Making friends feels increasingly hard to do as an adult, especially when you don’t have many opportunities to meet people with common interests. Walk & Talk Social is looking to change that for Dallas residents, one gathering at a time.
At 7 p.m. every Friday, the group meets at the Thomsen Overlook found along the Katy Trail (3100 McKinnon Street), a 3.5-mile stretch of urban greenspace. Once everyone arrives, members of Walk & Talk Social pair everyone off in groups of two so you can focus on talking to and befriending someone as you stroll.
The idea is to put your phones away for the duration of the walk—something that seems unimaginable in today’s largely tech-driven society. Walk & Talk wants people to connect with one another in real time to foster real friendships. It’s a simple concept that’s perhaps even more successful than the group originally thought it would be when starting out.
After the walk is over, everyone usually heads to Papi’s Tacos & More for dinner, providing another chance to continue original conversations or start new ones with people you haven’t met yet. Kevin Vasquez, the founder of Walk & Talk Social, wanted this community connection and engagement to be the driving forces behind the initiative. With over 20K followers on Instagram, it looks like plenty of others appreciate his vision.
How to join the next meetup
Walk & Talk Social meets at Thomsen Overlook every Friday at 7 p.m., though it’s important to note that there will not be an event held on July 10. The best and easiest way to stay updated as to when Walk & Talk will take place is to keep up with the group’s Instagram page, which provides information as well as details on additional community events.
You don’t have to sign up for the Katy Trail gathering in advance—all you need to do is show up, put your phone away, and be present with the person you’re paired up with. Dallas Observer notes there’s often a theme for the walks, like “Love Island,” to help conversations start with greater ease. If you don’t know anything about the theme, that’s perfectly fine, you’re still more than welcome to join and find other topics of discussion.
There are no requirements in terms of what you should bring, though it’s best to wear something you feel comfortable in and to bring water, especially during the hot summer months. In-depth trail information, including specific routes, parking details, and more, can be found here.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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