Local Organizations Rally to Restore Intersection Mural for Student Safety

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Aug 13, 2021, 13:07 ET

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase student and pedestrian safety at and around Los Amigos Elementary School in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca., the City of Rancho Cucamonga gathered partners together to help restore the Los Amigos intersection mural, create safe walking paths, and implement traffic calming strategies in a historically underserved neighborhood.

IEHP's Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton, Governing Board Member Eileen Zorn, and Community Health Senior Director Cesar Armendariz visited the Los Amigos neighborhood to support the project and paint an IEHP logo on one of the sidewalk paths.

Utilizing a SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) grant in partnership with Music Changing Lives and a grant from America Walks, the city was $10,000 short in completing the project and reached out to Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) for support. "This is more than a sponsorship," said Marci Coffey, IEHP director of community partnerships. "This is an all-hands-on-deck effort to create safe spaces for our community, and we're thrilled to be a part of it."

In coordination with City staff, Music Changing Lives and their artist and Rancho Cucamonga resident, Chris Becktel, took the lead in creating sidewalk art in the neighborhood surrounding the school and will also assist with the task of restoring the intersection mural located at the intersection of 9^th Street and Baker Avenue, originally painted in 2018 with funding assistance from SCAG. In an effort to expand upon the traffic safety goals related to the initial 2018 project, additional semi-permanent infrastructure will be installed along 9^th Street between Grove and Vineyard Avenues, to try and influence slower speeds and heightened driver awareness.

Designed by Becktel, painted walking routes in surrounding neighborhoods have created accessible, interactive, and enjoyable routes for residents and students to walk along. "The creation of intentional walking spaces helps to break down perceptions that it's unsafe to walk in the neighborhood," said Erika Lewis-Huntley, Management Analyst III at the City of Rancho Cucamonga "The project also supports Healthy RC's 'Safe Routes to School Program,' which aims to create safer, more walkable routes for students to and from their school."

In completion of the project, IEHP's Chief Executive Officer, Jarrod McNaughton, and Governing Board Member, Eileen Zorn, were invited to paint the IEHP logo on one of the sidewalk paths.

"We hope these beautiful murals remind Los Amigos students and residents that they are cared for and are truly valued in our community," said McNaughton. "Working in step with partners and communities in this way, we can make lasting and effective strides to ensure our communities enjoy the optimal care and vibrant health they deserve."

About IEHP
With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. In its 25th year, IEHP is supporting more than 1.4 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plans and has a growing network of over 7,300 providers and nearly 2,500 Team Members. Through dynamic partnerships with Providers and Community Organizations, paired with award-winning service and a tradition of quality care, IEHP is fully committed to their vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. For more information, visit iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)