MENDOTA – Over the last few months there have been major steps to improve the state of sidewalks in Mendota.

The City of Mendota received a grant. Reimagine Mendota became a part of Project Sidewalk.

And on November 14, 122 fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders as well as 10 adults with the University of Illinois Extension, City of Mendota, Northbrook School, and Reimagine, took part in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

“As an extension of Project Sidewalk’s curriculum, seventh and eighth grade students pushed into fifth through eighth grade classrooms to introduce them to Ruby Bridges’ experience, to speak about the issue of accessibility and sidewalks, and to promote the walk as a school event,” said Sarah Henkel, eighth grade social studies teacher at Northbrook.

“The morning of the walk, after donuts were enjoyed, several of us spoke briefly, including two seventh grade students, an eighth-grade student, and a high school student.

“With help from our colleague Sandy Siemer, students created signs with facts about Ruby Bridges and they were placed along the route from Strouss Park to Northbrook School. We also included signs regarding statistics of accessibility, and a shout out to Elyse Waldron, the Northbrook student with the most Mendota labels and miles recorded through Project Sidewalk.

“The lives of our aging population, affordable housing residents, and youth are limited by the lack of a safe path. The event brought greater awareness that accessibility is an issue of equity. Everyone has a right to enjoy what Mendota has to offer, and we found a way to bring students into the conversation.”

The Ruby Bridges Foundation aims to offer programs and resources to guide and support younger generations on their pathway toward

a peaceful and harmonious future, including the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

Ruby Bridges, was 6 years old in 1960, when the African American walked to school to be the first non-white student at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.

Since then, she has become a national icon for both the civil rights movement and for youth as they can make a difference, too.

The Mendota walkers had an advantage as they used Project Sidewalk to help map the best route as they wanted to be part of Ruby’s walk and to further assist Mendota in improving the sidewalks.

“This idea originated from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Walkability Virtual Academy, I participated in the summer with 13 other Mendota volunteers,” Henkel said. “From that experience, I received information about the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and realized it would complement our work with Project Sidewalk.

“In advance, our Project Sidewalk students had walked the route and later labeled it through the Project Sidewalk software, so we knew the advantages – a portion of new sidewalk, painted crosswalk, curb cuts – and disadvantages – no sidewalk whatsoever – we would encounter with the larger group.”