In the spirit of improving the connection between The Johns Hopkins Hospital and its surrounding community, leaders on the East Baltimore campus have embarked on a series of Unified Steps walking tours.

The inaugural walk in October, pictured above, also served as an opportunity for employees to chat with Johns Hopkins executives while participating in a healthy activity. The event kicked off with a pep talk from Paul B. Rothman, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and stretches led by MaryEllen Elie, Healthy at Hopkins program director. Then, 110 participants set off at a brisk pace through the Cleaning, Active, Restoring, Efforts (C.A.R.E.) neighborhood, to the east of the Johns Hopkins campus.

The enthusiastic crowd included Redonda G. Miller, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Tony Bridges, director of East Baltimore community affairs; and James Page, vice president of diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine. A second walk was held Nov. 21. Organizers plan to resume the walks next spring.