Putting Child Advocacy into Practice

As submitted by parent leader Leah Maugans

Being a part of PLTI has created a unique opportunity for personal growth, community involvement, and advocacy training for children and families.?

Last October, my son was hit by a car. Thankfully he has recovered, but the experience was terrifying for our entire family. Immediately after the accident, I requested that a crosswalk be put in to help prevent future accidents. At the time, I?didn't realize the amount of effort it would entail between?asking?for a crosswalk and actually getting the city to?approve?a crosswalk. Being a part of PLTI provided me with the guidance and resources that I needed to effectively advocate for the need for a crosswalk to be placed. In addition, the support from the PLTI community helped me persist despite challenges along the way.?

I learned that community support is essential regardless of the level of advocacy. It took 10 months, attending and speaking at four city meetings, walking door-to-door for a petition, creating consensus among neighbors, many letters to the?city, and most certainly getting out of my comfort zone to get the city to approve the crosswalk. All of which required perseverance, especially as a busy parent. Having the PLTI community support throughout this process provided me with that extra push I needed to stick with it in an organized, structured way. The Crosswalk should be completed this month, one year after the accident. Now, there will be a safe way for children and families in my neighborhood to cross a busy street and access the rest of our community.

PLTI is one of the most valuable experiences I have had as an adult, and I am so grateful for this community.