What is Jane’s Walk? And who’s Jane anyway?
Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, community-led walking conversations inspired by writer and urbanist Jane Jacobs (1916-2006). Now present in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities globally, Jane’s Walk festival encourages people to lead their own walks about their neighborhoods, discover unseen aspects of their own communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbors.
Philadelphia volunteers have been holding Jane’s Walks for a decade.
Jane’s Walks encourage people to share stories about their neighborhoods, make visible hidden aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with each other. Jane’s Walks are led by volunteers (anyone can be a walk leader), guiding a walking conversation that creates space for sharing observations, telling stories, and learning out loud.
Jane’s Walks are occasions to slow down, look closer, and learn together. We think Philadelphians deserve more opportunities to elevate the voices of residents as experts, to talk about the wellbeing of our neighborhoods, and advance the cause of community-driven city building – in person, on the street, in real time. Jane’s Walk is free and open to anyone. Join any walk – or lead one yourself.
Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was a writer, urbanist and activist who championed the voices of everyday people in neighborhood planning and city-building. You can read more about her here.
What makes a walk a Jane’s Walk?
- Free, volunteer-led, and open to everyone There can be no registration, fee, or donation associated with leading or participating in a Jane’s Walk.
- Non-commercial and non-partisan They cannot be used to promote a business or a candidate running for office.
- Seek to promote dialogue Jane’s Walks are dialogues that seek to engage participants in conversation. They are not walking lectures.
Jane's Walk Philly 