Public Involvement

Event Archives 2004 | 2005 | 2007 | 2008 Taking It To The Streets 2006 COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES   During the first school visit to Morrow Elementary, Ms. Ruggs and Ms. Diprima were presented with a Certification of Appreciation by Ms. Lahoma Scarlette of the Broward MPO. The students at Morrow Elementary chose to wear their new MPO t-shirts during the return visit to their school.   Morrow Elementary May 5, 2006 The MPO staff, along with Buddy, Chic and Egg, visited Morrow Elementary in North Lauderdale for the final 2005-2006 school presentation. To date, we have visited 13 elementary schools with this educational program. The students at Morrow Elementary were very eager participants in the 50-minute program, answering questions and providing insight into where we could build a sidewalk at their school. On the return visit, the students decided to surprise MPO staff by wearing their t-shirts for the follow-up presentation. Fun was had by all and the basic concepts of transportation planning were presented in an engaging format for these 4th graders.   Students get an opportunity to cast their vote on the names for Chic and Egg. Everyone was eager to receive an MPO lunchbox during the presentation.   Tedder Elementary April 19, 2006 When it comes to making an interactive program a hit, there is nothing like an active audience! On our third stop in April of the 2005-2006 school year, fifty 3rd & 4th grade students at Tedder Elementary participated in the student outreach program. All of the students appreciated the MPO t-shirts and commemorative lunch bags. The students even wore the MPO t-shirts on our return visit to the individual classrooms. Students were asked during the initial presentation to take home their folders and have an adult help them determine how to best use the $100.00 budget provided to them in one of their homework assignments. It was a fun exercise and each student participated.     Ms. Scarlette facilitates the voting process during the return visit to Plantation Elementary School. On behalf of the Plantation Elementary School, Mrs. Pierre-Louis and Mr. McNally accept a Certificate of Appreciation from the Broward County MPO.   Plantation Elementary April 18, 2006 The second school visit during the month of April took place at Plantation Elementary the day after the student's Spring Break ended. The teachers at Plantation Elementary taught the students information the week prior from an advance teacher's guide. All of the children impressed MPO staff with information they were able to retain about the MPO during the week-long holiday. They certainly had a great time trying to answer each question! A framed certificate of appreciation was given to the teachers to hang in their school's office, to show appreciation for their participation in the Children's Outreach Program.   Many parents took time to fill out the MPO survey during the Lauderhill Spring Fling. The children enjoyed the activities at the Lauderhill Spring Fling... especially when the Easter Bunny stopped by!   Lauderhill Spring Fling February 25, 2006 Whether attendees were eager to participate in the annual Easter Egg hunt, or they were there to celebrate the beginning of Spring, everyone enjoyed the Lauderhill Spring Fling. The MPO staff engaged more than 30 event participants who took time to complete an MPO survey during the event, which took place outside the Lauderhill Boys and Girls Club. There were many kids activities and games that day, so while the children took part in the fun, many parents had the opportunity to learn more about the MPO's role in transportation planning. The majority of the event attendees surveyed had written comments to share…ranging from questions about pedestrian facilities, ridesharing, and Broward County Transit.   The students at Sanders Park Elementary listen intently as the answers are discussed. Buddy was very popular at Sanders Elementary; everyone enjoyed his company!   Sanders Park Elementary April 4, 2006 April was a busy month in 2006 for the Children's Outreach Program. The first presentation that month was at Sanders Park Elementary, where students from three 4th grade classrooms joined the MPO staff in the school cafeteria to learn about the MPO. After the students participated in the event, they received goodies for being such a great audience. On April 6th, MPO staff returned to the school to collect the homework assignments. While staff was on hand, they went through each of the creative names that students gave to the MPO characters, Chic and Egg, and reviewed the choices students chose on their very own Transportation Questionnaire.   MPO staff like Angela Gray, pictured, surveyed mall attendees at the Education, Health & Business Expo John Ramos, MPO staff member, shares the recent MPO newsletter, Shortcuts, and the MPO Fact Sheet with a visitor to the booth.   Broward Mall Education, Health & Business Expo March 25, 2006 On Saturday, March 25th, MPO staff participated in the Broward Mall Education, Health, & Business Expo in the City of Plantation. As Broward Mall attendees exited Macy's Department Store, they stopped by the MPO booth to learn about the transportation planning process and how they can get involved. More than 70 mall visitors participated in the transportation survey offered by MPO staff. The event was well attended and many comments and concerns were addressed. The majority of the concerns were regarding East-West traffic congestion and a need for more roadways.   MPO staff provided MPO t-shirts to those who participated in the survey at the event. The Orange Blossom Parade was fun for everyone! Orange Blossom Festival February 25, 2006 A large portion of the Town of Davie's community came out for the annual Orange Blossom Festival, held at the Town Hall. On February 25th, a large community parade was staged that included horseback riders, horse-drawn carriages, parade floats, and marching bands for a full-day of celebrating the Town of Davie's history. The Broward County MPO staff was there with the 34-foot Mobile Information Station (MIS) to speak to the public one-on-one about the transportation planning process and to gather survey results from the parade goers. MPO staff surveyed 100 attendees during the event. Almost 60% of the people surveyed stated that their number one transportation concern was congestion. Many solutions were offered during the surveying, such as lowering speed limits, providing community shuttle services, and timing traffic signals to reduce gas consumption. Councilmember Judith Paul, MPO member, also stopped by the MIS and spoke with Davie parade attendees as she continued her trek on the parade receiving line.   Students at Thurgood Marshall did a great job participating in the interactive program. All of the students smile for the camera! Thurgood Marshall Elementary February 10, 2006 On Buddy's next stop of his six-school tour for the 2005-2006 school calendar year, he got the opportunity to participate in an "in-school field trip" associated with the Thurgood Marshall Elementary 21st Century program. The students that participated are a part of a unique grant study program, in which the children are able to get involved with an afternoon curriculum until 5:00 p.m. versus the standard 2:00 p.m. school day ending. With almost 50 students, Buddy, the remote controlled car, helped teach students the importance of communicating transportation needs by shaping their school environment with a game called "Where Should the Road Go."     The students at Stephen Foster Elementary enjoyed the lunchboxes and folder of learning materials. Everyone posed for the camera with our favorite macot, Buddy! Stephen Foster Elementary February 9, 2006 On our first school stop for the 2005-2006 school calendar year, Buddy, the remote controlled car, and his friends Chic and Egg, made a presentation at Stephen Foster Elementary School. The students had fun participating in the program and the principal, Mr. Cassaw, made sure that the whole team got involved. They even voted on the new names for Chic and Egg at their school. This year, MPO staff made a return visit one week after the initial presentation to collect the homework assignment and to ask the students to cast their ballot to give Chic and Egg their official school names.