Press Release
Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County
Have you ever been late to school or work, had trouble taking your kids to the doctor, or struggled to make a trip to the grocery store because you had to use public transportation? These are struggles that non-elective (not by choice) bus-riders in Asheville, NC can face due to challenges with public transportation.
Some of the challenges faced by non-elective bus riders, who make up 70 percent of those who ride the bus, are a lack of Sunday bus service, a need for extended night service, as well as additional bus shelters and safety barriers. Public transit is a gateway to providing individuals and families a way to meet their basic needs by allowing them access to transportation.
On Tuesday, May 13, The Success Equation’s Child Watch Tour, co-sponsored by Children First/CIS and the Junior League of Asheville, will give participants a better understanding of local transit system transportation challenges. The Child Watch Tour is an annual “field trip” for adults that explores the convergence of public policy, economics, and community resources on children and youth in Buncombe County.
During the morning, Child Watch participants will ride city busses to complete scenarios that parents face daily, such as grocery shopping, getting to work, and dropping a child off at child care. At lunch, participants will hear reports from these groups and learn about city and county public transportation planning and policy.
The tour will meet at Trinity Episcopal Church: 60 Church Street in downtown Asheville and will last from 8:00-1:00 with a “Lunch-Only” option from 11:30-1:00. The charge for the tour is $15 for the full day, and $10 for the “Lunch-Only” portion.
“Public transportation is a link to broaden opportunity and prosperity for low-income children and their families. Everyday parents rely on city busses to commute to jobs, get to grocery stores, and take their children to child care as they seek to meet their families’ basic needs. Public transportation is a lifeline for many local families,” says Greg Borom, Director of Advocacy for Children First/ CIS. “But when busses run late, or don’t run at nights or Sundays, families without cars are left stranded or seeking expensive taxi rides. We hope the Child Watch Tour will inspire broader support for investments and improvements that benefit non-choice riders.”
Registration is open to the public. To register, please contact Jodi Ford, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator at Children First/CIS at JodiF@childrenfirstbc.org or call 828-259-9717.
About The Success Equation and Children First
The Success Equation is a local movement that unites the community to reduce the root causes of poverty and their impact on children, resulting in an environment where all children thrive. www.facebook.com/SuccessEquationChildren First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is a local non-profit that provides programs to economically disadvantaged children & families. Children First’s mission is to empower children and their families to reach their full potential through advocacy, education and services. The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. www.childrenfirstcisbc.org
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