We team local artists with scientists and community leaders for a series of free water-themed neighborhood walks. You never know who you'll meet or what you'll learn by walking public spaces with fresh eyes.

The walks are like Jane’s Walks if you’ve heard of those, except with a water theme. They also are designed to inform artists about project ideas. Artists and scientists co-lead the walks for community members.

Past walks have included guided meditations, art exercises, and invitations to focus on particular site features. They always include great conversation with people in physical motion that gets the oxygen flowing and opens up the social veins.

The walks build momentum for the next phase: a workshop-style community meeting.

We gather community partners in one space to discuss what flowed from the walks. Neighborhood residents and community partners are invited to select a letter to represent their relationship to water. We list associated words and vote on a letter. Sometimes this takes back-and-forth with community members who are not able to be present.

The result is intended to spread awareness and build a sense of local ownership in the project’s success, stewardship, and long-term continued activation beyond implementation.