Dennis’ Story (hometown: Eugene, Oregon)

In the late 1980s, sometime after college and before life, my wife and I biked across the US, on a youthful adventure.  We never expected to discover such a country of hospitality, care, easy connection, and empathy.  Seattle to DC on two wheels completely changed my sense of my country, and of myself. I became a more optimistic person, a believer that possibilities were as wide open as the great blue sky over seemingly endless Montana.  

Liberty Walks, for me, is about re-connection with that journey, and that country.  I still believe that in small towns, rural hamlets, suburbs and big cities across the US, in what are now called red and blue spaces, the basic decency and humanity of everyday life hasn’t changed.  We may have different news and stare at different scrolling-screen-streams, but deep down we want our families to be safe and happy and healthy, and we want to live near neighbors who will help us out as we will help them in times of unsafely, unhappiness and sickness.  We don’t as a people want to be divided. We still can come together if we take the time to slow down, talk face to face, listen, learn and take a walk together.