Running with Purpose
Athlete ADVOCATE
COLLECTIVE

Mission:
Running With Purpose is an inclusive collective that promotes social justice through running and movement. We use our platforms to advance equality in the running community and beyond, fostering a diverse, welcoming space for all. By amplifying voices and sharing lived experiences, we strive to create an equitable environment where everyone belongs, helping make running and movement accessible and inclusive for all generations.

Vision:
Running With Purpose envisions a world where wellness is accessible to everyone, and all individuals feel respected, safe, and represented. We aim to create a running and movement community where voices are heard and visible, advocating for diversity, inclusivity, and equity in outdoor spaces and beyond.

How?

  1. The collective will create a space for athlete advocates ingrained in the running and movement communities to come together under common goals of advocacy and inclusion, come together to mobilize their pillars of advocacy, host seminars and panels, content, and more.

  2. The collective will focus their efforts on closing the visibility gap and create points of access in our sports for Indigenous, Black, Asian, Muslim, Two Spirit, and LGBTQIA communities, adaptive bodies, and others who may not see themselves represented.. 

  3. By fostering the relationships between athlete advocates, corporate sponsors, elite athletes, brands, media, and coaches, the collective will create a space to start the process of dismantling the systems of oppression seen in the running and movement industries. 

  4. We demand accountability from those who support and sponsor our efforts in transforming the running and outdoor communities.

AREAS OF FOCUS + ADVOCACY:
Body Image, Safety, Inclusion, Diversity, Affordability, Climate Justice, Sustainability within the running spaces
Increased representation at trail and road races, Increased opportunities for visibility, Intersecting Running with Advocacy / Movement
Accessibility, Respect and building relationship with the land, Land Acknowledgements & Beyond, Enable and empower all Athlete Advocate
Health of our shared environment, Brand Relationships / Partnerships, DEI Consulting, Mental Health 

 

Intersection of running and advocacy

In June 2021 - Rising Hearts formed a running collective focused on social change and how we use running as a platform for advocacy and awareness of the things most important to us. For some, it can be THROUGH prayer runs to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Black lives, Representation, Next generations, and other issues.

We are here to help cultivate meaningful relationships and partnerships. Meaning, Rising Hearts will help facilitate these conversations with individuals and companies that will put sponsorship and exclusivity aside, to support the community, our voices, lived experiences and more. We envision a world for the running and outdoor community, that is inclusive, accessible, supportive, safe, diverse, visible and equitable for Indigenous, Black, brown, Asian, Muslim, Two Spirit, LGBTQ+, Non-binary kin, and people with disabilities. With the intentions and purpose set for this program, we had 35 Athlete Advocates part of the early development of this program to call for meaningful action and representation as companies steer the focus on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work. Now, we hope to bring more Athlete Advocates into this collective, to learn from, to support, and to collaborate with. As many of us know, much is still missing from that work from these companies and brands. Rising Hearts hopes to connect our advocates with the companies in this work, to amplify the heart work across our collective and be a voice at the table.

Together we will use Running as
A PLATFORM FOR ACTION.

For the Athlete Advocates - what you can look forward to:
Monthly Zoom Calls
Monthly Engagement Calls
Community Support and organizing
Organize virtual runs/in-person per athlete’s cause/advocacy
with partner, EliteFeats
RWP Singlet
Rising Hearts Swag
Access through donations and partnerships for race entires, product, merch, shoes, travel stipends, mental stipends, and more.

Individuals, RUN CLUBS, companies and stakeholders:

How can individuals or companies support?
Support can come in many forms: donate shoes, offer discounts, provide safety tools, food, or apparel, or sponsor race entries and scholarships. You can use your social media or writing platforms to host conversations, and help fund resources like singlets and goodie bags for new members.

By supporting, you’re helping foster growth and healing. However, to join us in this work, we seek partners who are committed to building an intersectional future and actively dismantling oppressive systems. Together, we can create meaningful change.

We are running with purpose. We are running for justice. We are running in prayer. We are running for healing. We are running for community. We are running for the safety of our communities.