Safer Streets

Patricia Miller was taking a walk one morning on a busy street near her home, in Goodyear, Arizona. A car nearly jumped the curb. She was unharmed. But the car came “very, very close,” Miller told TIME for Kids.

WE ARE FAMILY Patricia Miller’s close call has inspired her grandson, William, to advocate for safer streets.

Miller and her grandson, William, often walk together on that road. He went to visit her that evening. She told him what had happened.

William Miller, now 10, told TIME for Kids that he’s “always known that there’s lots of street racing” on Estrella Parkway. “But after I heard that my grandma was nearly hit by a car, I was not happy. So I asked my dad, ‘What can we do to fix this?’ And he said, ‘Let’s go to city council.’”

That’s what they did. The experience has shown William the power of speaking out.

MEET THE PRESS William is interviewed by a local news show near Estrella Parkway, where he saw the need for a traffic light.

Voicing Concerns

Goodyear City Council meetings are open to the public. There’s time set aside for people to comment on community issues. William, then 8, wore a suit and tie for the meeting. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone. He spoke about people racing cars on Estrella Parkway. “It’s very dangerous,” he said. “I wonder if you guys have any solution to fix this.”

SPEAKING OUT Stories about William’s advocacy appear on the local news and on national TV after his January 8, 2024, appearance at city council.

Mayor Joe Pizzillo was impressed. In Goodyear, “we encourage young people to step up,” he says. “When I saw William come up [to the podium] . . . it was very refreshing.”

Plans to install a traffic signal on Estrella Parkway were already in place. But when William spoke at the meeting and shared his concerns with Goodyear’s police chief, it brought attention to the need for safer streets, Pizzillo says.

CHANGE-MAKERS The mayor of Goodyear, Arizona, Joe Pizzillo, was impressed by William’s speech at a city council meeting.

Six months after the January 2024 meeting, a traffic light was up. “After that happened,” William says, “I felt like I could do anything.”

Helping Others

Stories about William’s efforts to improve his town have appeared on the local news. They’ve also appeared on national TV. And he got an Outstanding Citizen of Goodyear award from his school district.

What community issues does William plan to tackle next? “I’m not sure yet,” he says. “I need to keep exploring.” But he knows that Pizzillo will listen. “I’ve told [William] he’s probably going to be sitting in this office at some time in the future,” Pizzillo says.

Will William one day be mayor? It remains to be seen. But he does aspire to a life of public service. “I really want to be the president,” the fourth grader says.

FUTURE LEADER William tries out Mayor Pizzillo’s desk. William is considering a career in public service—including a future run for president.

For now, William is happy with the changes on Estrella Parkway. “You don’t see cars racing each other to the end of the road,” he says. “It feels much safer.” His grandmother agrees.

Inspired?

Let William’s story inspire you to speak out for change in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can make a positive difference.