America Walks Inc

Training and technical assistance - Community Change Grants - America Walks awarded 21 grants through our 2024-2025 Community Change Grant program. This program supports local, grassroots efforts to create safe, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk and be physically active for all community members. Since its beginning in 2015, this grant program has provided funds for more than a hundred projects demonstrating the creativity and passion of walking and moving champions across the us. Of the 21 grantees, 15 were awarded thorough funding from our partnership with General Motors and 6 from our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding. AARP LC-TAP and Community Challenge Grant Technical Assistance- AARP engaged America Walks to deliver technical assistance, including one-on-one coaching, webinars, and other supports, to AARP Community Challenge Grantees that receive capacity-building microgrants to conduct walk audits in their communities. This work consisted of a kick-off webinar, over 40 individual coaching calls, 10 peer-group discussions, and final wrap-up/celebration webinar held In December 2024. We additionally obtained technical assistance from the Walk2Connect team. For AARP LC-TAP, this was our first year completing this program and we engaged with 17 AARP state offices for walk audit focused technical assistance (virtual and in-person workshops).

Walking college - We graduated 20 fellows from our 2024 national walking college class, and they join the network of 200+ graduates. This leadership program is open annually to those looking to hone their skills and knowledge around creating vibrant, safe, accessible communities for all people, regardless of age, race, income level or physical ability. Participants, paired with experienced leaders in the field and peers working in similar capacities across the country, learn about the historical underpinnings of the car-centric transportation landscape and the basics of design and policy that foster safe, inclusive, accessible design for non-motorized transportation while developing essential leadership skills. Over the course of the program, they also create a blueprint for taking action on a particular problem in their community.