Rising Hearts February Blog Updates
Happy February! We know times are heavy and we want you all to know that we are still here standing with you. Now more than ever it is so important to come together as community, do things that bring you joy and support one another. We are so grateful to be in community with all of you and we want to send extra love to our Trans and Queer relatives. We see you and we are here for you! We hope that everyone is able to enjoy some down time, rejuvenate, and reflect during this winter season.
We have our year jammed packed with some fun and amazing community events and runs! We are so excited and grateful to get to know community, create community, create awareness, and help give back to the heart work that is having profound impacts. We are all part of that, together!
NEXT AWARENESS + ACTION EVENTS:
+ Running On Native Lands | 3/1/25 - 3/15/25
+ Earth Day 5k | 4/19/25 - 4/22/25
+ Running For Justice | 5/3/25 - 5/10/25
AREAS OF FOCUS:
Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate Collective:
We are prioritizing our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate Collective through our own fundraising and partnerships, to support our athletes in their running and advocacy. This has led to hosting panels, virtual panels and workshops, a handful of athletes sharing their voice and and experiences on podcasts and other media platforms, a special book project with one of our athletes and this collective, supporting their initiatives, providing gear, shoes, and stipends. All possible through our fundraisers and partnerships within the running/outdoor industry. To learn more about our athletes and to be part of it, visit www.risinghearts.org/runningwithpurpose.
Running On Native Lands Initiative:
Our Running On Native Lands Initiative is in constant growth. We are updating the toolkit and will be creating a more formalized process in becoming a partner. We had 16 consultations in 2024, with 5 that became partners and collaborators. We hope to have more consultations coming for 2025, as we raise more funds and submit for more grant funding, we will be able to expand and grow our partnerships more feasibly. Through more funds, we will have more opportunities to present and teach about going beyond a land acknowledgement, allowing us to meet more of community, help educate, and learn from community while being able to utilize our skills and connections to support land back efforts as well. So, we are looking forward to our annual virtual/in person Running On Native Lands community gatherings! Learn more at www.risinghearts.org/nativelands.
Rising Hearts Stories:
Storytelling is incredibly important to us and we hope to elevate as many voices from community as we can. Currently, we are working on our 4th short documentary, in post production, and hoping to have an early spring premiere, stay tuned! In parallel to what we do in helping to tell stories, we help find them, consult on them, and brings people together to make it work. Narrative Shift, a new production company co-founded by Jordan of Rising Hearts, hopes to utilize the resources, tools and connections to support Rising Hearts stories. More to share soon! Learn more at www.risinghearts.org/stories.
Run For Rising Hearts:
We have 2 opportunities for YOU, to run for Rising Hearts and raise funds to support the heart work. Our first option is to get 10 charity runners for Rising Hearts through our The Wander Project partnership for 2025. We were able to raise nearly $15,000 for Rising Hearts in 2024. The second option is to use any race you registered for or want to register for and dedicate it to Rising Hearts and get up to 20 runners. We have some special perks to support runners along the way and help provide you a fundraising link. So if you’d like to run for us through either path, reach out or visit www.risinghearts.org/charity-bib-runners.
You Are Loved Community Grant Initiative:
We are heavily involved in advocacy for the families of missing and murdered loved ones, the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Peoples, survivors of violence and community organizations and advocates. This program came about with Jordan, using her running to run in prayer for loved ones, raising funds personally and through the annual Rising Hearts Running For Justice 5k/10k/Half Marathon since 2019 to donate to families and advocacy organizations, intersecting with the advocacy and passion of Kali Reis (Seaconke Wampanoag, Cape Verde, Actor (True Detective), World Boxing Champion), coming together to run the 2025 Boston Marathon and launching this initiative and fundraising effort to make funds available to families, survivors, advocates and organizations to apply for to support a variety of needs in their efforts for justice for their loved ones. To learn more and donate to help us reach our goal, visit www.risinghearts.org/youareloved.
