Our Founder Wrote A Way Too Long Email About Giving Tuesday (and Why Listening Heals Our Culture) and is posting it here
Founder Traci Ruble listening on the sidewalk. She now wears glasses. LOL
Hi Everyone,
This is Traci, founder of Sidewalk Talk, writing to you as we prepare for Giving Tuesday tomorrow. While tomorrow marks the start of our journey toward reaching the financial goal for our two new initiatives, it’s also an opportunity to reflect. I want to share a bit about the path we’ve traveled together, let you know what to expect for #GivingTuesday, and invite you to help shape the next chapter of this mission.
The Story of Sidewalk Talk
What started ten years ago with just 28 volunteers has grown into a global community of over 10,000 listeners. Back then, we had no paid staff, no website, and no roadmap—just a belief in the power of listening. I even offered to merge with another nonprofit that first year because I didn’t feel the need to lead one myself.
But something kept pulling me to serve this mission: the transformative practice of listening. For me, heart-centered listening isn’t just something I do—it’s a deeply devotional practice. It grounds me like meditation or prayer and humbles me like good therapy or owning mistakes outloud. It’s about personal and cultural healing: connecting deeply, hearing stories, and returning to the indigenous roots of how we, as humans, used to heal through sharing and being heard and held in all our feelings.
The Reality of Growing Sidewalk Talk
As Sidewalk Talk grew, I had to learn some tough lessons. Balancing my health, marriage, and financial well-being meant setting boundaries—even when some folks misunderstood our need to fundraise or my need to say no I cannot offer my time in that way. I still cover $150 a month in operating costs and donate about ten hours a week of my time, but this work simply requires resources to keep going.
It hasn’t always been easy, especially as a woman stepping into visibility while trying to lead with humility and authenticity. That’s why I’ve leaned on a small, trusted group of listeners and advisors who have kept me grounded and focused on Sidewalk Talk’s mission.
People like Esther Boykin and Kerrie Mohr, former chapter leaders who still provide invaluable guidance on leadership, and Laurie Angress, Susan Steinbrecher, and Julie Ziadeh, who offered crucial support to Travia and I for HEAR, have been instrumental in this journey.
Alongside them, some of our podcast guests who became friends, as well as paid guides—Sara Huang, Jo Armstrong, Tecca Thompson, Lorraine Messiah, Lana Jelenjev, Liz Scarfe, Sadaf Vidha, and Dawn Menken—have shaped my path, along with the steady guidance of my own therapist.
Without these incredible people, I wouldn’t be able to keep checking my ego and assumptions at the door and be mindful of power and privilege, all while continuing to rise in service of this mission. Their support reminds me that leadership is a humble act—a process of failing, being mindful of the right use of power, and trying again. It’s about staying true to the heart of the work while continuously learning and growing.
Minneapolis chapter keeping warm in the public library during the winter months.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes
This movement thrives because countless individuals have given their time, expertise, and care. There are a few standouts we simply must name with a deep bow of gratitude - like face on the floor bow. 🤭
Aimee Rozen: Sidewalk Talk’s loving heart who has donated her time for ten years to support volunteers and keep volunteer operations running smoothly.
Travia Fitzpatrick: A leader with extraordinary business acumen and a deep commitment to our values. We now pay Travia for her time but at a fraction of her usual rate.
Ziv Ming Li: An award-winning designer who created our website and t-shirt designs, often donating his talent. We now pay Ziv for his time but at a fraction of his usual rate.
Claire Crum: The organizational mastermind who helped us navigate the overwhelming response to our CBS Sunday Morning feature and ensures we stay aligned with our values and legal compliance. While we’ve always compensated Claire for her time, we’ve had to reduce her hours due to budget constraints. With your support, we hope to increase her involvement so she can help onboard our growing number of new leaders worldwide (20 since August!).
In addition, there are countless chapter leaders, volunteers, and contributors who make Sidewalk Talk possible—special thanks to the following chapter leaders who have been with us for a very long time Bobbi Cohen in San Diego, CA, Lisa Mer and Harry Adler in Minneapolis, MN, Aimee Rozen in San Francisco, CA, Narendra Thagunna, Katmandu, Nepal, Patricia Martins, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Michael Tedesco in Reno, NV - we see you, you inspire us, and we want want to shout out a big hearted gratitude for you - thank you. Sidewalk Talk is still here because of you.
Thanks to new folks who have recently launched and are serving this mission with your talents, creating spaces of connection and compassion. We see you Canada and Australia! Lots of chapters blossoming in your part of the world. Thank you, all of you!
Let’s Make Listening Trend! #makelisteningtrend
This Giving Tuesday, we’re aiming to raise $14,000 to launch two incredible programs:
🚐 The Listening Bus Tour: We’ll visit cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, and Pittsburgh, connecting with communities, training listeners, and offering heart-centered listening on sidewalks.
🎓 Lunchtime Listening Initiative: We’re creating a program to offer to teachers to bring listening to schools, teaching students how to connect with empathy and compassion.
We also invite local small businesses to sponsor the bus tour. We would greatly appreciate it if you could help us connect with small businesses in Kansas City, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sponsorship not only helps sustain this work but also expands Sidewalk Talk’s impact in these communities.
Aimee Rozen has been part of Sidewalk Talk since the very first meeting to brainstorm the idea. She now volunteers her time to lead volunteer relations.
How to Get Involved
✨ Make a Monetary Donation
$50 in Honor of a Loved One: Sponsor listening in their name, and we’ll send them a beautiful card in the mail sharing the impact of your gift.
Become a Monthly Donor: Enjoy discounted rates on HEAR training and FREE access to bi-monthly workshops hosted by our community. Topics include art and mental health, resilience and hope, somatic awareness, and more.
Donate whatever you can. Every little bit creates energetic ripple effects.
📣 Spread the Word
Share our campaign on social media and tag us.
Email friends and family about why you support Sidewalk Talk.
Use the hashtags #MakeListeningTrend and #SidewalkTalk to inspire others to join.
💼 Recruit Sponsors for the Bus Tour
Reach out to local businesses in Kansas City, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to see if they’d like to sponsor or partner with us. Sponsorship helps sustain this mission and expand Sidewalk Talk’s impact in these communities.
Sidewalk Talk’s mission is simple yet profound: to create healthy humans and a just world by putting listeners in surprising places to offer something unexpected—generous curiosity in the form of heart-centered listening.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue to build a world where listening heals and connects us all.
With gratitude,
Traci
Founder, Sidewalk Talk
