What do you need? What are you willing to do?
By KALI PLIEGO, Crime Prevention Specialist
Residents of the neighborhood have been telling me what they need—someone to look out for the safety of the neighborhood children amid an opioid epidemic and unsheltered homeless crisis.
We are painfully aware of all the areas where we do not have any control, so what can we do?
Bus Stop Guardians is a program that adds protective factors on school bus routes by directing neighborhood volunteers to take intentional walks in the morning hours.
We soft launched the program two weeks ago and are building out the details to 1. Provide uniforms for the volunteers, 2. Inform parents of the program, 3. Ensure that our volunteers are safe people to encounter children as they wait for their bus.
One volunteer has been out walking every single morning since we began and let me know how good she feels by doing something helpful for the kiddos and their families.
Today I walked my route for the first time. It was a beautiful morning! I’m looking forward to building community with the families on my route over time.
We need more volunteers to fill out the schedule, covering the 7am and 8am hours to begin with. I am aware of buses that also run in the 6am and 9am hours, so we can be flexible with your availability!
Email kali.pliego@minneapolismn.gov (subject: Bus Stop Guardians) for more information.
Kali Pliego is a Crime Prevention Specialist serving the Phillips Community within the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct.
