I am perhaps the only tourist who intentionally seeks out the “bad” neighborhoods in each place I visit. I’ve been through the worst parts of Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Cleveland, Gary and Detroit. I’ve walked through all the wrong parts of Chicago, Springfield, East St. Louis, St. Louis and Kansas City. And, as I walked through what [...]

rest in St Louis, MO   0.0 miles When it comes to breaking out of the cycle of poverty, so many times it is suggested that education is the key. But teachers can only do so much. As one middle school teacher I had the privilege to meet today described it, they are just scratching [...]

June 8: Pontiac, IL – Chenoa, IL   11.6 miles The town of Chenoa is falling to pieces. I do not mean this in a figurative sense. A stroll through the downtown reveals nothing but shuttered businesses, closed signs, and buildings literally falling to the ground. One building in the center of town quite spectacularly has [...]

Chicago – Alsip 19.8 miles It is perhaps no surprise, but living in poverty means a life without flowers. As I walked the old Route 66 out of Chicago today I passed pockets of gentrification. And I was bothered by the fact that the ramshackle, run-down buildings were surrounded by garbage and rot, while the [...]

It appears Wal-Mart does have a heart, of sorts. Today the world’s third largest corporation announced it would contribute more than $2 billion towards the fight against hunger in America. The donation will come in the form of 1.1 billion pounds of food from Wal-Mart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations (valued at $1.75 [...]

For the past 40 years Earth Day has been a time to think about our stewardship of the planet, and to vow to do a better job. Frankly, we are not doing such a great job–and I’m not just talking about caring for the plants and animals with whom we share the planet. On this [...]

Sometimes it takes being smacked in the face with the cold, hard truth to realize what has been slowly happening all around you. For me, the truth about just how much affordable housing has been lost in Alexandria, Va., the place I’ve come to call home, happened today as I was walking to the Braddock [...]

Jan. 26, 2010 It has not been a good couple years for media, and print journalism has been particularly hard hit. Last year the Seattle Post-Intelligencer stopped publishing print editions and dozens of others–The Ann Arbor News, Rocky Mountain News–folded entirely or are are in bankruptcy. Further, giants such as The Boston Globe and the [...]

Dec. 24, 2009 Today many of us will spend the day finishing up preparations for Christmas. Gifts will be wrapped, last-minute trips to the store will be made, food will be cooked and family and friends will gather as the festivities begin. And so many people are truly generous this time of year. It is [...]

Day 19–July 22 (Latrobe, PA-Greensburg, PA, 11.4 miles) For whatever reason, since I have been walking I have not gone a day without eating ice cream. Some days I find myself stopping for ice cream more than once a day. So when as I came across Peaches ‘n Cream on Route 30 in Greensburg there [...]

Day 14–July 17 (Indian Lake, PA-Kantner, PA, 7.9 miles) The small downtown of Stoystown, Pa., has no restaurants or grocery stores. Even the vending machine in the center of town is out of order. At one time the town supported numerous shops including the small Stoystown Market. Now just a few businesses remain. When I [...]

Day 12–July 15 (Bedford, PA-Reels Corner, PA, 18.3 miles) If there is one thing I hope to accomplish on my walk, it is to inspire people to look within their own community and make it a better place to live. One such example is the fund-raising golf tournament at the Northwinds Golf Course on Indian [...]

Day 8–July 11, 2009 (rest in McConnellsburg, PA, 0.0 miles) JLG Industries is one of the largest employers in McConnellsburg. The company recently gained a government contract to build armored vehicles, which will mean more jobs in a region that sorely needs them. But while it may bring jobs, it will do nothing towards creating a [...]

Day 7–July 10, 2009 (Mercersburg, PA-McConnellsburg, PA, 9.9 miles) More than a few times I have heard comments suggesting that poor people, homeless people, are lazy; that they don’t want to accept a job at McDonalds or take some other minimum wage job; and that they don’t want to work. I don’t know where those people [...]

Day 6–July 9, 2009 (Hagerstown, MD-Mercersburg, PA, 19.6 miles) Today I realized for the first time just how many people my trip has touched, and how much the support, encouragement and well wishes from those I have met along the way have helped propel me forward on my journey. Walking through Hagerstown on my way [...]