Jane’s Walk Principles
Jane’s Walk is a global movement that operates at a hyperlocal scale. It’s a little different in each city, but these 9 Principles are the common framework for Jane’s Walk everywhere.
- Anyone can lead a Jane’s Walk at any time. The Global Festival Weekend takes place annually on the first weekend of May (close to Jane Jacobs’ birthday on May 4th). Volunteers lead Jane’s Walks and participation is free.
- Jane’s Walk is a non-partisan initiative that strives to include a wide array of voices and ideas in discussions about cities, neighbourhoods and community engagement.
- Jane’s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by getting people out exploring neighbourhoods and meeting their neighbours. Jane’s Walk promotes walkable neighbourhoods and cities planned for and by people.
- Jane’s Walk encourages an environment where people choose to walk, not merely as a recreational option, but as a viable and enjoyable way to carry out basic everyday tasks, improve health and increase social cohesion.
- Walk Leaders facilitate walking conversations with interesting insights and stories about their neighbourhood and encourage participants to get involved and share their own opinions and observations.
- Jane’s Walk does not tolerate hate speech. Any walk that defames or excludes specific individuals or groups will not be permitted.
- Jane’s Walk helps knit people together into strong and resourceful communities, instilling belonging and encouraging civic leadership.
- Jane’s Walks serve as a living, dynamic legacy of Jane Jacobs’ ideas. They explore, critique, and apply Jacobs’ ideas in order to advance local engagement with contemporary city-making and urban planning practices.
- Local financial support of Jane’s Walks is permitted, but no fees, charges or any promotion of commercial activities can be connected to the content or activities of any given walk. Any form of support of Jane’s Walk must adhere to the Principles as listed above.
