This week, Charise Stephens, Macon-Bibb County Office of Small Business Affairs Director, won the 2021 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) East Regional Champion of the Year for her efforts in empowering youths in our community.
SRTS empowers communities to make walking and biking to school a safe and routine activity once again. Stephens is the founder of U Create Macon, a youth cycling program, and even during the pandemic, she worked hard to make sure youths were aware of walking and biking to school, safely.
“My goal is to get people active, especially the youth,” said Stephens. “As I’m also on the Pedestrian Safety Review Board, I need to make sure kids are safe when they’re out and active. I’m the type of person that’s jumping out of the car, giving people a helmet and an armband.”
U Create Macon distributed more than 140 refurbished bikes to kids and completed maintenance on more than 100 additional bikes in three Macon-Bibb neighborhoods. Stephens thought of innovative ways to connect with kids from take-home camp kits and held events for them to get involved.