Week 2: Community Connections
Welcome to week 2 of the WALK30 Challenge! This week’s theme is all about walking for community connections!
Why is this important?
Walking promotes social interaction, allowing people to connect outdoors. Walking with friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors facilitates socialization while engaging in low-intensity exercise.
It prevents cognitive decline by enhancing memory, learning, and thinking abilities.
Walking for 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week, boosts mood and energy by releasing endorphins.
What does it mean to feel connected to your community?
"Community" encompasses various meanings, extending beyond your neighborhood to places you spend time, such as workplaces, schools, gyms, or significant areas. Being part of a community involves knowing your neighbors, caring for the environment, fostering inclusivity, building awareness, and supporting one another.
Walking unveils hidden aspects of our communities that often go unnoticed while driving. It enables the discovery of new places, stores, and the unique individuals who make these places special. Amid the pandemic, outdoor activities became essential, prompting us to explore and appreciate our surroundings.
How to walk more in your community:
Take study breaks by inviting classmates for a stroll around campus.
Opt for a walking lunch break, whether you work from home or the office, to get fresh air and explore the area.
Get creative by swapping neighborhoods with friends or family, taking turns being a "tour guide."
Knock on your neighbours door and invite them to walk with you.
Share your community walking experiences with us on Twitter or Instagram! If you're feeling sociable, say hi to a neighbor, classmate, or colleague during your walks—it could brighten someone's day and potentially lead to a walking companion.
Discover the multitude of Jane's Walks taking place around Metro Vancouver throughout May, a movement inspired by Jane Jacobs. These walks connect people to their communities, foster meaningful conversations, and showcase diverse voices and perspectives. Don't miss out on the events: https://janeswalkvancouver.wordpress.com/
What is Jane’s Walks?
Jane's Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. Through walks, people tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with their neighbours.
Jane’s Walks
Connect people to the places where they live, work, and play
Convene conversation, and highlight different voices and perspectives
Hold space for people to exercise power and agency as active engaged members of their communities
Dismantle the walls created by distance, difference, and apathy
Foster civic leadership
Happy walking!
