While attending the School of Social Work and working with Professor Barry Checkoway and Roger Fisher (Co-Associate Director of Intergroup Relations) on a UM-Skillman-funded program called Youth Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity in Metropolitan Detroit, Joanne Waszczak realized that *transportation policy is social policy!* Young people pointed out that safe, reliable, equitable access to transportation can challenge segregation and create community change. In 2007, Joanne accepted a Presidential Management Fellowship at the US Department of Transportation, where she has focused on building the capacity of people and groups who want to get involved in the transportation decisions that affect their communities. Last year, Joanne led a multidisciplinary team that published a plain-language guide for folks who want to engage in the transportation decision-making process at the local, regional, state and federal levels. The Transportation Toolkit (https://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/leadership-academy/transportation-toolkit) demystifies the decision-making process by defining key terms and acronyms, and by explaining that transportation projects go through a predictable lifecycle (i.e., plan, fund, design, build and maintain). Using both text and graphics, the Toolkit highlights public involvement opportunities created by civil rights laws and public involvement regulations. This document is an excellent tool to share with community organizers, transportation advocates, officials at all levels of government, family, friends and neighbors.