White House Honors Champions Transforming Transportation
Last week, the White House, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation, acknowledged and honored a new group of “Champions of Change” in the transportation world. Leaders and innovators were recognized for their work.
2015 Champions of Change in Transportation (Photo by T4America staff)
The most recent White House Champions of Change ceremony took place at the White House on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. US DOT’s Secretary Foxx was on hand to introduce the Beyond Traffic: Innovators in Transportation award to honor eleven key leaders. These eleven recipients discussed their work advancing transportation in their communities and also the importance of local innovation and local leadership.
A key theme during the ceremony was the concern for our nation’s economic development and the need for new, innovative ideas to improve our infrastructure while making the best use of limited resources. Visionaries like professor Habib Dagher, Director of Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine, is a leader and advocate who is developing advanced structural systems for bridges. The program, Bridge in a Backpack, uses lightweight bridge materials to advance structural applications. His work is helping our nation’s construction/engineering industry to build and restore bridges in an efficient and inventive way.
Lightweight bridge materials being used to transform a 70-year-old bridge
Neal Bridge in Pittsfield, ME (Picture courtesy of the University of Maine)
Other honorees shed light on pedestrian safety concerns in their community. Kyle Wagenschutz, bike and pedestrian program manager in Memphis, TN, was recognized for pushing his city to become a national leader on accessible transportation options by advocating for more than 100 miles of new-dedicated bike lanes in his community. Olatunji Reed, another Champion of Change and community organizer, fights for social equity and fair accessibility in Chicago, IL. He leads a movement called “Slow Roll” an organization that teaches communities to embrace bicycle riding. As a result, people in all communities including low-income neighborhoods are embracing the idea of bicycling as a means of transportation this change can be seen in South Side and West Side neighborhoods in Chicago today.
When asked what drove participants to become champions of change, many expressed the desire to change the future of their communities and the nation. Finally, the honorees charged future students that were present at the ceremony to consider careers in the transportation field and to become strong and informed advocates.
Our team would like to congratulate the Champions of Change in this round’s group for their work to improve their communities. Interested in learning more about the awardees? The White House has profiles of all of the awardees participating in the Beyond Traffic event here. Know a great leader who should be among the Champions of Change? Nominate them here.