Participants to Identify Local Projects for Improved Pedestrian Access
Santa Fe — AARP New Mexico is pleased to announce that Dennis Filipe Jr., of Acoma Pueblo, and Nadine Kowice, of Laguna Pueblo, are among five New Mexicans that have completed a 6-month fellowship with the 2023 New Mexico State Walking College and were recognized earlier this week in a graduation ceremony.
The New Mexico State Walking College is a joint effort between AARP New Mexico and America Walks offering a six-month, distance-learning fellowship program for people interested in advocating to make their communities more walkable. Participants, known as fellows, completed a series of modules covering leadership development, coalition-building, walkable community design, local public policy, and strategic planning. The program is part of AARP’s Livable Communities initiative.
'Congratulations to this amazing group of committed local individuals, who have worked so hard this year to develop the skills and knowledge to advocate effectively with local officials for more walkable communities,” said Joseph Sanchez, AARP New Mexico State Director. “This in turn allows people to age in place, staying in their homes and communities as they get older.”
“We look forward to supporting the graduates’ efforts as they start to implement their action plans in communities throughout the state,” Sanchez said.
Each of the Walking College Graduates created a personal Walking Action Plan, laying out goals and strategies which will guide their advocacy in the coming months and years.
Felipe and Kowice are both planners with Acoma Pueblo. Their plan includes goals to update the Pueblo’s transportation safety policies, create a Trail Master Plan, and advocate for walkability.
“My niche is working with people, hoping to create a great experience or to be part of a group effort to create positive changes for a person or a community,” Kowice said at the start of the college. “My experiences have been joyful and rewarding in that I’ve helped people move into homes when they thought it was an impossible dream.”
Filipe is a tribal planner for Acoma Pueblo. He started his career assisting managing projects in South and North Dakota with the Federal Highway Administration where he then received his invitation and accepted to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Other graduates include: • Yvonne Allbritton- Chapman’s goals include improving lighting, pedestrian infrastructure, maintenance, and certain amenities in her community of Socorro.
• Mario Hooee, Zuni Pueblo MainStreet Executive Director, will make pedestrian safety and walkability improvements to the Highway 53 corridor through the Zuni Great Blocks Project.
• Don Miller’s Walking Action Plan is focused on making Santa Fe a more walkable/rollable community for persons with mobility challenges.
These Walking College Graduates received coaching throughout the Fellowship from the following Mentors:
§ Sheri Bozic, Planning, Development, and Transportation Director for Jemez Pueblo.
AboutTheWalkingCollege:
The Walking College was developed in 2014 by America Walks, with funding support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of the national program is to build the capacity of local walkability and pedestrian safety advocates to improve their communities. In 2021, AARP Livable Communities partnered with America Walks to develop and implement a series of State Walking Colleges. More info. at www.americawalks. org/walkingcollege.
About America Walks:
America Walks is a national education and advocacy organization devoted to increasing walking and expanding walkable communities throughout the U.S. With a network of more than 30,000 individuals and 700 partner organizations, America Walks’ programs include webinar broadcasts, federal advocacy initiatives, online technical assistance, community- based workshops, the National Walking Summit, and the Walking College. More info. at www.americawalks.org.