SE Division Books on meat-free cooking, gardening & sustainability 503-231-5175 m ira d o rc o m m u n ity s to re . com M o n -S a t 10-6 • Sun 11-5 Juicers Vendors are regular contributors to Street Roots, as columnist, poets and artists. Look for your favorite vendor’s writings in each edition o f the paper. ' ........... .....................................' Healthy Streetbeat is a monthly column for Street Roots written by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Our contributors are Rob Sadowsky, executive director, and Margaux Mennesson, communications director. ■ MX connect job seekers with employers. One of the ways these organizations prepare candidates for the job search is by practicing mock interviews, with staff from hiring organizations participating in the mock interviews and posing actual questions used in real interviews. The BTA will be hiring two Assistant Ambassadors for the fall season and two for the spring season. Fergason encourages readers to forward the job announcement to people who may be interested in applying. Job seekers can apply through the BTA’s website at www. btaoregon.org/assistantambassador. Contact LeeAnne Fergason at leeanne@btaoregon. org. Assistant ♦ Ambassadors teaching bike and pedestrian safety with children P H O T O C O U R TE S Y OF B IC Y C L E T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A L L IA N C E
