Center Aquidneck is presenting the third annual Jane’s Walk Aquidneck

Festival this Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3. Jane’s Walk is an international movement of free, neighbor-led walking conversations inspired by 20th century urbanist Jane Jacobs and carried out by curious and concerned communities around the world. The festival encourages people to share stories about their neighborhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with neighbors.

Jed Hancock-Brainerd and Rebecca Noon, founding directors of Center Aquidneck and the Jane’s Walk Aquidneck Festival, have produced a wide variety of performance pieces in Rhode Island, including last fall’s hit performance in the Common Burying Ground, Life After Life.

The past two years of organizing the festival on Aquidneck Island confirmed that Islanders love sharing the stories of their neighborhoods as they brought us to unexpected places across Aquidneck Island.

“Of course Aquidneck Island is full of history,” says Noon.

“What’s great about a Jane’s Walk Festival is that you don’t have to be an expert in anything academic to lead a walk. You just need a question you’d like to think about with your neighbors. We’re all experts in our own

experiences, and that’s often where the most interesting walks come from.”

Though the majority of the walks are in Newport, the festival relies on walks across the island.

“It’s so great to find the times we can come together as an Island community,” says Hancock-Brainerd. “It’s great to see the blend of classic Newport spots — like Queen Anne Square — alongside places I’ve never gotten to visit — like Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth. It’s just a fun festival and a unique way to meet people.”

All Jane’s Walks are free of charge and under 90 min. They range in topics from exploring an NRF house, twilight at Easton’s Pond, and how urban development can hinder affordable housing. The Providence Jane’s Walk Festival is also happening May 1-4. You can find more

information on those walks here: www.growsmartri.org/janes-walk-ri/

Reservations not required, but available in advance at www.centeraquidneck.com/2026-festival, where you can also see the full schedule of walks.

Jane’s Walk Aquidneck Walk Leaders:

● Margaret Back is a Preservation Projects Manager at the Newport Restoration Foundation and connects climate change and built heritage resiliency.

● Jane Carey was an Art Director for textbooks and Newport History Journal for the Newport Historical Society. She was the lead researcher on Life After Life, a play in Newport’s Common Burying Ground.

● Caleb Goodhouse is the Archivist & Digital Collections Coordinator at the Newport Restoration Foundation. He is interested in how changes in technology affect our sense of identity and the ways in which we express identity.

●Bart Lloyd is a retired attorney whose career as general counsel for a non-profit affordable housing developer has included being involved in the redevelopment of neighborhoods in Chicago, New Bedford, Boston, and Washington, DC.

● Rebecca Noon is a performance-maker, the Deputy Dir of the Dept of Art, Culture and Tourism for the City of Providence and organizer for Center Aquidneck.

● Gloria Schmidt writes a local history blog on Portsmouth called Portsmouth History Notes. Historical Advisor to the Battle of Rhode Island Association.

● Gina Tangorra is the Director of Engagement & Presidential Initiatives at the Newport Restoration Foundation.

● Shannon Walker is a Native Newporter who grew up with Easton's Pond as her front yard. She is a realtor with Hogan Associates Christie's, a long-time teacher and yoga practitioner; and a recent appointee to Newport's 2037 Comprehensive Plan.