ASA Named Semi-Finalist in Strong Communities Competition

Stay tuned for online voting and announcement of the finalists on September 22. Winners will be selected by YOU via online public voting beginning on the 22nd!

What makes a strong community? “From Atlanta congestion to Atlanta Streets Alive!” does. This initiative of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition was selected by CommunityMatters and Ashoka’s Changemakers as one of 24 semi-finalists in a national competition, “Strong Communities: Engaging Citizens, Strengthening Place, Inspiring Change.”

The vitality and quality of life in small towns and urban neighborhoods throughout America are threatened by an array of challenges: one-size-fits-all development, decreasing social capital and disconnections between neighbors, struggling local economies, and rampant or sluggish growth. Even successful and established communities face serious challenges like changing economies, lack of affordable housing, substandard education and a global energy crisis.

The Strong Communities Competition was designed to address those problems and identify innovative projects and ideas that engage citizens to steer change and build strong communities across the United States and Canada. Atlanta Streets Alive was selected from among 260 entrants in the competition for the unique way that it is helping to create positive change, address community challenges and build a more vibrant future.
Imagine a street full of people of all ages and backgrounds, walking, biking, creating and laughing, together. A street temporarily closed to cars, but open to people. Imagine residents safely enjoying their city, socializing with neighbors, and engaging in healthy activities. Imagine if all of this were free, with absolutely no barriers to participation. By the people, for the people. Sound good yet?

Atlanta Streets Alive creates a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all ages, fitness levels and degrees of confidence to participate in healthy physical activities on city streets. During our pilot event this past May, 6,000-10,000 participants took advantage of safe streets to bike, walk, jog, dance, play active games, and participate in creative endeavors that incorporate movement. Building on the success of the May event, the next Atlanta Streets Alive is planned for Sunday, October 17 from 1-6PM.

The competition semi-finalists will now be reviewed by a panel of expert judges (Majora Carter, Founder of Sustainable South Bronx and President of the Majora Carter Group; Rich Harwood, Founder and President of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation; Jared Duval, author and Fellow at Demos; and Bonnie Shaw, Founder and Director of BYO Consulting).

If selected as a finalist in the Strong Communities competition, “From Atlanta congestion to Atlanta Streets Alive!” will need your vote! The judging panel will select eight finalists to receive trips to the CommunityMatters’10 conference in Denver, Colorado, sponsored by the Orton Family Foundation. Three grand prize winners will be selected by online voting among the general public and will receive $5000 each.

Visit Changemakers to see the entrants and semi-finalists, join the discussion, and to vote for the winners after September 22.