sPark of Change Kicks off Its Power Walks at Bocconi
As part of sPark of Change, Bocconi University has launched its Power Walks — an initiative to intentionally walk together in the city, guided by a physical trainer. It is linked to the exhibition on the role of sports in contemporary society.
The Walks will take place on 21 April at 12pm, 23 May at 10am, and 10 June at 6pm. They are open to everyone, designed for people of all ages and fitness levels. The meeting point is in front of the Bocconi Library on Via Gobbi, 30 minutes before the start time. Participation is free, but registration is required.
Each session, led by Wellness Foundation physical trainers, is not your everyday walk; it blends physical activity, movement education, and a focus on posture and breathing in a group setting. To complete the experience, there will be a guided tour of the sPark of Change exhibition with Bocconi researchers. “Wellbeing is an integral part of the role a university plays in its community, including the neighborhood where it is located,” highlights Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University. “Through sPark of Change, we are working to bring research out of academic settings and transform it into an accessible experience. The Power Walks are part of this initiative because they combine scientific communication, quality of life, and engagement with the city. It is a concrete way to embody our third mission.”
Organized in collaboration with the Wellness Foundation and Milan’s Municipality 5, the initiative is one of many activities on the calendar centered on wellbeing and movement culture, dedicated to the community and city. “Advocating for an active lifestyle means, above all, creating the conditions that make it natural to adopt healthy daily habits,” comments Nerio Alessandri, President of the Wellness Foundation. “With Milano Wellness City 2030, we are working toward exactly that: fostering a cultural shift and bringing movement into people’s lives, neighborhoods and urban spaces. The Power Walks are a part of this journey because they transform the act of walking into a guided and shared experience — an opportunity for wellness education.”
“The Power Walks embody the vision that we carry forward as an institution: making wellbeing and physical activity an accessible right. Investing in public space and social relationships strengthens neighborhoods and tangibly improves residents’ quality of life,” states Natale Carapellese, President of Municipality 5.
sPark of Change was established on 6 February to coincide with the launch of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has transformed the Bocconi campus into an open, urban pathway, illustrating what the Games represent today — not just a competition, but a system of economic, social and cultural impacts. Rather than a celebratory exhibition, it is a dissemination project based on data, research and analyses conducted at Bocconi on sports as a social infrastructure, on major events policies, and on the legacy for local communities.
The heart of the exhibition is located along the pedestrian area of Via Gobbi, unfolding across six themed installations: investing, cheering, winning, building, growing and impacting. These comprise physical installations, digital content, and augmented reality. In addition to the exhibition, the project features a program of events, meetings and activities that run throughout the months of the Games and continue beyond — with the goal of shifting the focus from the event itself to its impact, fostering informed and widespread participation. sPark of Change has received funding from the Lombardy Region as part of the Giochi della Cultura, and is included in the official program of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad.