As we brainstormed about rebranding and expanding the work our organization does, the word Connection came up a lot. As a Community Health Worker, I spend much time learning about local organizations and connecting residents with their needed services. I attend meetings with community partners and grow my professional connections. I make micro-connections when talking with people at our tabling events. Now, with our first Know Your Neighbor program, I am making connections on a more personal level.
Our Monday Mile program is slowly growing, and I am surprised at how much I enjoy it. The program is part of the Monday Campaigns, a collection of easy, evidence-based public health initiatives designed to "Make Monday the Day All Health Breaks Loose!" After reading all the literature and knowing how beneficial it would be to get moving and build up my social connections, I was still hesitant. I didn't know if I wanted to go out and walk a mile, never mind walking a mile with strangers, but I am glad I did.
Our first location, Langworthy Field, is accessible and walkable. One mile is only five times around the paved track. Turns out, small talk is easy when you are walking. And I found it very easy to talk with the residents who came. We started the walk with one shared connection: living in the same community. The points of connection grew from there. We continued to chat after the mild mile had been conquered and I felt really good as I drove home.
The first session of Monday Mile will end on November 20th (though if the weather holds, it may run longer), and I look forward to scheduling new sessions in the spring. I am happy to take suggestions for different locations and times of day. Shoot me a message if you have ideas for other Know Your Neighbors programs.
I look forward to connecting with you. Amy@wellbeingcollab.org