Montgomery Co. Woman Builds Community Through New Walking Club: Report

ROCKVILLE, MD — Missing the camaraderie of time spent with old friends, 26-year-old Jessi Balter regained her sense of community in Rockville after using social media to create the MoCo Walking Club, according to The Banner.

Balter moved to Rockville from Miami for an internship in 2025, but part of what she left behind was time spent with friends. She especially missed the times they’d go on walks together in Florida.

As a social media influencer, Balter ultimately took to TikTok to see if anyone would be interested in joining her next stroll around Gaithersburg’s Rio shopping center.

And, as they say, the rest is history.

“I really feel like I kind of tapped into this need for community,” Balter told The Banner. “Especially in your 20s, it’s pretty difficult to make friends, no matter where you live.”

The group, which welcomes people of all ages and genders, has since grown so large that Balter’s even started a Discord channel so club members can organize activities.

Read more at The Banner.