Join Other Listeners for Sidewalk Talk Orlando
Hope Presbyterian Church at Lake Nona will introduce the free public listening campaign “Sidewalk Talk Orlando” on 10/21 and invite area listeners to help foster meaningful social connection. Sidewalk Talk is a tax-exempt community listening program with a mission to practice heart-centered listening to create belonging, justice, and social health.
“I believe this is incognito gospel action,” said Nancy Graham Ogne, pastor at Hope. “In a fragmented culture, we will extend ‘grace by listening’ during occasional pop-up events. It won’t be under the banner of Hope or any church, but by offering others the gift of being seen and heard, we believe we honor Jesus.”
Though pop-up locations will vary, the inaugural Sidewalk Talk Orlando event will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 12-3pm during Orlando Pride at Lake Eola Park downtown. The team chose this LGBTQ+ event as its first venture in order to extend compassionate presence to a community often targeted by hate.
Sidewalk Talk was the brainchild eight years ago of two San Francisco-based therapists who were heartbroken by growing loneliness, violence, and inequality. In 2015, the creators began providing spaces of connection and belonging -- on the sidewalks.
Since its inception, dozens of Sidewalk Talk chapters have been established across the US & Canada. In 2019, listening events were held in 89 communities with the stories of more than 6,000 people being heard at those events. Although the creators of the project are licensed therapists, anyone with an open heart can become a Sidewalk Talk listener and participate in listening events.
Please visit sidewalktalk.org to learn more.
“I believe this is incognito gospel action,” said Nancy Graham Ogne, pastor at Hope. “In a fragmented culture, we will extend ‘grace by listening’ during occasional pop-up events. It won’t be under the banner of Hope or any church, but by offering others the gift of being seen and heard, we believe we honor Jesus.”
Though pop-up locations will vary, the inaugural Sidewalk Talk Orlando event will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 12-3pm during Orlando Pride at Lake Eola Park downtown. The team chose this LGBTQ+ event as its first venture in order to extend compassionate presence to a community often targeted by hate.
Sidewalk Talk was the brainchild eight years ago of two San Francisco-based therapists who were heartbroken by growing loneliness, violence, and inequality. In 2015, the creators began providing spaces of connection and belonging -- on the sidewalks.
Since its inception, dozens of Sidewalk Talk chapters have been established across the US & Canada. In 2019, listening events were held in 89 communities with the stories of more than 6,000 people being heard at those events. Although the creators of the project are licensed therapists, anyone with an open heart can become a Sidewalk Talk listener and participate in listening events.
Please visit sidewalktalk.org to learn more.