Become A Sidewalk Talk Listener
Before engaging, we ask all who sign up to first become a sustaining member. This allows us to keep growing.
Who are our members?
Sidewalk Talk members share one fundamental belief: connection and belonging make us well and we need to create more of it, now, all over the world.
“In a time when I can feel overwhelmed and so sad at the awfulness in the world, this is a profound, yet simple way to make a connection that can change a person's day and life. I know it has changed mine. I know I'm holding the people I've listened to very near in my heart.” -Sidewalk Talk Member
As a member, you are Sidewalk Talk. You are the builder and infrastructure of this movement of human connection across the globe. We are 100% volunteer led. We have no fundraising staff or development directors. It is you that is building this. Your time, your dollars, your willingness to grow changes the world. We have active Sidewalk Talk chapters in over 12 countries and 50 cities and over 4000 members total spanning 40 countries.
Members are diverse people from all faiths, politics, identities, races, orientations, languages, and abilities.
How does membership benefit you?
Live with purpose by being a part of something larger than you.
Belong to a community of caring people and make new friends.
Grow your own connection and listening skills to practice at home.
Impact your community with your intentional and inclusive listening.
What do I receive with my membership?
FREE sidewalk-tested listening skills training.
Invitation to monthly connection circles led by our founder and psychotherapist, Traci Ruble.
Live expert interviews. Past interviews include Dr. Amy Banks, Dr. Rick Hanson, Drs. Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ashanti Branch, Dr. Stan Tatkin, Dr. Shelly Harrell and the list goes on.
Swag discounts and members-only cool stuff.
Belong to a local city chapter or start your own.
Cross-cultural listening exchange invitations.
Online members community.
“I have enjoyed launching a Sidewalk Talk chapter in my city. It's cool that I have made friends with other volunteers, people I didn't know before. I really enjoy thinking of ways to connect to other organizations so we can partner such as with music festivals, art fairs, and the library.”
- From a Sidewalk Talk City Leader
What does Sidewalk Talk spend money on?
- Monthly software costs: website/ database / email: $400/month
- Graphics for signs / postcards / chairs events: $100 /month
- We hired our first hourly people starting next week to automate our database and onboard city leaders / answer emails bc we are too big for Traci to keep doing it all and we like giving a few good people a job: $1500 / month
- We give away community grants / or gift $400 of supplies to diverse leaders in underserved communities.
Besides that: Traci puts in about 20 hours a week of her own time freely and about $10,000 a year of her own money. It is that important to her.
We are trying to grow up a little bit and charge money for training / and have companies pay us to come do trainings. We now have 20 people in the certification process to lead corporate events. That allows us to pay for some of the stuff above.