Our Story
Just days after the Charleston church shootings, we found ourselves on a morning walk, troubled by the tragedy, but also profoundly inspired by mercy shown by the slain congregants’ families. To be so filled with grace was such a blessing. So what were we doing to make a positive difference? How could we encourage peace and unity in our community?
Could a walking group that trekked throughout Charlotte, talking openly about issues and encouraging compassion, bring healing?
We attended Mecklenburg Ministries’ talks on race and fleshed out our idea. With a goal of walking 100 miles all around Charlotte, we would walk in apple green T-shirts so neighbors could recognize us as peaceful presence on their streets. We would anchor the group – WE WALK TOGETHER -- with MeckMin’s community partners, so walks started and ended at partner synagogues, churches, Buddhist viharas, and Muslim mosques.
Residents from all over the city joined us, and we walked together regularly 1 to 3 times a week, 3 to 5 miles at a time, from mid-July to November.
By the time we logged 100 miles,
we had walked 29 times and visited 41 different houses of worship.
More than 70 people had walked at least once with us, and we averaged 8 to 12 walkers a trip.
The most beautiful part of this journey, however, was not statistics but what evolved along the way.
Walkers –students, bankers, housekeepers, artists -- assumed different roles –encourager, story teller, time keeper, pace setter. One walker stepped up to provide words of inspiration, including a topic for each walk. Another walker began picking up trash along a littered stretch. Others jumped in to help. From then on, we brought trash bags each time. We cleaned up together.
Tom Hanchett, the longtime Historian for the Levine Museum of the New South, has added richness to our walks with colorful stories and anecdotes.
Now WE WALK TOGETHER on the 15th of each month and serve together on the 30th in the same neighborhood we have just walked.
Each of us – all of us -- now has a community of friends. We take one step at a time in our effort to sow compassion and healing. Thanks to those shining examples at Mother Emanuel in Charleston, we can now see a stronger, richer community here in Charlotte moving forward.
We are an open group of residents who invite all to walk or serve with us any time.
We walk on the 15th of each month and serve on the 30th.
No commitment. No sign up. Just show up!
All are welcome!
Could a walking group that trekked throughout Charlotte, talking openly about issues and encouraging compassion, bring healing?
We attended Mecklenburg Ministries’ talks on race and fleshed out our idea. With a goal of walking 100 miles all around Charlotte, we would walk in apple green T-shirts so neighbors could recognize us as peaceful presence on their streets. We would anchor the group – WE WALK TOGETHER -- with MeckMin’s community partners, so walks started and ended at partner synagogues, churches, Buddhist viharas, and Muslim mosques.
Residents from all over the city joined us, and we walked together regularly 1 to 3 times a week, 3 to 5 miles at a time, from mid-July to November.
By the time we logged 100 miles,
we had walked 29 times and visited 41 different houses of worship.
More than 70 people had walked at least once with us, and we averaged 8 to 12 walkers a trip.
The most beautiful part of this journey, however, was not statistics but what evolved along the way.
Walkers –students, bankers, housekeepers, artists -- assumed different roles –encourager, story teller, time keeper, pace setter. One walker stepped up to provide words of inspiration, including a topic for each walk. Another walker began picking up trash along a littered stretch. Others jumped in to help. From then on, we brought trash bags each time. We cleaned up together.
Tom Hanchett, the longtime Historian for the Levine Museum of the New South, has added richness to our walks with colorful stories and anecdotes.
Now WE WALK TOGETHER on the 15th of each month and serve together on the 30th in the same neighborhood we have just walked.
Each of us – all of us -- now has a community of friends. We take one step at a time in our effort to sow compassion and healing. Thanks to those shining examples at Mother Emanuel in Charleston, we can now see a stronger, richer community here in Charlotte moving forward.
We are an open group of residents who invite all to walk or serve with us any time.
We walk on the 15th of each month and serve on the 30th.
No commitment. No sign up. Just show up!
All are welcome!