When Westchester resident Alicia Arleo became a mother, she found herself navigating more than just sleepless nights and diaper changes–she was also facing an unexpected wave of loneliness. As the first person in her friend group to have a baby, Alicia craved connection with other women who understood exactly what she was going through. That desire for support became the spark for something much bigger: a thriving community of moms walking, talking, and bonding through The Mom Walk Collective.
As a professional in the fashion industry, Alicia has spent the last 15 years in Los Angeles and the last eight living on the Westside. After welcoming her son Aaron, now almost 11 months old, she began searching for a way to meet other moms.
“When he was about four months old, I just really needed someone to say, ‘Yes, my baby is waking up at 2 a.m., too!’ I needed that kind of friendship,” says Alicia.
Her search led her to The Mom Walk Collective, a group that started in Newport Beach in 2022 and quickly expanded nationwide. While the closest group at the time was in Redondo Beach, her husband gave her the push she needed to start a mom-walk closer to home.
“He said, ‘Why don’t you host something up here? There have to be moms in Playa Vista who feel the same way.’ And he was right,” Alicia says.
In April, Alicia became a Mom Walk Collective Ambassador and officially launched the Playa Vista chapter.
“I host primarily in Playa Vista because of the beautiful parks there. Everybody seems to like walking to the Whole Foods area, or to get coffee, and there are dog parks. It’s just so walkable,” she adds.
Since then, she’s hosted six walks, and each one brings more moms out of isolation and into a mommy zone where the focus is connection.
“Every walk, I hear the same thing: ‘How has this not been here before?’” she says, “It’s been incredibly rewarding.”
A Walk in the Park–with Snacks!
Held twice a month, once on a weekday and once on a weekend, so working moms can attend, the walks are open to all mommas, from those with infants and toddlers, to moms-to-be.
“I especially love having pregnant women join us, because I feel like they have so many questions. It’s been a really nice synergy to have all of these fresh moms give advice to the pregnant women, so it’s been great to see all the different stages supporting each other,” she says.
The walks last about 90 minutes, and flexibility is key.
“Come as you are. If you’re 45 minutes late because your baby had a blowout or you just couldn’t get out the door, it’s totally fine,” she says with a laugh.
Each gathering starts with introductions: moms share their names, neighborhoods, and their child’s name, followed by a conversational prompt. After that, the group sets off on a stroller-friendly route, chatting in buddy pairs and rotating partners on the return to encourage broader connections.
And there are perks. Alicia often partners with local businesses to offer treats and refreshments, like cold brew and croissants from Capri Gelato or personalized boxes of macarons from Playa Vista Farmers’ Market favorite, Nature Macarons.
“It’s completely free to attend the walks,” Alicia says. “Sometimes we’ll do special events. I’m hosting a ‘Mommy and Me’ class with Yoga Bliss in Westchester, and they were generous enough to give the moms a discounted class rate, but the regular walks are always free.”
A Place for Dad!
Alicia says the walks, at their core, are really just for moms. But that doesn’t mean the group won’t ever do family events.
“I’ve heard from so many of the moms that their husbands would never join a dad group, so if we all did something, as families, they would love that. I’m actually planning to do something in August so the dads can meet each other,” she says.
Building Community
For Alicia, the transformation from a lonely new mom to community builder has made a big impact on her life.
“At first, I started this because I wanted to make friends,” she says. “But after the very first walk, I realized I was just the vessel. It became about creating space for other moms to find what I was looking for–connection, support, and a reminder that we’re not alone.”
The impact goes beyond the walks themselves. Moms are forming friendships that extend past the stroller circuit.
“It’s so beautiful seeing moms start making plans with each other outside of the group. That’s when I know this is really working,” she says.
Alicia recalls one early walk when a shy mom was walking alone, unsure of how to join in. Alicia watched as other moms noticed and quickly welcomed her into the group.
“That’s exactly what this is about. Everyone deserves to feel valued and included. Just getting out of the house in the postpartum phase takes so much courage. I always tell them I’m proud of them,” she says with a warm smile.
Because of the walks, Alicia says she’s also discovering new details about motherhood all the time.
“Just the other day, one woman was telling me how she’s now weaning off of breastfeeding, and she’s fully expecting a complete hormonal dip. I’m also starting the weaning process, and I had no idea to expect a hormonal dip. I kind of thought, ‘You just wean them off, and that’s that. Like, haven’t we been through enough?’” she says.
Advice for New Moms.
For any mom feeling overwhelmed or isolated, Alicia offers this simple message: “Just try. Put yourself out there. You’re not alone, even if it feels like it. Come as you are and give yourself the gift of community. You just might find your people. And that’s everything,” says Alicia.
This month’s walks include outings on July 15 and 29, as well as “Mommy & Me” yoga on July 10. Learn about upcoming events on Instagram at @themomwalkco.playavista.
Story by Shanee Edwards. Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner.