Athens in Motion Commission

Athens in Motion Commission EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 Location: Public Works Conference Room Attendees ● Daniel Sizemore TPW ● Teresa Friedlander AiMC ● Julie Jaeger AiMC Welcome Meeting called to order at 4:40 pm ● Agenda additions/approval ● Previous Meeting Minutes additions/approval Minutes Reviewed Communications Resources: ● Branding and marketing guide ● Outreach and communications strategy Education & Communication Discussion: A key element for all communications is the Athens in Motion website. Daniel shared a storymap for the Athens in Motion Plan that he is working on which would add a lot of value. There are some inaccuracies which need to be fixed before we could link to this through the official webpage. Daniel suggests that AiMC schedule a long (three hours) working meeting to review and update the storymap. Before scheduling, Daniel will verify the locations of the datasets for the maps. In general the webpage needs to be more useful. Teresa shared the Santa Rosa, California, bike and pedestrian website which is visually pleasing, informative, and easy to understand. Daniel shared the Leisure Services webpage which provides a much more useful and inviting user experience. Daniel will check with the Public Information Office about whether AiM Commissioners may access (for purposes of improving and updating) ACCGov websites. A UGA student, Victoria Andrey, requested an interview to discuss sustainability and transportation. Teresa invited Julia to the Zoom meeting at 2:30 pm on September 20, 2023. Julia agreed to take over as chair of the Education & Communications Subcommittee. In the interim, Teresa will set up a meeting with her to go over the ECC’s work. 1 Reviewed Social Media: ● Facebook page ● Instagram Account Ideally, AiM would post to Facebook three times per week and at least once weekly for Instagram. Content development is the challenge. Shirelle had collected a file of Vision Zero graphics from a conference she attended which we looked at. Very few are usable for AiM’s purposes but could be redesigned using Canva or Adobe Illustrator to be eye-grabbing. We discussed purchasing a Canva site license for Athens in Motion to use for developing graphics and social media posts. For one person, the license is $120/year. AiM Commissioners could possibly share a single account initially. Canva offers “team” pricing. Teresa will follow up on that with them. Draft Work Plan Example: Education and Communications Work Plan for Athens in Motion Commission - 2023 1. Website Update (Q1-Q2): ● Collaborate with a web developer to refresh the Athens in Motion webpage. ● Ensure the website is user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and regularly updated with relevant information. ● Highlight sections on transportation equity and sustainability. 2. Story Map Finalization (Q1-Q2): ● Complete and finalize the Story Map for the Athens in Motion Plan. ● Ensure it effectively communicates the goals and progress of the plan. ● Promote the Story Map through social media and community channels. 3. Wikimap Engagement (Q2-Q3): ● Encourage public engagement through the Athens in Motion Wikimap. ● Facilitate workshops or webinars to educate the public on how to use and contribute to the Wikimap. ● Regularly review and incorporate feedback from users. 4. Community Outreach (Q2-Q4): ● Plan to table at three key community events throughout the year. ● Create engaging displays, including a large map, to attract and inform event attendees. ● Share information about transportation equity, safety, and sustainability. 5. Social Media Engagement (Ongoing): ● Maintain active social media profiles for Athens in Motion. ● Share regular updates on progress, events, and initiatives. ● Encourage discussions on transportation infrastructure, sustainability, and urbanism. 6. Coordination with Elected Officials (Ongoing): ● Establish regular communication channels with elected officials. ● Share updates on Athens in Motion's work and achievements. ● Advocate for transportation policies that promote equity and sustainability. 7. Transportation Equity Focus (Throughout): ● Ensure that all communication materials and outreach efforts emphasize transportation equity. ● Highlight the importance of equitable access to transportation options. ● Collaborate with community organizations focused on equity. 8. Evaluation and Adaptation (Ongoing): ● Regularly assess the effectiveness of your education and communication efforts. ● Adapt the plan as needed based on feedback and changing priorities. 2 9. Resource Allocation: ● Consider the availability of volunteer resources and budget constraints when planning activities. ● Seek partnerships with local organizations and universities for additional support. 10. Reporting and Documentation (Throughout): ● Maintain clear records of all activities, including attendance at events, social media analytics, and public feedback. Produce periodic reports to share with the Athens-Clarke County government and the public. Tabling Opportunities: We briefly discussed tabling at the PorchFest on October 15th. Julie will contact Historic Athens to determine table location. Adjourn Next meeting date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 4:30 pm Adjourn: 6:10 pm 3