Awe in Urban Spaces Strengthens Belonging and Expands Possibility
research · Greater Good Science Center, Colin Powell School Social Mobility Lab (2026)
Deliberately slowing down and noticing the historical and cultural stories embedded in familiar urban spaces—buildings, street names, textures, human traces—triggers awe. This urban awe deepens sense of belonging to place and community, and can shift young people's perception of what's possible for themselves.
Core Concepts
The Problem
Many people move through cities functionally, missing the stories and beauty embedded in public spaces. This disconnection reduces sense of belonging and can narrow perception of possibility.
The Claim
Urban awe walks—slow, intentional movement through neighborhoods with focus on noticing history and human stories—activate belonging, curiosity, and expanded sense of agency, particularly for students from under-resourced communities.
Key Evidence
- •Practice developed and tested by Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at CUNY
- •Applied specifically in Harlem as part of social mobility research
- •Students report shifts in sense of connection to place and people
- •Framework distinguishes urban awe (human stories, resilience) from natural awe (vastness, power)
Practical Implication
Urban awe walks could be deployed as a low-cost, scalable intervention in schools and communities to deepen belonging and shift perception of possibility. The practice requires only slowness and attention, not resources or technology.
Nuance & Limits
Urban awe is distinct from nature-based awe—it works through narrative and human connection rather than vastness. The practice is most potent in neighborhoods with visible history (like Harlem) but can work anywhere if you look for signs of story.
Source Material
Citation Density
1
Gaps
- ⚠ Longitudinal data on how awe walks affect long-term sense of belonging and agency
- ⚠ Comparative analysis: urban awe vs. nature-based awe in different populations
- ⚠ Mechanisms by which noticing history specifically activates social mobility mindset
- ⚠ Replication across different neighborhoods and cultures
Citation Trend
Who's Talking About This
2 episodes reference this idea.
Deliberate cultivation of awe—through noticing small moments like singing birds, blooming flowers, or neighborhood walks—strengthens curiosity, psychological resilience, creativity, and social belonging in children and adults.
Taking an awe walk through a familiar place—looking for signs of history, stories, and people who came before—can spark feelings of connection, belonging, and possibility.
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