CNT’s Own “Under 35″ Award Winner
Ben Helphand, CNT’s Pedestrian Program Manager, has been chosen for the Community Renewal Society’s inaugural “35 Under 35″ honorees. The awards highlight the “importance of fresh voices in the fight to eliminate racism and poverty by recognizing emerging leaders.” The 35 local leaders were chosen based not on how well known they are with the general public, but through the important and ground-breaking work they have done within their immediate community or field.
Ben’s work in pedestrian advocacy focuses on making walking easier, safer, more pleasant and common. He produces public education and media campaigns on pedestrian safety and health and designs and executes research and analysis on contract basis for public and private entities.
Ben is also the Director of civicfootprint.org, CNT’s internet tool which personalizes information about political jurisdictions and political representation in Cook County, Illinois. He is also a founding board member of the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, a grassroots organization working to convert an unused freight railroad embankment on Chicago’s West Side into an elevated, linear park.
Asked about what he needs to continue his work, Ben says, “It’s not me that needs the support; it’s communities. They need the support to live up to their potential, to be able to organize, to be able to negotiate bureaucracies. They need access to better, more accessible, information and greater choice when it comes to transportation and nutrition. For me, I’d be happy to have a room full of chalkboards and the opportunity to collaborate with good people.”
(Photo courtesy of Paul Smith)
