The Walk2Connect program of America Walks helps to build a more human and connected world by empowering individuals, community groups, and businesses to experience the benefits of person-to-person, shoulder-to-shoulder connection – what we call “life at 3 mph.” Rooted in the simple act of walking*, Walk2Connect grows the walking movement by inviting communities down pathways toward sustained communal health and stronger community relationships.
Walk2Connect programming helps develop Walking Movement Leaders. We provide them with skills, education, and inspiration to connect with neighbors and build communities that meet their unique needs. Walk2Connect programming is committed to an ongoing process to prioritize equity and inclusion across race, class, physical ability, place of birth, age, sexual orientation, cultural/spiritual tradition, gender, and learning styles. This includes partnership goals, co-creation of programs, outreach to new Walking Movement Leaders, event promotion strategies, training support, priority areas for advocacy-related events, and more. We learn and grow with each community we work with.
*Walking is inclusive to rolling or wheeling on a powered scooter or wheelchair. We also honor a variety of paces more reflective to 1-3 miles per hour.
Getting Started
If you would like to bring Walk2Connect to your community, please contact us about pricing and logistics. You can select from the programs described below, or work with us to create a unique program for your community. Walk2Connect has worked with community groups, government agencies, and nonprofits to use the unique benefits of walking and rolling events to create engagement, trust, and action in your community.
Programming
Movement Leadership
The Walk2Connect Movement Leader program provides the tools and skills you need to create walking and rolling events – for health, community outreach, mobility justice advocacy, social connection, nature connection, and more. Movement Leader training can be made available to local residents, organizational/agency teams, community advocates, and more. Participants in the Movement Leader program will learn:
- How to lead walking and rolling events that maximize connection
- Benefits of walking/rolling events to engage community goals (wellness, planning process, advocacy organizing, nature)
- Technical details of route scouting, creating & promoting a wide variety of walking/rolling events
- Pedestrian safety (group safety during event + advocacy integration)
- Guidance on making walk/roll events inclusive across a wide variety of ages, abilities, and backgrounds
- How to connect walk/roll events to larger walking/mobility justice movement
- How to engage elected leaders, agency teams, and advocates through walk/roll events
- How to curate longer-term community outreach/connection through annual/seasonal calendars, branding and promotion
Get Trained by an Expert
Our experience shows that Movement Leaders and community members benefit the most from hands-on training. Our Walk2Connect facilitators host launch-style events that serve the dual purpose of reigniting local walking/rolling groups, while also training future Movement Leaders by having them work alongside the local community.
Facilitated Walking and Rolling Events
Walk2Connect facilitators have a breadth of expertise under their belts and often are invited to lead themed walks in the community, congregation, team, or general area.
Program Benefits
- Build community relationships and trust with community leaders, neighborhoods, and public agencies
- Heighten empathy through shared experiences
- Develop community leadership
- Inspire creative public health programming
- Learn more about the mental, emotional, social, physical, and environmental benefits of walking and rolling
- Develop creative cross-cultural, cross-language programming through movement, creative interpretation, and storytelling
- Start walking/rolling groups that create patterns of connection and activity in your neighborhood
About Walk2Connect
Walk2Connect was founded by author and creator Jonathon Stalls in 2012, after completing a monumental trek across the United States. In less than 10 years, the organization grew to become a worker-owned enterprise with over 600 trained walking leaders across the United States hosting thousands of walking events each year and attracting thousands of followers around the globe. The program has proudly been a part of America Walks since 2022.
See some examples of the projects Walk2Connect can facilitate here.
Program Leadership
Ana Lucaci
Made2Walk
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Ana has used walking as a means of transportation and lifestyle for many years, particularly while growing up and working in Romania. After a pedestrian vs. car crash, she became a public health walking advocate, helping others experience walking as a means of staying healthy and speaking out to make walking and rolling accessible and safe for all. She specializes in pedestrian safety programs, urban design, motorist education, community engagement, and public health.
Jonathon Stalls
Intrinsic Paths & Pedestrian Dignity
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Jonathon Stalls (he, his) spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010 and has continued to walk alongside thousands of people for thousands of miles. He describes himself as a Walking Artist. He advocates and organizes for racial, economic, and social justice, identifies as gay/queer, is currently the creator of Intrinsic Paths and the Pedestrian Dignity campaign, and is the founder of Walk2Connect. He has committed much of his life to helping people deepen their relationships to one another, to the natural world, and to themselves at an unhurried pace. He is the author of WALK – Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour with North Atlantic Books (released in August of 2022).
Training Experts
Maria Rosa Galter
Wild Wisdom Coaching
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Maria Rosa is a certified Nature Connected Life Coach, Transformational Wilderness Guide, and Ceremony and Rites of Passage facilitator. Maria Rosa helps you see your sacred spirit-bond with all beings in Creation and guides you into discovering the wisdom the signs and symbols Creation offers as you discern your path forward. Like a midwife supporting the emergence of new birth, she helps you incorporate this wisdom into your new life story.
Sarah Schwallier
Strides Life Coaching
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Sarah is a full-time personal trainer and wellness coach, through Strides Life. She offers a well-balanced approach to lifestyle improvement. Through Personal Training sessions or a walk in nature together, Sarah is committed to helping you get on the healthiest path possible. This individualized approach to a lifestyle change is proven to work and to last through her countless testimonials and her own personal weight-loss success.
Darcy Kitching
Urban Planner & Boulder Ramblers
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Darcy Kitching works at the intersection of transportation planning, education, and community development with the goal of informing policy and programming that support active, healthy communities for people of all ages and abilities. She designs and leads weekly local walking events, conducts mixed-methods and community-engaged research projects, and writes and speaks about active transportation and child-friendly cities.
In 2020, her trail guide, “The Best Urban Hikes: Boulder,” was published by the Colorado Mountain Club Press, and she spoke about streets for activity and belonging at TEDxCherryCreek Countdown.
