Mike McGinn, former Mayor of Seattle, steps in to lead America Walks

The America Walks Board of Directors welcomes Mike McGinn as our new Executive Director and thanks Kate Kraft for eight years of outstanding leadership. Kate and the rest of the America Walks team have built a network of walking champions and change agents with more than 35,000 individuals and several hundred local and state organizations. 

The walking movement stands at a crossroads with a global pandemic that has brought into sharper focus the fundamental need for safe places to walk, bike, and move as well as racial inequities that pervade our society. America Walks is committed to meet this moment by building a stronger collective voice that elevates walkable places as a societal priority and addresses the systems that deny access to safe public spaces based on race. We will expand our efforts to work with local and state change agents, engage a wider range of partners, and lift up local successes as examples for the nation.

We selected Mike because of his experiences as a community organizer in the walking movement and as elected official of a large city. He got his start in Seattle politics as a neighborhood activist pushing for walkability and, as the City’s mayor, he worked to add new voices to City decision-making and gained deep insight into how influence is gained and wielded to make change. Most recently, Mike has worked to help Feet First, Washington State’s walking advocacy organization, expand their sphere of influence across Washington state. His many years of advocating for sustainable cities and environmental justice give him perspective to expand America Walks partnerships.

America Walks board members and staff are excited to begin working with Mike and with you, our partners and allies, to make the most of this critical moment to elevate the national walking movement.

We invite you to join us on July 29th, at 11am PST / 2pm EST for a “Meet Mike” virtual meet and greet to learn more about Mike and his vision as the new Executive Director. Details for the meeting are below. 

– America Walks Board of Directors

• Read a personal welcome statement from Mike by clicking here.
• Watch Mike’s video by clicking here.

Join our Meet Mike Zoom Meeting – July 29th, at 11am PST / 2pm EST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84762336026

Meeting ID: 847 6233 6026

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Meeting ID: 847 6233 6026

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