WALK ACROSS AMERICA

About the Campaign

It all started on a cold rooftop on the South Side of Chicago. Not in a press room or a politician’s office—but on top of a building, in protest of the violence, poverty, and hopelessness gripping the community below. Pastor Corey Brooks spent 94 days up there. Alone. In the cold. In prayer. And in that time, that rooftop transformed. It became more than a protest—it became a pulpit. A symbol. A spark that ignited what we now know as Project H.O.O.D.

But now, He’s taking that same stand across the country.

Beginning September 1, 2025, Pastor Brooks will step off the sidewalks of Times Square and begin Walk Across America: One Million Steps to Restore Merit and Opportunity. This isn’t a metaphor. This is a real 3,000-mile journey—on foot—from New York City to Los Angeles. Over the course of 365 walking days, he’ll pass through 50 cities, stopping to host revivals, lead rallies, and engage in raw, healing conversations with communities along the way. This isn’t just a walk—it’s a march. A mission. A call to action.

The goal? To raise $25 million to finish construction of the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center in Woodlawn, Chicago—a place where lives will be changed daily. A place for job training, youth development, faith-based mentorship, and entrepreneurship. A safe space. A launchpad. A future.

But it doesn’t stop there. That $25 million will also help launch a school for boys from single-parent homes and lay the foundation to replicate Project H.O.O.D.’s transformative work across the nation. This walk is about faith. It’s about family. It’s about putting the American Dream back within reach—not through politics, but through people. People who still believe in merit. In hard work. In community. And in God’s power to redeem what feels broken.

And here’s the part that moved me most: Pastor Brooks isn’t asking for fame. He’s asking for us. To sponsor a mile. To give what we can. To walk with him in spirit—or maybe even in person. To remind every young person in every forgotten neighborhood that they are not forgotten. They are not just a statistic. They are a builder of what’s next.

This journey is long. But it’s righteous. And every step matters.

A mission in motion. For a future that matters.

Campaign Goals

The Walk Across America campaign is a bold, year-long journey with a mission to raise $25 million in support of community-based programs that address some of our nation’s most pressing challenges. Funds raised will directly underwrite mentorship initiatives, mental health services, and youth job training in each anchor city along the 3,000-mile route. By investing in these proven solutions, the campaign seeks to bring sustainable transformation to underserved neighborhoods through access, opportunity, and hope.

To ensure lasting impact, the campaign is mobilizing 10,000 volunteer “mile ambassadors” across 30 states to walk, support, and spread the message of unity and change. Along the route, the team will host 100 faith-based prayer stops and 50 college engagement events, building bridges between communities, campuses, and congregations. Each stop will also track and measure progress—targeting a 10% increase in literacy, job placements, and residents’ sense of safety within 12 months—demonstrating that meaningful change is not only possible, but measurable.

The Walk Across America campaign is not just about crossing a country—it’s about confronting the deep-rooted inequities that exist in too many of our communities. With every step, the campaign seeks to bring attention to issues like generational poverty, youth disconnection, lack of access to mental health services, and crumbling educational outcomes. It’s a visible stand for the invisible struggles many Americans face every day.
At the heart of this year-long journey is a bold fundraising goal: $25 million. Every dollar raised will fund high-impact programs designed to transform lives in underserved neighborhoods. That includes direct investments in mentorship, mental health support, and youth job training—proven pathways out of poverty and into purpose. The funds will also complete the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, a national model for sustainable community revitalization.
To ensure long-term reach and ownership, the campaign is activating 10,000 volunteer “mile ambassadors”—individuals who commit to walking a symbolic mile in their own communities or joining the team along the route. These ambassadors will raise awareness, share stories, and engage others in the mission. It’s about turning spectators into stakeholders, and movement into momentum.
At its core, this campaign is about reviving the belief that every person—regardless of zip code—deserves a shot at a better future. By investing in communities that have historically been overlooked, Walk Across America is helping to restore the foundational values of hard work, faith, family, and merit. It’s not about handouts. It’s about unlocking potential. One step at a time, this campaign is reigniting the idea that the American Dream should be possible for everyone—not just a privileged few.
The walk is rooted in faith. Along the route, the team will host 100 prayer stops—faith-based gatherings where local churches and spiritual leaders come together to intercede for their cities. These stops will serve as sacred spaces for healing, connection, and recommitment to the values of justice, compassion, and unity. They're not just symbolic—they’re spiritual fuel for the road ahead.
Recognizing that young adults are key to the future of community change, the campaign will hold 50 college engagement events during the walk. These stops will include student-led discussions, leadership roundtables, and service opportunities designed to equip the next generation with the tools to lead with vision, purpose, and compassion. It’s a way to bridge the energy of campuses with the needs of communities.
This isn’t just a feel-good campaign—it’s one grounded in results. Every city stop will be tracked using key benchmarks, including improvements in literacy, workforce placement, and residents’ perceived safety. The goal: a 10% lift in each of these areas within 12 months of the walk’s presence in each location. Through this data, Walk Across America aims to show that hope isn't just poetic—it’s practical and measurable.