In 2024, the Safe Routes Partnership was thrilled support communities to organizing Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events. We awarded 50 schools and community organizations across the U.S. with mini-grants to assist with their celebrations – and celebrate they did! On November 14th, students walked, biked, and rolled to school in honor of Ruby. Each celebration has its own unique flair, from a StoryWalk® installation against the beautiful backdrop of Santa Fe, New Mexico to a lively community walk in Louisville, Mississippi. Some grantees invited elected officials to speak at their celebration; others issued proclamations declaring November 14 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Ruby’s message spread across small town and big cities and resonated with young people and the young at heart.
My message is really that racism has no place in the hearts and minds of our children.” - Ruby Bridges
About Ruby Bridges
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges etched her name in history when she integrated all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Since then, Ruby has become a national icon for her courageous action and continues to inspire people to stand up to racism and bullying. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day has introduced her story to a new generation of young people and sparked meaningful conversations about transportation equity. We encourage you to learn about Ruby’s story and share it with others.
Photo: Heritage Academy, Atlanta, Georgia
The History of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day began with a group of fifth-grade students in South San Francisco in San Mateo County, California. After learning about Ruby Bridges in school, the students wanted to create a special day to celebrate Ruby’s courage. With support from the San Mateo County Safe Routes to School program, the students turned their idea into a Walk to School Day celebration. In 2021, the California State Senate passed an official resolution proclaiming November 14th as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Learn more about how these students sparked a national movement.
Keep reading to find out how communities celebrated Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in 2024!
Photo: Warner Arts Magnet Elementary, Nashville, Tennessee
Let’s Make It Official
Since the California State Senate passed an official Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day resolution, elected officials across the country have been participating in celebrations and issuing proclamations in their own communities. Here are a few ways that elected officials supported Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in 2024:
Want to know how to issue a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day proclamation in your community? Find more free resources on our website.
Background photo: Northside Elementary, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Leaders of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
This year’s celebrations saw high school students step up and take charge. At Colonial High School in Orlando, Florida, the Student Government Association organized a walk to school event, emceed a trivia game about Ruby Bridges, and created life-sized Ruby Bridges cutouts with questions for students to answer throughout the day.
Students at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Academy in Atlanta, Georgia brought Ruby’s story to life using virtual reality and creating a colorful classroom display.
And at Bethel School District in Eugene, Oregon, high school students read books about Ruby Bridges to elementary school students. These young trailblazers are honoring Ruby’s legacy with passion and purpose, demonstrating the power of student voices.
Looking to partner with youth on Safe Routes projects? This factsheet provides case studies, tips, and best practices for high school engagement.
Background photo: Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Academy, Atlanta, Georgia
Connecting Across Cultures
At Field Elementary, a Mandarin immersion school in Pasadena, California, caregivers and students walked to school and heard from school officials about their experiences with racism. One of the event organizers shared about the impact of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on the school community:
Because we have a large Chinese population at school, our Parent Leads work extremely hard to give our students other cultural perspectives and this event made a HUGE impact in that way. Many of our students knew who Ruby was but didn't understand the extent of the racism or fully comprehend what it was truly like…In the end, everyone walked away from the event having learned about Ruby and her experience and most walked away feeling deeply moved.”
Background photo: Field Elementary School, Pasadena, California
The Power of Partnership
Community partners were eager to participate in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Trailnet in St. Louis, Missouri, invited local businesses and nonprofits to join their celebration, part of a larger effort to deepen community relationships.
Hobart Public Schools partnered with Great Plains Youth and Family Services to host a walk through downtown Hobart, Oklahoma.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, students at Propel Northside started their Ruby Bridges Day with a visit and discussion with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief Amera Gilchrist, the first Black woman EMS chief in the city.
Other communities used their celebrations to raise awareness about traffic safety and health and wellness.
In Mendota, Illinois, Northbrook Middle School students discussed how to improve sidewalk accessibility in their neighborhood.
Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) in Lancaster, California, integrated wellness, stretching, and physical education into their activities.
“Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) feels that many students were able to express what it means to them to be kind to others and it served as a reminder to the older students that it’s okay to slow down and be present for one another. This event created a safe place for peers to gather with one another in their own school.”
In Washington, DC, Seasoned Settlers hosted a two-day Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day celebration at Anne Beers and Leckie Elementary Schools. Children's National Hospital and Seasoned Settlers also led a collaborative mural, where students added footprints to a paper “red carpet” symbolizing walking with Ruby.
Explore our community engagement guide for ideas on how to organize Safe Routes projects with local partners.
Background photo: Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH), Lancaster, California
StoryWalk® Takes Center Stage
StoryWalk® combines the love of reading with the joy of physical activity by displaying the pages of a children’s book along a designated route. Several communities installed StoryWalks using the book “I Am Ruby Bridges.” These creative displays introduced Ruby’s story to a new generation and got students walking and rolling. Check out some of the Ruby Bridges StoryWalks from this year’s celebrations!
If you love these StoryWalk® installations, check out our Safe Routes StoryWalk project with Washington, DC Public Library!
Art for Change
Heritage Academy, led by Dr. Marlo Barber, celebrated by dressing up like Ruby Bridges. The tiny Rubys completed activities, made art projects, and had grade-level discussions. The school recreated Ruby's brave walk to school.
We’re Just Getting Started
After the success of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day 2024, communities are already looking to the future. The town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina celebrated their inaugural walk with almost 100 families walking together to school, and the town plans to add more schools and communities in their next go around. Other communities expressed similar hopes of expanding their celebrations, with some ready to host events statewide. The Safe Routes Partnership was thrilled to lead the charge in 2024, and we look forward to growing the movement in 2025!
Credits:
Safe Routes Partnership