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By Angela Welsh, director

Albemarle Rural Planning Organization

While many families are balancing virtual learning and adjusting to an unusual school year, the Albemarle Rural Planning Organization (ARPO) and the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) want to help North Carolina kids focus on joy by hosting a virtual art contest.

All elementary and middle school kids who live in the ARPO region (including Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties) are encouraged to participate by submitting their own artwork.

Prizes for the top two submissions will be awarded to the artist in two age groups: the Safety Seals (K-5th grade) and the Careful Cats (6th-8th grade).

Scans or pictures of submissions must be submitted via email to trafficsafety@ncsu.edu no later than October 25. The winners will be announced on October 31.  For more information, please visit ncvisionzero.org/arpo.

This art contest is a part of a Safe Routes to School partnership project which launched in the area last year.  The goal of the project is to encourage physical activity and improve the safety of kids walking and rolling in Northeastern North Carolina.

For questions or additional information, please contact Tracy Anderson (ITRE at NC State University) at Tracy_Anderson@ncsu.edu