From Idea to Action: Training Volunteers to Share the Rail Safety Message

JENNIFER DEANGELIS
Director of Communications and Marketing
Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

It started with a simple yet great idea: train a cohort of transit professionals who were already gathered at an event as official Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteers (OLAVs) to amplify rail safety education on local levels.

OLAVs—the heart of rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc.’s (OLI) outreach—give presentations, staff booths, lead community events, and share rail safety education wherever they go—all with one collective mission in mind: to help #STOPTrackTragedies.

Polly Hanson, APTA’s senior director of security, risk, and emergency management and OLI Board Member, reached out to OLI with the idea of offering training to conference attendees at APTA’s September 2025 TRANSform conference in Boston. This simple yet brilliant idea kicked off an in-person training opportunity at the end of the conference.

Sharing the rail safety education message saves lives—and you and your employees can create your own cohort to help #STOPTrackTragedies by volunteering with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI).

“Volunteering with OLI is a great way for organizations to engage employees professionally while providing staff development and leadership opportunities and giving them an opportunity to give back to their communities,” says Moriah Whiteman, OLI director of education and training.

Here’s how it worked in Boston. Ahead of the conference, participants were invited to volunteer with OLI. Those interested applied online and completed modules in OLI’s virtual learning environment, where they learned about OLI and the rail safety education message. They arrived in Boston ready to practice presentations and learn effective presentation techniques at a half-day in-person training, made possible thanks to space provided by APTA after the conference.

During the session, OLAV coaches Dana DeLorenzo, Massachusetts Operation Lifesaver state coordinator; and OLI Vice President Wende Corcoran guided participants through interactive scenarios and presentation exercises, provided training and activity recommendations, and facilitated presentation practice.

Why volunteer with OLI?

• Minimal time commitment: even two presentations a year makes a difference
• Resources provided: ready-to-use presentations, activities, and data
• Professional development opportunities: public speaking, teamwork, and leadership experience
• Direct impact: educate people about rail safety where they live and work

“Cohort training builds rapport, encourages collaboration, and ensures your team leaves ready to educate safely and effectively,” said Whiteman. “For organizations, it can be customized to meet team needs, while training together builds camaraderie and maximizes volunteer impact.”

Getting started as an individual or an organization is easy:

1. Apply at oli.org/volunteer
2. Complete online training in The AVE
3. Complete face-to-face training as a cohort or with your State Coordinator
4. Start making a difference in your community using OLI’s tools and resources

“Boston’s training is a perfect example of how organizations can help employees step up to make a real difference while growing professionally,” said Whiteman. Contact her at mwhiteman@oli.org to explore volunteer opportunities or cohort training for your team.

Visit oli.org to learn more, take a rail safety pledge, request free presentations, volunteer, and explore OLI’s virtual library of rail safety education materials. Follow OLI via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube.