Hello newsletter readers,

One tool for promoting good mental health that I learned about was the GRIT program. The Greater Resilience Information Toolkit (GRIT) program, developed by the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado, was created with the intention of promoting enhanced social connection through natural support networks. It teaches us to identify when someone is struggling and how best to support them. In a few words, it focuses on “radical thriving.” Best of all, the GRIT toolkit is free and available to anyone.

In a different conference presentation, I was introduced to the concept of “trauma-informed design,” which incorporates healing and dignity into the design of affordable housing and similar spaces. The speakers were from Shopworks Architecture in Denver, and shared concepts that could be applied in any field, such as transit and mobility management. Trauma-informed design teaches us to build in elements of healing into the spaces around us, to incorporate elements of comfort, flexibility, nature, gentle sensory engagement, beauty and safety. I realize transit facilities are often seen as functional spaces, but imagine a bus driver coming off a shift where they encountered a very difficult situation; how valuable to them to have a break room that speaks to these trauma-informed principles, where they could begin to recover their equilibrium.

And speaking of difficult situations, did you know that the Community Transportation Assn. of America offers two free, related courses? Be sure to check out Conflict Management and De-Escalation for Transit Drivers and Supervisors as well as Understanding Passengers Who Have Experienced Trauma. The Denver RTD has also made its five online courses for de-escalating tense situations with individuals with mental health issues free: Affective Disorders Module, Thought Disorders Module, Developmental Disorders Module, Suicide Module, and Trauma Module. NCMM is grateful to these organizations for making these important trainings available to all.

Deadline: Nov. 23

Just announced, these grants, supported with funding from the Federal Transit Administration, will provide up to $75,000 and hands-on support by NCMM staff to communities wishing to pilot an innovative transportation solution to benefit community members who are currently underserved. Learn more.

NCMM is seeking letters of interest from communities who would like to have NCMM co-design and then facilitate a one-day meeting in their community to try to solve a particular perplexing mobility issue that requires cross-agency coordination. NCMM will cover costs associated with this meeting. Learn more.

NCMM’s Amy Conrick recently traveled to the Utah Urban, Rural, Specialized Transit Association annual conference to spend a day discussing the work of Utah mobility managers and how to address the challenges they face. These mobility managers do incredible work in making connections within their community, not only sharing transportation resources, but also to learn about transportation challenges that have yet to be solved. The group welcomed a speaker from the Utah State Office of Rural Health (SORH), who spoke about that agency’s work in rural public health clinics; URSTA and the Utah SORH look forward to working together. Email Amy Conrick to connect to your state’s SORH office or to enquire about a mobility management training.

NCMM’s Judy Shanley will address the Ohio Public Transit Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio on October 3-5 on next steps in implementing strategies related to the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM), including how to leverage the support and resources provided by CCAM partners.

NCMM’s Bill Wagner will present on “promising practices of transportation solutions for increasing access to social determinants of health/support services, with a focus on rural communities” at the Institute for High Quality Care Conference in Sacramento, Calif., on Oct. 6.

NCMM’s Amy Conrick will facilitate a roundtable discussion on transportation and rural health clinics on Oct. 6 in Harrisonburg, Va., at the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Annual Meeting. Danielle Nelson, Senior Program Analyst at the FTA’s Office of Rural and Targeted Transportation Programs will join NCMM at the conference.

MyNCMM platform, launched May 2022, is growing! In addition to having dedicated groups for each state and U.S. territory, we now have groups from Oregon focusing on veterans transportation issues, an NCMM PolicyMap Users group, and rural, small urban, and large urban mobility manager groups. Create your free MyNCMM account today by heading to NCMM’s homepage and clicking “Register” in the upper right hand corner. If you already have an account with NCMM, simply update your profile in your account’s settings. Then begin creating groups with mobility managers across the country. We look forward to connecting with you!

Check out the new Mobility Management Connections Book Club, the last Monday of the month at lunch time 12:30 p.m. CST. Our next book is Better Buses, Better Cities, by Steven Higashide. Find out more here. Please have your fare ready, your book bag and let’s take a ride on the MMC Book Bus!

NCMM wants you to submit Promising Practices from your community! A database of current and recent mobility management practices from across the country is in the works, showcasing implemented programs and services that have introduced a new or enhanced method of delivering mobility management and improved people's ability to travel around their communities. If you’re interested in sharing Promising Practices you know about, you can fill out the survey found here.

Offered by LG Electronics (LG), the LIFE’S GOOD AWARD seeks to uncover innovative solutions aligned with LG’s goal of creating a Better Life for All. A total of $1 million will be granted to help accelerate the development of the winning submissions. LIFE’S GOOD AWARD is an open innovation challenge that pursues environmental and social values, and aims to spread and share LG Electronics’ LIFE’S GOOD vision and values widely by discovering and supporting innovative solutions for the environment and people.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released the FY22 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the new Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This new discretionary grant program will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next 5 years to fund transportation projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today. State, local, and tribal governments and agencies are eligible to apply. Please note that this program has no cost sharing or matching requirement. For more information, visit the SMART program's website. The NOFO is available here. Register here for the pre-application webinar, Sep. 29, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET.

Oct. 5, 2022, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will address how change makers can mobilize the power of networks to develop high-impact strategies for social change? Featured speaker will be David Ehrlichman, co-founder of the Converge network and author of Impact Networks: Create Connection, Spark Collaboration, and Catalyze Systemic Change. Registration link.

Oct. 11-12, 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET. Offered by NTI, the goal of this course is to help transit professionals learn the necessary skills for reporting rural general public transit data to the NTD internet reporting website. Note: this course does not cover urban reporting including Full Reporting, Reduced Reporting or Safety & Security. More information.

Oct. 15 at CUNY School of Law in the heart of Long Island City, Queens. TransportationCamp is an unconference – every session is planned, proposed, and led by attendees like you. More information.

Nov. 30, 2:00 p.m. ET. Save the date for a webinar unveiling the updated Strategic Plan of the Federal Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility. Subscribe to the CCAM listserv to receive updated information about the webinar and other CCAM events.

Oct. 19 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Hosted by the North Carolina Public Transit Association. This webinar will focus on several efforts aimed at expanding the benefits of public transportation, and will highlight the following systems: 1) AARP North Carolina’s Livable Communities program 2) Age Friendly Mecklenburg’s Action Plan, 3) the EMBARK Transit (Oklahoma City, OK)’s Climb Ride program that provides families in the child welfare system with comprehensive transportation options. Registration link.

Mobility Management News is the newsletter of the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM), which is operated jointly by the Community Transportation Association, the American Public Transportation Association and Easter Seals under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration.