Walk. Talk. Listen. Learn.
Talk A Mile connects young Black leaders with local police trainees to improve the community one conversation and one mile at a time.
CONVERSATIONS LEAD TO CONNECTIONS.
CONNECTIONS LEAD TO SAFER COMMUNITIES.
We hear a lot about the need for tough conversations about community, public safety, and policing.
But, whose voices are heard in those conversations?
Talk A Mile elevates the voices of young Black leaders by pairing them with local police trainees for 1:1 conversations.
They walk, talk, listen, and learn together for a mile.
Talk A Mile ensures the voices of Black youth are heard by those who have the power to impact their sense of safety.
– Erika Fogarty
Co-Founder, Talk A Mile
How it Works
Talk A Mile meets at a local park or track. After opening remarks to set goals and context, we pair people up randomly.
Participants walk four laps together while sharing each other’s story, building relationships and trust. Conversation prompts are provided each lap.
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This lap provides an opportunity for both participants to warm up.
Prompts include:
“What are you passionate about?”
“Are you from Portland? How has it changed over the years?”
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On this lap, the Black student or community member hears the police officer’s story.
Prompts include:
“When did you decide to become a police officer? Why Portland?”
“Tell me about the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training you’ve received.”
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This lap is an opportunity for the Black student or community member to share their perspective.
Prompts include:
“What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?”
“From your perspective, what are some things to be mindful of in regards to the Black experience in Portland?”
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This lap focuses on our shared future.
Prompts include:
“What would make Portland a better place to live for you personally?”
“What would an inclusive community for all look like?”
Through a brief survey, participants share their learnings, perspectives, and take-aways.
Our approach is working – quantitative and qualitative data show participants are highly engaged:
97% of survey respondents reported feeling “seen and heard” through their participation in Talk A Mile.
When asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how likely they would be to recommend Talk A Mile to a peer, the average response was 9.61.
I was able to learn a lot and share a lot. I felt like my opinions and feelings were heard and valued.
– Student
Central Catholic High School