2022 Kansas City Regional Award Winner

Harrisonville Cares Coalition and TRACTION Team

Heartbreak fell upon the community of Harrisonville, MO just four days into the 2016-2017 school year, when 16-year old Harrisonville High student Cory Turner was walking home from school and was tragically hit and killed by another student. As a result of this crash, Harrisonville students and community members immediately became involved with the TRACTION program, to change the dynamic of highway safety within their school and community.

Additionally, the Harrisonville Cares Coalition, a city-school-public partnership, was formed to identify and address areas of concern with vehicular and pedestrian traffic movements throughout the city of Harrisonville. The coalition impacts the community by implementing safety plans that coincide with the City’s plan.

Since 2017, Chief John Hofer and Officer Scott Ramsey with the Harrisonville Police Department, have provided leadership that motivates Harrisonville TRACTION and the coalition to develop and put action plans together that address areas such as Occupant Protection, Distracted Driving, Impaired Driving, Speed & Aggressive Driving, and Pedestrian Safety.

The impact of the work from these groups can be felt throughout the region and state. The coalition completed an initiative to keep pedestrians safer by partnering with the Harrisonville Streets Department, in which they installed crosswalk flashers and signs throughout the city. In 2022, Harrisonville TRACTION youth, with the help of Officer Ramsey, testified before Missouri Legislation/MO Senate Committee to advance the Distracted Driving Legislation in conjunction with the “Hands-Free Missouri” members.

Through public awareness and by influencing public policies, the Harrisonville TRACTION team and Harrisonville Cares Coalition are moving Missouri to zero fatalities. They are a team in action – implementing plans to change bad behaviors.