Community Spotlight

Funding For Safe Routes

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law there is a lot of funding available through the Department of Transportation and other sources that many don’t know about. Creating Healthy Communities Program Coordinator Wanda Cruz partnered with Sullivan 180 and the Sullivan County Department of Planning and Community Development to host a Zoom conference on Funding for Safe Routes, designed specifically for Sullivan County.

America Walks presented Active Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations, followed by Sullivan County Planning and Sullivan 180, who brought it together by connecting directly to Sullivan County’s local data, health outcomes, and grant opportunities. Cornell University’s Local Roads Program provided statelevel perspectives to funding, while the Federal Highway Administration Resource Center Office of Innovations Implementations ended the session by providing information and resources needed to submit a competitive grant application at the federal level. You can access the recording at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4j710cLeSnY.

Staff Spotlight

MEET JOY LEON!

Joy grew up in Grahamsville, NY. As a youth, she participated in a 4-H group with her family and began to learn about all the beauty and quirks of rural NY. In middle and high school, she participated in FFA, band, and track & field at TriValley. In 2011, she moved to Washington, DC to study business at American University. Four years and many international adventures later, Joy returned to upstate NY with a bachelor’s degree. Joy spent the first several years after college searching for the sweet spot between what she does best and what she loves most. During this time she built her experience in fields including event production, hospitality, food service, lifeguarding, teaching, administration, merchandising/sales, and management. She is delighted to now bring her skills to CCE!