Mississippi has certainly been busy with Safe Routes to School initiatives. For starters, they have awarded a total of 39 projects representing 31 communities and 87 schools. They have also had four statewide projects. In the most recent cycles, they awarded $2.5 million involving 12 communities, 26 schools and three statewide partners. The most recent awards were announced in September 2012, which brings their total amount awarded to date to $10.9 million.

As I continue to work regionally, across two states and a federal district, I am always looking for opportunities where people are already collaborating beyond their own jurisdictional lines. The National Capital Transportation Planning Board (TPB) is the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Washington, DC region.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this one is no exception. This is me on my 16^th birthday. Yes, I asked for and was given a bicycle for my 16^th birthday.

The Safe Routes to School Mississippi network prides itself on the ability to connect with those organizations within the state that are passionate about ridding the state of the childhood obesity epidemic. We continue our efforts in expanding our parameters to partners that are champions for the cause. While attending a meeting with the Obesity Coalition (formulated by The Part

October 3 was International Walk and Bike to School Day and we had an amazing experience all over the Bay Area celebrating the benefits of active transportation for our children.

We travel just over two miles to school each day with our two boys - by bike, of course, most days. I am proud that my ten-year old son is now riding his six-year old brother to school on a tag-along! Both boys insist on it now. This picture shows the Big Guy showing off his tough guy face on a recent school trip.