Get ready to walk (virtually and in-person) and experience the city you love during the Jane’s Walk Macon festival in various locations around the city May 7-9, 2021. Macon will join hundreds of cities for the annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations. Since 2007, Jane’s Walk, which started in Toronto and honors iconic writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs, has brought thousands of people together to walk and talk about what makes a good city. Jane’s Walks encourages people to share stories about their neighborhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbors.

“This year’s festival will feature nine (9) in-person and two (2) virtual walking conversations. We’re looking forward to exploring our city through the eyes of some of our most imaginative citizens. With a mixture of virtual and in-person walking conversations, Macon is reimagined with a variety of themes, bringing something for everyone. Participants can expect to ask questions, discuss, and experience the same joy and inspiration as previous years,“ says Bike Walk Macon executive director, Rachel Umana.

DISCUSSION LINE UP

• Greenwood Bottom (Facebook Live)

In Downtown Macon, Georgia the Greenwood Bottom District during the era of segregation flourished as the epicenter of African American culture, particularly on Hazel Street where the Roxy Theater was located. Join Weston Stroud as he takes us on a tour of this historic district and includes the famous Roxy Theatre.

• Tour of Progress

Join Josh Rogers with NewTown Macon for a Tour of Progress in downtown Macon highlighting recent developments and previewing projects that are under construction and in the planning stages.

• Wandering About Art (1.5 Hours - In Person)

Meet at stARTup Studios at 6 pm, before your walk to socialize with owners, Yen-Ting and Bryan Beck. At 6:30 they will guide you around the downtown core of Macon, through alleyways and painted streets they will showcase some of the new, unique, and colorful works of art created by Georgian Artists, near and far.

• Tactical Urbanism Walking Tour and Workshop

Take a walk with Bike Walk Macon’s executive director, Rachel Umana, from Tattnall Square Park to nearby neighborhoods. Along the way, Rachel will stop and highlight several interventions that Bike Walk Macon has led in the past to improve mobility in Macon, including intersection murals, artistic crosswalks, and Macon’s first green bike lane. Participants will get a special opportunity to participate in a small traffic calming intervention.

• Restoring the Love for Community in Fort Hill

Veronica McClendon, Tamiko McNair, Chiquita McNair-Glover, Tasha Pettigrew - Members of Kingdom Life walk us through East Macon and ask about the history of Fort Hill from the perspective of those connected to it - particularly what were the important landmarks, who were the people who made a mark, and why? They will also ask what people would like to see in the community and together craft a vision for a beautiful future.

• Come Take a Walk with Dsto

Dsto Moore wants to share with people from all Races, Demographics, and Genders a walk through the Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood to show some of the History and the Future that is taking place inside of this fascinating historic neighborhood.

• Women of Pleasant Hill

In honor of Mother's Day, Tonja Khabir will present the Women of Pleasant Hill Tour. The tour highlights the dynamic women who breathed life into the Pleasant Hill Community since its founding in 1879. We visit historical and cultural assets that were created, led, and impacted by women, who have oftentimes been left out of the story.

• Park Rx: Let Nature Be Thy Medicine (facebook Live)

Explore your inner-outer space with Nancy Cleveland! Come explore the newly designed Filmore Thomas Park, one of Macon’s 140+ parks and discuss these issues and how the new Mental Health Matter Macon Initiative will team up with Macon Head Space to address them in our community.

• A Change is Gonna Come! Napier Heights Neighborhood Walk

This walk will focus on the work to revitalize the community that Andrea Cooke resides in.  We will talk about what the houses looked like when she was a kid growing up in Napier Heights.

• Macon’s Historic Theatres

Macon's unique music heritage and creative vibrance partially come from its historic live performance venues. On Little Richard Memorial Day and during the 100th anniversary of The Douglass Theatre, take this walk with Julia Rubens to learn a few fun facts about the past and future of these spaces as well as sharing memories of your own.

• Soul Searchin’ at Linwood Cemetery

Y-O Latimore’s walk will share a brief history of Historic Linwood Cemetery as it pertains to Pleasant Hill, Macon, United States, and the world. Dr. Thomas Duval will join the walk to add his insight as a historian on the journey. The attendees will learn the sacredness and significance of Historic Linwood Cemetery.

See www.bikewalkmacon.com/janeswalk for a full listing of conversations. No registration is required to participate, and all virtual walks are free and can be viewed live on Bike Walk Macon’s Facebook page. For questions and media inquiries, contact Koryn Young, Engagement Coordinator, at 917-412-4661 or [email protected].

BIKES WALK MACON is a non-profit organization leading the movement to make bicycling and walking a safe, healthy, and convenient option for transportation and recreation for everyone in Macon-BIbb County. For more information, visit www.bikewalkmacon.com.

JANE’S WALK is a grassroots organization honoring the legacy of community builder Jane Jacobs through citizen-led walking tours that encourage participants to observe, reflect, share, question, and collectively reimagine the places in which they live, work, and play.