On Your Mark, Set Your Intentions 5K
SAVE THE DATE!
On Your Mark, Set Your Intentions 5k - Welcoming the New Year - 2025!
"Run with purpose, move with purpose. Set your intentions. Celebrate you, celebrate your journey! And we can celebrate community!"
+ Dates: December 30 - January 5, 2025
+ Distances: 5k ($20), 10k ($30), 13.1mi ($35)
+ Where: Virtual (in person runs are option but will have to provide me with the locations and who the run leads are and we can add those into the registration site)
+ Add a Land Acknowledgement to your Bib
+ Downloadable bib available for free (registration isn't required, but helps with being able to donate to beneficiaries)
Beneficiaries:
+ Touching Land
+ Black Men Run
+ Running Industry Diversity Coalition
+ Rising Hearts
INCENTIVES
15 participants will be selected to receive a 2025 year planner / intention settings with an additional $10 donation!
10 participants will be selected to win a pair of free running shoes with an additional $10 - $20 donation WHEN YOU JOIN VIRTUAL TEAM - RISING HEARTS
ABOUT THE BENEFICIARIES
Touching Land
Touching Land is a 501(c)(3) non profit, where participants use hands-on experiential arts and mindfulness as a tool for community-building, collective grounding, healing and immigrant empowerment. We use our bodies (running), land (clay), food (decolonizing) and textiles as our main working tools.
We offer Empowerment Workshops that educate and provide support for immigrants and vulnerable populations. We also offer Building Bridges workshops that create cross-cultural connections within our complex community. Click below to learn more or read our story here.
“Running, Rights and Land" is a program that has been in development for several years. Like clay molding and cooking, running is a powerful tool that promotes relaxation, vulnerability, and openness. Engaging in physical movement can alleviate stress and strengthen our connection to the outdoors, ourselves, and our community. It serves as an ideal somatic/mindful tool, especially when done on trails. The program also aims to foster a stronger bond between immigrants and the outdoors. Ultimately, we hope to introduce these runners to local, established running groups.
In 2023/24, we conducted a modified pilot in Brooklyn, NY. We identified a group of immigrant men who were isolated and unable to work. They needed information about their rights and the empowering and uplifting experience of running. We realized this was an excellent opportunity to introduce them to local community spaces, organizations, and restaurants ready to welcome and support them. A primary reason why these men often don't venture beyond a two-block area is due to a lack of knowledge and the need to feel safe. Our immediate goal was to help them feel comfortable and safe enough to explore their surroundings freely.
The program was highly successful. We provided shoes, shorts, reusable water bottles, and rights information to several groups of immigrants. This program was a "drop-in model", as it was the most effective way to foster community through changing groups of migrants.
One of our strengths is our ability to stay nimble and continuously build programing that fits our community. As a result, we've developed a new "12-week" running program. The first half will focus on teaching the basics of running, trail access, and rights education. The second half will involve a “buddy system” where building community with pre-existing running groups in the area is prioritized. The final session is a Trail Race in the local woods.
The program will launch in BROOKLYN in the fall of 2024.
IG: @touchinglandorg
Black Men Run
Our Mission
To encourage health and wellness among African American men by promoting a culture of running/jogging to stay fit resulting in “A Healthy Brotherhood”
Black Men Run | The Movement | #blackmenrun
Black Men Run supports a wide range of abilities and is open to everyone. From first timers to advanced runners, we strive to promote increased fitness through a culture of running.
Why is there a need for Black Men Run? Because the numbers don’t lie:
Among Blacks age 20 and older, 44.4% of men have Cardiovascular Diseases
In 2009, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) caused the deaths of 21,051
Black males Blacks have a risk of first-ever stroke that is almost twice that of whites
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for African American males
At Black Men Run we believe that running/jogging can change these alarming trends and we are here to encourage African American males to get out and be active. Research tells us that running on a regular basis not only benefits individuals from a physical standpoint but also increase mental sharpness. Studies show that running on a regular basis helps to boost your confidence, relieves stress and eliminates depression.
“If We Stay Committed To Health and Wellness, We Will Make Ourselves and Communities Stronger.”
IG: @blackmenrun
Running Industry Diversity Coalition
At the RIDC, we're an educational, nonprofit organization with a mission to unite the running industry to improve the inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
The RIDC is uniquely positioned to impact all sectors of the running industry, from brands to run clubs, race events, and retailers, to ignite unparalleled advancements for BIPOC.
Our vision is to see and experience a running industry committed to racial justice where BIPOC are welcomed, valued, and amplified.
One of RIDC’s programs is RUN THE BLOCK a new mentoring and grant pilot program. RIDC takes a focused approach, starting with Black ownership in the running industry. The awardee will be granted $200,000 to open a new retail running store in the US and dedicated mentorship to support them along the way. Anyone can apply with their store having at least 51% Black ownership. This criteria aims to direct financial support and mentorship towards businesses substantially owned and run by Black individuals, addressing historical barriers to access capital.
Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led organization, elevating community voices through meaningful kinship, movement, advocacy and storytelling.
Much of the heart work we prioritize is cultivating kinship with brands, companies and groups, while creating meaningful collaborations with the Rising Hearts athletes, community partners and broader movement community.
Our Programs:
Running On Native Lands Initiative
Running With Purpose Athlete Advocates
Rising Hearts Stories | Filmmaking
Virtual Movement Events | Race Organizing
You Are Loved Community Grant Initiative
Consulting - DEI / Collab opportunities / Facilitating Connections
IG: @rising_hearts
RUN WITH INTENTION
Run with purpose, move with purpose. Set your intentions. Celebrate you, celebrate your journey! And we can celebrate community!
What’s in store for you in 2025? Big or small changes. Growth. Healing. Building. Goal and intention setting, boundary setting? Whatever it may be, we are in it with you too!