Bittersweet News: Jeanie Ward-Waller Takes On Her Next Challenge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 18, 2017
Re: Bittersweet News
Sacramento, CA –The California Bicycle Coalition announces the bittersweet departure of Jeanie Ward-Waller from her role as CalBike’s Policy Director and congratulates her on her exciting new position. She will be a valued partner to CalBike in her new role where she has pledged to continue working with the state’s transportation justice advocates.
Ward-Waller led the state’s broad alliance of transportation justice advocates in reforming state transportation policy with a broad range of initiatives to achieve the coalition’s health, equity, and climate goals. Under her leadership, CalBike and its partners succeeded in securing key improvements in the landmark Senate Bill 1, including a $100 million annual investment in walking and biking. Ward-Waller’s policy team has helped to shape the state’s Active Transportation Program so that its benefits go to the communities who need it the most.
“Jeanie has done a fantastic job working with a broad and diverse group of advocates to keep them energized and focused on the big picture—and ensured advocates continued to partner together in the midst of challenging situations. We are grateful for her commitment to sustainability and excited to partner with her in the future,” said Chanell Fletcher, Associate Director of ClimatePlan.
“Jeanie is the most effective coalition-builder I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Snyder, CalBike’s executive director. “To those qualities she adds a deep and unwavering commitment to social justice, an incredible work ethic, an engineer’s attention to detail, and a sense of humor. We’re going to miss her.”
CalBike pledges to continue working for transportation justice, on issues beyond the bicycle, and in coalition with leaders and grassroots organizations from disadvantaged communities across the state. Its Board of Directors meets next week to finalize a new Strategic Plan, after which we will announce a recruitment process to find a new leader to implement that strategy.
