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.

 

1. 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.
    

2. 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.
    

3. 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.
    

4. 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.
    

5. 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.
    

6. Jane’s Walk does not tolerate hate speech. Any walk that defames or excludes specific individuals or groups will not be permitted.
    

7. Jane’s Walk helps knit people together into strong and resourceful communities, instilling belonging and encouraging civic leadership.
    

8. 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.
    

9. 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.

 

Jane's Walk…
 

Is volunteer-driven
Jane’s Walk is a volunteer-led movement powered by the communities in which it operates. Anybody can lead a Jane’s Walk, and participation is always free. While the Global Festival takes place annually on the first weekend of May (close to Jane Jacobs’ birthday on May 4th), Jane’s Walks can be led at any time. 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. 

 

Is inspired and informed by the world around us
Jane’s Walks are a way for neighbours to meet neighbours, and for neighbourhoods to build community. Jane’s Walk strives to include a wide array of voices and ideas in discussions about cities, neighbourhoods and community engagement. Jane’s Walk is different from other initiatives because the community and its buildings, parks, and broader environment are also active players in the walks. They inspire, frustrate, inform, and direct participation in the conversations. 

 

Is done in whatever way makes most sense for you
There is no ‘one way’ to lead a Jane’s Walk or run a Festival. For both cities and individuals, Jane’s Walk is a tool to create and encourage conversation. Jane’s Walks take place on foot, through other forms of mobility, through performance, or virtually. The design is intentionally open, serving as a global container for ideas, exploration, and discovery.

 

Creates an opportunity to hear all voices
Jane’s Walk creates a space where community members with different viewpoints can share their perspectives. As a platform for these voices to be heard, Jane’s Walk directly addresses and takes a stance against hate speech, racism, xenophobia, oppression, and discrimination.

 

Encourages critical engagement with the ideas and legacy of Jane

Jane’s Walk was created in recognition of the ideas and legacy of Jane Jacobs, who has inspired and influenced city builders for decades. The intent of Jane’s Walk is not to prescribe her teachings on city-making and urban planning, but rather to promote dialogue, discussion, and debate on them.

Recognizes cities are living ecosystems with a past, present and future
Jane’s Walk encourages reflection about the history of habitation and city-building. Jane’s Walks can prompt questions about who has been displaced or marginalized in a particular space, in a critical, investigative way. They can inspire dialogue on ways of moving toward greater equity, together.