America Walks is excited to announce that the application period to join this year’s Walking College fellowship class is open through February 16, 2026.
Now in its 12th year, the Walking College is America Walks’ signature training program aimed at strengthening our grassroots partnerships to achieve safer, healthier, more walkable streets and communities.
The program will run online from mid-April through July. It is open to those interested in honing their skills and understanding around improving community design to make streets safer for walking, rolling, biking, and public transit. Paired with experienced leaders and mentors, fellows will learn the basics of people-first design and policy, along with fundamental leadership skills. They also will identify an opportunity they hope to address in their communities and develop action plans to achieve this change.
We welcome all candidates demonstrating a general understanding of and interest in the importance of walkability (and other forms of active transportation) and a desire to become more effective in improving community design for all people. There are no restrictions on age or professional background, but we prioritize those applying in teams of 2–3 people and, this year, those representing rural communities.
The program is mostly asynchronous (virtual), with participants being assigned a series of reading and writing activities each week. They are also expected to:
- Attend a one-hour online discussion with their assigned group once every module
- Participate in a virtual coaching session with their mentor once every module
- Complete an action plan that outlines a community design solution and series of steps for improving walkability/multi-modal transit in their community by the end of the term
The Walking College is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity in support of the Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative℠.
