History

Families for Safe Streets began in New York City in 2014, founded by families whose loved ones had been killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes. Their advocacy demonstrated the power of people personally affected by traffic violence to bring about life-saving changes in transportation policy.

Portland Families for Safe Streets was founded the following year. Kristi Finney-Dunn, whose son Dustin was killed by a drunk driver in 2010, learned about the New York chapter and reached out to local safe-streets advocates about bringing Families for Safe Streets to Portland.

With support from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon Walks, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Kristi connected with Susan Kubota, David Sale, and Kim Stone. Together, they established Portland Families for Safe Streets in 2015. A decade later, in 2025, the organization became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and established a board of directors.

Since its founding in 2014, Families for Safe Streets has grown into a national movement, with chapters and advocates around the country working to prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries and to ensure that the voices of people affected by traffic violence are heard.