Kinship with sister organization:
ReNew Earth Running (RER) is a family organization to us, a sister in the heart work we do as much of their mission intersects with what we do as well. With Jordan as Board Chair of RER, we have been able to share some of our resources, connections and funding with the RER #LegsForLandBack runners as well, as a handful of runners are RWP Athlete Advocates. We look forward growing our kinship!
We are up to so much! And we hope to apply for more funding and we will keep raising funds as we go to keep us running in all ways. Wopila tanka, many thanks, to all of you for your support, and we look forward to our hearts moving forward together.
- Rising Hearts
WESTERN STATES ENDURANCE RUN 100 RUNNER!
RISING HEARTS X WESTERN STATES RUNNER 2025, SCOTT FLATLIP
Kaheé! Awé-Kootaá-iikuash Biik. Bii-Apsaalookak. Greetings! My name is Scott Flatlip. I am born into the Ties the Bundle clan and am a child of the Bad War Deeds. I am an Apsaalooké (Crow) that grew up on the Crow reservation in the small town of Pryor. I am a husband to my wife Sloane and father to three wonderful children Hudson Mills, Madisyn Rein, and my youngest Bridger Wallace. We Currently make our home in Garryowen where the battle of the little bighorn took place.
I currently teach Health Enhancement at Hardin High School. I have been teaching at Hardin High since 2018. I also helped coach cross country, track and field, and basketball as an assistant. When I am not at school or teaching I enjoy playing with my children and spending as much time with my family as I can. Another thing I love to do is run. As an ultra-trail runner (running all distances over 26.2miles) I spend my time running on the roads, hills, and in mountains. This is a way for me to connect with the land the same way many of my Apsaalooké ancestors once did.
+What made you want to apply to run for Rising Hearts at the 2025 Western States 100?
I was asked to apply by a few friends after I did not get into the race lottery.
+What does a race like this mean to you?
Learning about Rising Hearts work with Western States, it makes me glad about the impact RH is making with this race. I am excited to get to toe the line with this race. The race is the oldest ultra in the states and the race itself has a history of lacking in BIPOC community with race and even its board.
+What ultradistances have you run (include name and distance)?
Bighorn Trail Runs (50k, 50 mile, & 100mile). Rocky Mountain Double Marathon 50k, Elk Horn 53 mile, Monument Valley 50 mile, Elder Creek 50 mile,The Hunt 50k, Sawatch 50k, West line Winder 50k, Crazy Mountain 100 mile, Cocodona 250 Mile
+What's your favorite post run snack / meal?
Anything really.
+What's your favorite race or run experience?
Favorite races were the Cocodona 250, Sawatch 50/50 (Sawatch 50k/West Line Winder 50k), Bighorn 100 mile, and Crazy Mountain 100 mile
+On a long race such as ultras, when things get hard, what are your mantas / music / or thoughts that help you push through and overcome.
- Awé-Kootaá-iikuash Biik. Bii-Apsaalookak.
+What are your goals for WS100?
To finish and push myself beyond my limits.
Rising Hearts is here for you, to cheer you on, and to support you every stride of the way!
YOU ARE LOVED FUNDRAISER
FUNDRAISER FOR LOVED ONES AND THEIR FAMILY:
Join Jordan Marie Whetstone (Lakota) of Rising Hearts and Kali Mequinonoag Reis (Seaconke Wampanoag), in helping to bring more visibility for the families and their loved ones as they hope to raise $100,000 or more, to donate back to the families, advocates, survivors, and organizations focused on ending this violence and creating a safer future for Indigenous Peoples through the You Are Loved community grant program.
The Passion:
Jordan, of Rising Hearts, and professional runner, dedicated her 2019 Boston Marathon to 26 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Since then, she has been on a mission, running for justice - running with purpose, in bringing more visibility to the movement, the families, their loved ones, the advocates, and the community organizations within the MMIR space. Since 2019, Rising Hearts has helped raise over $200,000 collectively through their virtual wellness campaigns for families of missing and murdered loved ones, advocates, survivors, organizers and community heart working organizations. More resources are needed to support the efforts of fundraising, court costs, search and rescue, data, travel for hearings, listening sessions, legal fees, mental health and wellness services, community organized efforts, financial support for cost of living, and more.
