To provide a practical response to the information presented in Dangerous By Design, a Smart Growth America report that identifies unsafe road design as the main culprit in rising pedestrian deaths, this panel will explore a unique partnership between WABA, Howard University, and local high school students to address traffic violence before it happens through a near-miss data collection model. Through this model, practitioners will gain valuable insights into methods to capture, integrate, and respond to lived experiences. DC residents will learn about local efforts and strategies that can work alongside and be better incorporated into the DDOT process.
Check out the full Equity Summit agenda
Meet the panelists
Dr. Stephen Arhin
Dr. Stephen A. Arhin, is a Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the Director of the Howard University Transportation Research Center. He holds a B.S in Civil Engineering from University of Science and Technology (Ghana), a M.Eng. in Transportation Engineering from Howard University, Washington DC, and a D.Sc. in Transportation Engineering from The George Washington University. Dr. Arhin has significant experience in civil engineering with emphasis in highway engineering, traffic operations and safety, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. He is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in DC, MD, DE and VA. Dr. Arhin also possesses a Project Management Professional Certification (PMP) and a Certification in Research Administration (CRA) and finally a registered Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE). He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Jessica Hart
Jessica Hart is the mother of Allison (Allie) Hart. Allie was five years old when she was killed while riding her bike in a crosswalk in her Washington, DC, neighborhood on September 13, 2021. Jessica is a member of Families for Safe Streets and a vocal advocate for safe street design, vehicle regulation, and driver accountability to prevent other families from enduring the tragedy her family bears on a daily basis.
Jeremiah Lowery
Jeremiah Lowery is the Director of Advocacy for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. He is passionate about transportation justice and community empowerment. He was named one of Elevation D.C. Magazine’s 50 under 50 Food Heroes and he was also named Black Millennial for Flint’s Young, Gifted & Green 40 Under 40. Jeremiah was appointed by the Mayor of D.C. to be on the District’s first Food Policy Council, he is a former board member of the D.C.Sierra Club, WPFW radio, and former Chair of D.C. for Democracy, an all-volunteer-run advocacy group in DC with over 5,000 members.
Jeremiah is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of the University of Maryland – College Park.
Jacob Smith
Jacob Smith is a visionary and accomplishеd lеadеr committеd to advancing youth racial and health equity through еquitablе and inclusive youth еngagеmеnt. With a comprehensive background in nonprofit organizational managеmеnt, fundraising, and business dеvеlopmеnt, Jacob has spent nearly a dеcadе catalyzing positivе changе in communities across thе US. As thе Executive Dirеctor of thе National Organizations for Youth Safеty (NOYS), Jacob is at thе forеfront of thе organization’s mission to crеatе safе and sustainable communitiеs for marginalized youth. He is thе driving forcе behind the organization’s refreshed mission and vision for harnessing the power of marginalized youth to address transportation equity and mobility justice through cutting-edge programs and campaigns. He is also a Regional Leader of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and believes young people are the most powerful organic intellectuals in our movement.
The Equity Summit will uplift strategies to advance racial equity in smart growth amidst growing political uncertainty in 2024 and beyond, as well as a shift away from explicit equity initiatives by elected officials, state agencies, and the private sector.