Everyday we are inundated with data about high poverty rates, double-digit unemployment rates and abnormal mortality rates among infants. It seems the dubious news about the Black Belt, which includes Dallas County, will never stop.

But there are people in our community who are working everyday to bring down those numbers in significant ways.

On Wednesday, a meeting among individuals who’ll work on safer routes to schools provided a good example of working toward a solution instead of just reciting numbers.

About a year ago, Selma City Councilwoman Dr. Monica Newton of Ward 3 met with a group called the Strategic Alliance for Health in Dallas County. They talked about ways to improve health in the area — an improved farmer’s market, higher awareness about the dangers of tobacco that included tougher no-smoking rules. During those conversations, the issue of child obesity came up.

Children should be encouraged to exercise, which means walking and riding bicycles. What better way to emphasize exercise than to have children walk or ride their bicycles to schools?

Safe Routes to Schools provides grants for schools to improve the areas around campuses, taking away obstacles that might prevent children from walking or riding their bicycles to school.

Four of the city’s seven schools will receive sidewalks, signage, bike racks and other upgrades this summer because of that grant.

Once Newton said publicly she wanted this for her area, other council members spoke up.

Improving community isn’t rocket science. It’s more about understanding the issues, seeking opportunities and seizing those chances in timely fashion.

That’s what has happened here.

Sure, this won’t take care of the whole child obesity problem, but it’s a start in a meaningful way.