The You Are Loved Community Grant Program:
This community grant program is a direct services pathway for families, advocates and organizations to submit your request for on a rolling basis. We hope to raise the $100,000 + to get this program started, with a long term goal of $250,000 to sustain this resource for community and outside agencies to continue to donate to or fundraise for. We are collaborating with our sister organization, Urban Indigenous Collective (UIC) to help manage and distribute the funds and work closely with them and the UIC MMIP Taskforce Committee.
UPDATE: We did not reach our $100k goal by 12/31/24, so we are pushing it to May 10th.
Applications will go live May 2025 on a rolling basis, need basis and urgency basis:
+ Examples of Need Basis: mental health and wellness costs / access, printing costs, banners, shirts for awareness / memorials, direct assistance for family / families, impact campaign / storytelling that will directly uplift and support loved one / families
+ Examples of Urgency Basis: Funeral costs, vigils, search and rescue, DNA testing to expedite progress in loved ones case, MMIR based conference / Federal listening session
How To Learn More + Donate:
To donate, you can start now! Visit www.risinghearts.org/youareloved and you’ll find more information about the You Are Loved Community Grant Program.
Stay Up To Date:
Subscribe to the Rising Hearts newsletter - www.risinghearts.org or visit our blog www.risinghearts.org/blog for updates about fundraising, follow us at @rising_hearts on IG | @nativein_la | @kali_ko_reis
You Are Loved logo made by Nicol Hodges (IG: nicolhodges ) and RH Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate
UPCOMING RUNS
SAVE THE DATE!
Running On Native Lands
3/1/25 - 3/15/25
Registration and more information coming soon!
HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY TO US!
Rising Hearts turned 8 on January 21st and we are keeping these celebratory shirts on our Bonfire shop! Wear the heart work.
RUN REFLECTIONS
Running with Purpose Athlete Advocate, Jessie Schwiesow
This isn't a unique sentiment, but January 2025 will be remembered as the longest month I've ever experienced. Typically, I love the new year, the freshness of it all, and I generally crave for my months to feel long and full. While personally, things have been okay for me on paper, my heart has been shattered for all those who have lost their homes and are suffering in California; for those who continue to suffer in North Carolina. I've felt this strange guilt that so many of our lives continue to carry on as normal when so many's worlds have been upended (this isn't a unique feeling). Then, with the looming inauguration, it's been supremely difficult to envision a future that doesn't include more terrifying situations and bad news. I've always prided myself on my ability to be proactive in difficult situations. This month, though, has been marked with feeling numb, and in general, pretty helpless. While it's been inspiring to see how communities have banded together with fundraising efforts, mutual aid, and organizing, the problems facing our country feel so vast, it's difficult to see how we can get past the horrific situations we're facing.
Through all the darkness and difficulty, though, I find that my appreciation for physical movement has grown. Running has been a saving grace this month, and I've used every run specifically as an outlet to sort through and process my feelings about our current events. Running (this month especially) has reminded me that moving forward is truly the only option, even when you feel helpless. Connecting with all of my beautiful friends and like-minded community, many of which I've met through Rising Hearts, has continued to remind me of the goodness in people and that we are not alone. I continue to take less and less for granted; being able to talk with a friend, curl up with a library book, walk with my dogs and my man; they seem so insignificant, but in a world where things feel so terrible, the pockets of joy and connections we have are everything and will help sustain and encourage us through the shitty times. All this to say, despite the difficulties and heaviness of this month, I'm leaving it with something that feels like a renewed sense of clarity as to what matters and what I will continue to fight for. I look forward to better days ahead for everyone, and I continue to be so inspired by our community, who I know will always move forward even when the path isn't easy or clear.
Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate, Megan Driving Hawk
Fourth Trimester: A Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Reflection, part 2
IG: @MDrivingHawk00
Substack: Living a Kindred Legacy
https://substack.com/@megandrivinghawk?r=4g2ew&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=edit-profile
The fourth trimester is labeled as such on purpose. It is another trimester of rapid changes that happen slowly to a birthing body.
The early weeks of being freshly postpartum are hard. My body changed again but this time it was a rapid change. I birthed the being I was growing. After delivery my body was wounded. I felt the beginnings of myself coming back again and yet still not the self I was pre-pregnancy. My body suddenly shifted into slowness.
During this trimester I found it hard to settle into the slower movement. I thrive on routine and there simply is no routine with a newborn. My job, my repair journey was to rest and love up on the baby I had just created and birthed. My exercise consisted of about 10 minutes of pelvic floor exercises and a small slow walk around the house lifting nothing heavier than my baby. Practically speaking, this was harder than it sounds with a 4 year old to care for. I was, still am, and will always be tending to my son, my daughter, and myself.
Although the August summer light was changing, the desert summer heat lingered. My time to transition into walks outside the house came but it was still too hot. It felt impossible to get in any type of movement outside during the summer months in the desert.
I started waking up early to wake my sleeping baby for a diaper change and feeding to get out of the house and back all by the time my oldest woke up at 6am. She would cry and I became easily frustrated. The perfect kindling for postpartum depression. I tried two different strollers and two different wraps. I was anxious and angry. By the time we finally found a rhythm it was too dark to be walking around the park alone with a newborn.
“This phase is temporary. This is not forever” I kept telling myself. Relief came by the end of the fourth trimester. It was finally bearable and safe enough to go for a short walk after dropping my oldest off at school thus starting my journey beyond the fourth trimester.
Programming.
I feel supported within structures created by professionals I trust and I feel it’s important to share those resources. During pregnancy I used the Pregnant Athlete Training Program & pelvic floor exercises from my Pelvic Floor PT. During the first 6 weeks postpartum, I used Brianna Battles 6 exercises for the first 6 weeks program, pelvic floor exercises from my Pelvic Floor PT & walked as prescribed by my pelvic floor PT. For the following 8 weeks I used Briana Battles 8 week Postpartum Training Program, the next step of exercises from my pelvic floor PT, and started to build up walking from where I left off in pregnancy.
(Part 1 of this series was featured in the September blog. Part 3 coming soon.)
FUNDRAISE FOR RISING HEARTS
We had 11 runners in 2024, turning their passion into purpose! We came close to $15,000 for 2024! Here’s a chance to support our heart work through a different means - running! We hope to find 10 runners for 2025!
2025 RACES ARE OPEN!
WANT TO RACE FOR RISING HEARTS OUTSIDE OF THESE WE HAVE SELECTED?
Not seeing a race you want to run in this list? Check out all of the Wander Project events and choose the “Your Choice” option. They will reach out to learn more about your charity of choice and once you let them know that you’ll be running for Rising Hearts, they will make sure your funds come to support our mission!”
Athletes who want to support Rising Hearts for a race that is not listed, can sign up for any of the events on The Wander Project calendar: https://www.wanderproject.org/event-partners/ and pick 'Your Choice' for charity and then fill out the form to indicate they want to support Rising Hearts: (FAQ page here: https://www.wanderproject.org/athletes/frequently-asked-questions/)
Reach out to us via email, info@rising-hearts.org. Share with us your plans, then we’ll set you up with the link!
Want to run for Rising Hearts?
This is more new for us! We have a givelively link specifically for runners/individuals, who want to raise funds for the heart work we do! If it’s not through our partnership with The Wander Project, or our other partners at CIM or Boston, you can run for Rising Hearts at any race you choose and bring more fun and purpose to your why and the run.
We hope to get 20 Rising Hearts runners!
Suggested fundraising limits:
RH Athletes / Community = $500
Open to Community = minimum $800
Perks: RH Singlet, merch, stickers, fuel, and if shoes are needed, we can help you!