2025 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award honors Pueblo of Jemez and Minneapolis

Road safety actions benefit youth active travel in both rural and urban places

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., MINNEAPOLIS and PUEBLO OF JEMEZ, N.M. (April 29, 2025) – The National Center for Safe Routes to School is pleased to name the Pueblo of Jemez, N.M., and the City of Minneapolis as recipients of the 2025 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award. The Pueblo of Jemez is a federally recognized tribe of nearly 4,000 people in a rural area, and the City of Minneapolis is home to more than 420,000 people. Despite their size differences, these places demonstrate parallel successes in prioritizing multimodal youth transportation and safety by focusing on changes to policy and the built environment and partnership building. This is the first year that the award committee chose to give two awards.

“These communities have intentionally invested in partnerships and infrastructure changes that will support and sustain multimodal opportunities for children and families for years to come,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School, UNC Highway Safety Research Center. “Their achievements and commitment serve as examples for other communities small and large.”

The committee welcomed the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the Pueblo of Jemez and its safety partnerships. The Pueblo of Jemez community proactively identified risks, zeroed in on pedestrian safety in their plans, and built partnerships within the community and with state and local partners. This work was complemented by the construction of a two-mile separated walking path, direct support for local students through a new quick-build traffic calming project near Jemez Day School, and funding to provide free bicycles and helmets for students.

“The Pueblo of Jemez is honored to receive the Vision Zero for Youth Leadership Award,” said George Shendo, Pueblo of Jemez Governor. “This national recognition of the unwavering commitment and collaboration of local leadership, tribal programs, community members, local, state, and federal partners, is focused on the protection and wellbeing of our children and our future. We are proud to lead by example.”

The award committee was equally impressed by the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) collaboration on Vision Zero traffic safety and Safe Routes to School work. These efforts included implementing a citywide 20-miles-per-hour speed limit on local neighborhood streets, traffic safety improvements around schools, introduction of speed safety cameras near schools, and youth engagement to inform policy and street improvements. As a result of these efforts, there have been reductions in motorist speeds by schools with recent treatments and big increases in the number of students learning bicycle safety.

“Our kids need to be focused on what they’re learning in school, not whether or not they’re going to get there safely,” said Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis. “This award is a testament to our ongoing commitment to creating safer streets, where every child and every adult can walk and bike without worry.”

“Minneapolis Public Schools is proud to be recognized for its efforts around creating safer routes to school for our students who bike and walk,” said Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, MPS Superintendent. “Our student bike education programs combined with the city improvements like upgraded streets and reduced speed limits have a positive effect on our students’ safety.”

“Streets should be safe for all, and this year’s winning places are addressing the needs of under-served communities; not just young people, but indigenous communities, pedestrians, and cyclists. It is heartening to see Pueblo of Jemez and Minneapolis commit to long-term, equitable and safe transport solutions,” said Natalie Draisin, FIA Foundation Director of the North America Office & United Nations Representative.

The Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award, now in its eighth year, recognizes cities, counties, and tribal governments that are taking bold steps to stop severe injuries and deaths among child and youth pedestrians and bicyclists. The award aims to highlight noteworthy practices and inspire other cities to act. Past recipients include Arlington, Va.; Los Angeles; New York City; Fremont, Calif.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Seattle. The Milwaukee Safe Routes to School Program received an innovation award during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award is presented by the Vision Zero for Youth initiative, led by the National Center for Safe Routes to School with support from the FIA Foundation and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. Award ceremonies are being planned in partnership with the communities and will take place later this year.

The U.S. Award Committee includes representatives from road safety organizations and government agencies including Atlanta Department of Transportation, Composing Mobility LLC/Freedom to Move Youth Movement, COMTO, FIA Foundation, Federal Highway Administration, National Center for Safe Routes to School, Institute of Transportation Engineers, National Association of City Transportation Officials, New York City Department of Transportation, Toole Design, Safe Kids Worldwide and the Safe Routes Partnership. The Vision Zero for Youth initiative also presents an International Award to recognize achievement in low- and middle-income countries. Learn more at www.visionzeroforyouth.org/awards.

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About Vision Zero for Youth

Launched by the National Center for Safe Routes to School in 2016, the Vision Zero for Youth initiative encourages communities and elected officials to focus on safety improvements and efforts to slow traffic speeds where children and youth travel. Starting with youth can be the spark that creates community support for a broader Vision Zero program to eliminate all traffic fatalities. The initiative includes resources, ideas for taking action and national and international recognition programs. Support for the initiative is provided by the FIA Foundation and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. For more information about Vision Zero for Youth, visit visionzeroforyouth.org.

About the National Center for Safe Routes to School

Established in 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School helps communities change their culture around safe and active travel. Its role includes leading the Vision Zero for Youth Initiative, national coordination and technical assistance for U.S. Walk and Roll to School Day and Bike and Roll to School Day, and providing tools, training, research and evaluation for safe walking and bicycling for children and youth. The National Center for Safe Routes to School served as the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program for eleven years. It is located at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, hsrc.unc.edu.