Safe Routes to School: La Entrada Middle School

Menlo Park, CA (2023)

Project Description

The Our Voice Initiative built upon previous collaborations with San Mateo County’s Safe Routes to School program by creating an experimental curriculum that engaged students in the citizen science process and as agents of change in their communities. In this project, the Our Voice Initiative worked with La Entrada Middle School, a middle school located in Menlo Park, a city bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; and Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City to the west. Pre-surveys were used to assess students’ relevant knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions related to civic engagement and personal efficacy. The goal of this project was to generate ideas to increase the walk/bike accessibility as well as to increase middle schoolers’ abilities to advocate for change.  

Guiding Question 

What makes it easy or hard to walk or bike in your neighborhood and near the school campus (or campuses)?

 

Activities and Outcomes

Through the creation and implementation of this experiential curriculum and the results of pre-surveys, we identified future changes that would benefit the experimental curriculum. These include: allowing for ample time to identify partners and work with educators to plan for classroom implementation, planning for increased classroom time (at least 60 minutes) when coordinating with school leads, and working closely with educators to understand specific classroom norms before implementing the experimental curriculum. 

People and Collaborators

Project Lead(s): 

  • Jasmine Angelica Nevarez

 

Collaborating Organization(s) / Institutional Partner(s):

  • La Entrada Middle School
  • Safe Routes to School
  • San Mateo County Health Department: Public Health, Policy, and Planning
  • San Mateo County Office of Education

Our Voice Impact

"This experience has changed my life.  I see inadequacies everywhere I go as it relates to pedestrian access and safety.  I even stop [at] construction sites to remind them to be considerate of the handicapped in our community.  Thank you all so much for this awareness and empowerment to require change."

~ Pam Jiner, GirlTrek Advocacy Leader, Denver CO