Pastor Walks Across America, Finds Unity

Chicago minister's cross-country trek reveals shared values, not division, he says.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 2:36am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Pastor Corey Brooks, a minister from Chicago's South Side, recently completed a walk across America. During his journey, he says he encountered far more unity and shared values among Americans than the deep divisions often portrayed in the media and by political leaders in Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

Brooks' experience provides a counternarrative to the common perception of a deeply divided nation, highlighting the potential for common ground and community-building even across geographic and political lines.

The details

Brooks, who has worked to address violence and poverty in his Chicago neighborhood, embarked on the cross-country walk to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Along the way, he says he found that Americans, regardless of their political affiliation or geographic location, share core values around family, faith, and community.

  • Pastor Corey Brooks recently completed his walk across America.

The players

Pastor Corey Brooks

A minister from Chicago's South Side who has worked to address violence and poverty in his community.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Back on Chicago's South Side, I've seen what division breeds: suspicion, silos, violence. The cause is bad faith and policies that foster dependency. How can you be all you can be when you place your life, or part of it, in the hands of another — especially the cold, faceless government?”

— Pastor Corey Brooks

The takeaway

Pastor Brooks' cross-country walk suggests that, despite the divisive rhetoric often heard in the media and from political leaders, Americans share more common ground and values than is commonly portrayed, pointing to the potential for greater unity and community-building across the country.