America Walks Walking

College
An Interactive Distance Education Program
for Walkable Community Advocates
Orientation to Program and Application
Process
April 2, 2015

Todays Agenda
Background of the Walking College
Curriculum and Content
Next Steps

Presenters

Ian Thomas
State & Local
Program Director

Kate Kraft
Heidi Simon
National Coalition Communications &
Director
Public Affairs Manager

Background
Program sponsors:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
- Every Body Walk! Collaborative
2014 survey of 532 walking advocacy
organizations:
- Characteristics and resources (staff,
funding)?
- Activities (walking/walkability) and
achievements?
- Support/assistance needed?
America Walks response: The Walking
College

Walking College Mentors

- Jeanne Anthony, AARP
- Anamarie Garces, Urban Health
Partnerships
- Kim Irwin, Health by Design
- Robert Johnson, PedNet Coalition
- Wendy Landman, WalkBoston and
America Walks
Board
- Brighid O'Keane, Alliance for Biking and
Walking
- Molly O'Reilly, America Walks Board
- Robert Ping, WALC Institute
- Lisa Quinn, Feet First
- Jonathon Stalls, Walk2Connect
- Jim Stone, Circulate San Diego

The Walking College

Five-month program:
- June-August: Instructional component
- September-October: Independent
study project
- October 28-30: National Walking
Summit
Target audiences:
- Independent advocates
- Community organizations
- Professionals in public health,
planning, transportation, etc.
-Others?
Walking College Fellowships:

Skills Development
Hard
Skills

Science
Behind
Walking
Benefits
Evaluation
of Built
Environment
s
Mastering of
Public Policy
Process

Soft
Skills

Walkable
Communit
ies

Communicat
ion Skills

Because
technical
solutions are
known, soft
skills (building
political
support)may
be more
important

Relationship
and Trust
Building
Finding
Diverse
Stakeholders
Engagement
with
Decision

Hard skills
needed at a
level to be
credible,

What You Will Learn to

Do
Communicate effectively with
multiple audiences
Recruit and inspire other local
advocates,
Establish an effective
organizational structure, fund
raise and write winning grant
applications,
Organize and conduct public
events, programs, and
communication campaigns

Learning
Engage professionals from
multiple fields,
Navigate the structure of local
and state government and engage
elected officials,
Design and implement effective
policy campaigns,
Research, analyze and
communicate data to support your
mission

Instructional Program
(June-August)
Six study modules
Webinar presentations, online
reading and review assignments
Video-interactive discussion
forums with mentors
Community research and field
activities
Writing and presentation
assignments

Instructional Program
Six Study Modules
Module #1:
Module #2:
Leadership
Module #3:
Module #4:
System
Module #5:
Module #6:

Why Walking?
Developing
Building a Movement
Changing the
Designing for People
Next Steps

Independent Study
(September/October)
8-week practicum project
Event, coalition-building,
research, etc.
Guidance from mentors to
develop project plan
Report/presentation

National Walking Summit

October 28-30 Washington
DC
Peer networking opportunity
Learn about national best
practices
Special sessions for Walking
College Fellows and Mentors
Finalize community "walking
action plan"

What is expected from

you?
Commit at least 5 hours/per week to the
program
Complete all assignments and attend all
webinar presentations
Attend and participate in all videointeractive discussion forums
Complete an independent study project in
your home community
Attend the National Walking Summit in
Washington, D.C.
Develop a "walking action plan" for your
community
Work hard and have fun!

Application Form
Full Information on
the Walking College
program
and
application can be
found here on the
America
Walks
website.

The application questions are

available for download here.
Please feel free to download
and prepare responses before
completing
the
actual
application.

Please
note
the
application due date
April 17th by 8pm
Eastern.

Program Cost
Full cost of program: $3,500
Walking College Fellows will actually pay:
-$100 Walking College registration fee
- Personal travel costs to Washington, D.C.
for the National Walking Summit
America Walks will provide, free of charge:
-Walking Summit registration ($375
value)
-Shared-room hotel stay for two nights
($300 value)

Questions
Please contact Ian Thomas (
ithomas@americawalks.org) or visit the Walking
College website:

http://americawalks.org/walking-college/