Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett visited and thanked safe passage workers for supervising children on their daily commute to and from school. Last year, there were more than 600 safe passage workers serving schools enrolled in this program, and this year CPS has doubled the program to hire 1200 safe passage workers as part of its expansion. This school year, CPS added 53 safe passage routes, expanding the program to serve a total of 91 schools.

To date, the City has delivered over 61,000 city services along safe passage routes before school and continues to deliver services throughout the year with tasks such as boarding up and demolishing buildings, trimming trees, addressing complaints about businesses, installing safe passage signs, cutting overgrown weeds, expanding the crosswalk painting program, removing graffiti, and repairing sidewalks and street lights.

Photo Caption 1- 2: Mayor Emanuel greets and thanks Safe Passage workers for their commitment to Chicago’s youth.

Photo Credit: Brooke Collins // City of Chicago