In 2022, it all started with a simple tweet:
"Austin friends! We're walking this Saturday at 8 AM.”
(The absurdly early hour was the only way to walk before the Texas sun turned us into swamp monsters.)
Eight people showed up.
It wasn’t impressive. Just a small, diverse group of humans who had no clue where it was going or what it would grow into.
Four years later, that same Saturday morning is happening in 17 cities (with two new ones launching tomorrow!), across four countries, with more heartwarming stories than we can keep track of.
Over 20,000 humans have now walked some version of those five miles.
Not a dollar spent on ads. Just one person telling another:
“You have to come to this thing.”
For the last four years, we’ve been devoted to a big mission:
To make real connection a weekly habit again.
This walk has quietly become an antidote to a world that lost its gathering places, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds for real conversations every Saturday morning.
Eight people planted the seeds.
They’ve grown into a forest, and we are nowhere near done. 🧡
From our walking villages in 17 cities around the world:
From our very first walk on July 16, 2022. 🧡
Sacramento's largest walk yet on the 4th of July. Of course, people showed up in red, white, and blue to celebrate. 🤸
Columbus showed up strong. Our host Xiang said it was some of the best conversation about friendship he's had in ages. “This is why we do this.” 🌿
(Don’t see your city? We post the photos in each Meetup group after the walk. Otherwise this email would be longer than a CVS receipt.)
🏆 In Detroit, a regular who'd spent 2.5 years searching for her people finally found them at the walk… and is now weighing whether to leave a job that makes her work Saturdays. Now that is dedication. 🧡
🏆 In Austin, we keep hearing the same thing: “I’ve had friends from totally different friend groups tell me to go to this walk, so I had to try it.” This is what happens when you create something based on shared values… it pulls in everyone curious, no matter their industry or background.
🏆 In Aveiro, Portugal, we heard from a dozen regulars who love the warm space host Jenna creates. “The walk is a unique opportunity to see the city, get some fresh air and sunshine, and get to know others in the community. Everyone shares such great information that I feel like I learn a lot every time I join.”
We wrote the mission down.
For years, the why lived in our heads and in the gratitude circle at the start of every walk. This year, it went on the page: what we believe, why a trail does what 100 networking events never could, and where all of this is going.
The short version: the loneliness people feel in a crowded room isn't a flaw in them. It's a flaw in the room. And a flaw in a room is the most hopeful thing we know, because rooms can be redesigned. We did. It moves five miles every Saturday.
The long version is worth your coffee.
This week on The Board Walks, people brought these topics:
"What independence have you declared in your life, and what independence do you still wish you had?"
"Looking back at the first half of this year, what do you wish you had spent more time doing, and what do you wish you had spent less time on?"
"What are you currently avoiding, and what would happen if you stopped?"
"What is a risk you are currently contemplating taking, and what is holding you back from making the leap?"
"Where do you feel most free?"
Screenshot these. Steal with pride. Bring one to your next dinner party to shift the conversation from “meh” to marvelous.
Quick hits:
Two new cities join the movement tomorrow (7/11):
🔔 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
🎸 Nashville, Tennessee
Send good energy to our new hosts, Stephanie Brown and Hannah Lawson, for bringing five miles and weekly connection to their cities. If you have a friend out there, text them a quick invite. See our cities →
🌍 We passed 5,500+ members on Meetup… and we’ve gotten an influx in host applications. A lot of them are saying the same thing: a friend shared one of our posts. So if you've ever reposted or said "you'd love this" to someone… thank you. 🧡
🤝 We're ready to welcome sponsors. Brands that believe in movement, community, and revitalizing third places. If you can make a warm intro to help us carry the walks to 100+ cities, we'd be so grateful. Help us meet partners →
🔓 Join our next conversation party on July 16th. This month’s theme is Work & Ambition. A lot of Board members have been grappling with what success looks like in 2026, and we’re excited to dive deeper. We’re also thinking about starting a book club! Join us →
Somewhere near you (or soon to be), a few strangers are slipping their phones into their pockets and asking each other big questions.
Saturday morning. Five miles. 17 cities and growing.
Have a whimsical week,
Head Gardeners of The Board Walks
P.s. It really did start with 8 people and a tweet. Every Saturday since has been word of mouth. One person deciding someone else needed this too. That's still the only way we grow. If this is your sign, you already know who to send it to. 🧡
