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For Jonathon Stalls (’09), the road to purpose has always been one walked—literally—one step at a time.
When Jonathon arrived at Metropolitan State University of Denver, he was looking for more than just a degree. “I needed a flexible and more affordable experience to move with the many questions I carried around career,” he recalls. “I also wanted quality art and design courses and good transit access.”
It didn’t take long for him to find exactly what he was looking for in MSU Denver’s Independent Degree Program. The program allowed him to craft a multidisciplinary education that fit his diverse passions like a glove. “I was able to fit in creative writing, public speaking, grant writing, women’s studies, social entrepreneurship, and more alongside a long list of fine art and graphic design coursework,” he says. Favorite classes like Typography with Kelly Monico, Communication Design with Peter Bergman, and Non-Profit Management with Kelly Felice left a lasting mark.
Between classes, Jonathon loved resting by Cherry Creek and stumbling upon events in the Tivoli—a campus life that sparked both creativity and connection.
A Journey Measured in Miles and Meaning
During his final year, a 20-cent book from a campus library changed everything. It was Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins, and it inspired Jonathon to set out on his own life-changing trek. In 2010, he began an 8.5-month walk across the United States, covering 3,030 miles alongside his blue heeler-husky, Kanoa.
“I had never done anything like this before,” Jonathon says. “Hundreds of people walked with me. I stayed with 120 strangers. I moved on foot across rural, suburban, urban, high mountain, high desert, and coastal landscapes. I never felt so free, open, and alive.”
The journey wasn’t just personal—it was purposeful. Along the way, he raised over half a million dollars in socially responsible loans through Kiva.org under the name KivaWalk Across the U.S.
From Walking Across America to Walking with Community
After returning, Jonathon wanted to help others experience the transformation that walking brought him. He founded Walk2Connect, a community-driven organization designed to connect people through walking, promote pedestrian safety, and foster belonging. What began as a simple Meetup group grew into a worker-owned cooperative, hosting hundreds of walking events and forming partnerships with city agencies, nonprofits, and foundations across the country.
Though Walk2Connect became a program of America Walks in 2021, its mission lives on—and so does Jonathon’s leadership. Today, he continues to host walking events, train community walking leaders, and advance pedestrian advocacy through his Pedestrian Dignity project.
Art, Advocacy, and Intrinsic Paths
Jonathon’s creative and advocacy work now lives under the umbrella of Intrinsic Paths, the multidisciplinary practice he founded in 2016. He’s a multidisciplinary artist, blending pen drawing, storytelling, writing, and community organizing into one holistic practice. His first book, WALK – Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1–3 Miles Per Hour (North Atlantic Books, 2022), encourages readers to experience the world—and themselves—through the simple act of slowing down.
“The most interesting part of my job,” he shares, “is the multidisciplinary nature of it. In a typical day, I’ll combine pen drawing, Pedestrian Dignity storytelling, planning for future workshops, and writing. I even get to write off my shoes, backpacks, and sketchbooks as ‘Walking Artist’ expenses.”
His next journey will take him on a 14-day walk from Providence to Provincetown, working on new drawings, writing projects, and Pedestrian Dignity stories along the way.
Staying Rooted in His MSU Denver Community
Jonathon continues to stay connected to MSU Denver through alumni projects, book fairs, and community collaborations. When asked what advice he would share with current students, he doesn’t hesitate: “Invite the university to meet you where you are and dream big. MSU has an abundance of tools to support your dreams. Also, join clubs! I was part of the LGBTQIA+ and Entrepreneurship groups—made lasting connections, learned a lot, and had tons of fun.”
From a 20-cent book to a 3,000-mile journey to a lifelong mission, Jonathon Stalls’ story reminds us that education is not confined to a classroom—and sometimes, the most powerful lessons are learned one step at a time.
Learn more about Jonathon’s work at IntrinsicPaths.com.