J-Walking instills hope in the hopeless.  As an upper middle class, white, teenage girl, I am a sign of hope for the people with whom I come into contact who live at the margins of society.  It’s one thing to see adults working for justice, but when these people see that I’m just a kid and I have a genuine concern for their fate, and that I’m willing to speak out on their behalf, they are filled with hope.  And hope is an important stepping stone to have when you are struggling to get out of your predicament.

J-Walking was an amazing experience. I have learned things that I could never learn in a classroom. I learned to reflect on the great pains that can be inflicted by fellow man, that are just as easily repelled with the help of fellow man (or woman). It has taught me that the world is my community, to be embraced and treated the way I would wish to be. From Africa to Hartford to my home town, there will always be people in my community who are less fortunate than I am and it is my now my goal in life to try to change that. There is a child without a change of clothes, or in fear of where their next meal is coming from and that just is totally unjust. J-walking has really had a deep impact on me, and reminds me to appreciate and be thankful for what I have. I have also seen a huge growth in my fellow J-walkers, and hopefully myself. We have matured so much as a group from all the experiences we've had. I hope to continue my J-walking and help with the Catholic Worker.  I looked forward to every visit, and perhaps I can help out over the summer, or possibly even next year.

Go Back