Jillian Yoo is fundraising
Peace Marathon for Black Lives
"Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change."
On the Pulse of Morning, Maya Angelou
Hello! My name is Jill, she/her, and I'd like to embody peace and take new steps of change in light of the pain I am witnessing in the world today. Black and brown sisters and brothers are speaking of their pain and have been for much too long. What can I do? Am I moved to do anything at all? Am I hardened by news cycles, statistics, debate, divisive hatred, the murky, thick, conversations had with loved ones that break my heart over and over again? Or am I numb, tired, confused, hopeless that the comfortable will never sacrifice comfort for justice and truth, disillusioned, spent? Am I guilty, culpable, mistake-making, righteous, wrong, failing constantly in an unrealistic attempt to heal the world?
Yes. I am all of these things and so much more. I am also whole and human, a singer and a speaker. I'm a mover too! I'm a runner. I run because it makes me feel like I'm flying, something I've always wanted to do, and the wind on my cheeks and my legs leaving the ground before they've barely touched down is the tiniest most miraculous thing that has saved me. I've run in almost every city and town I've ever been to, seen sights, felt free in new places, allowed my body to glide over concrete, sand, dirt, earth. This year, I've decided to run a marathon in support of black lives, in solidarity with pain, as an embodiment of loving kindness, as a moving prayer. I was inspired to run this way especially after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a jogger in Georgia who couldn't run freely the same way I have been able to. After 3 consecutive years of entering my name into the NYC Marathon lottery, and now with this year's race being virtual due to Covid-19, it could've been another great excuse not to run one! "Yeah, it's on my bucket list, I'll get to it one day," I would so often say. Well, one day is here!
I'll be mapping out 26.2 miles in Nassau County, beginning in Garden City, the primarily white and segregated town I grew up in and currently reside in. If you'd like to join me for a mile or two or 10 (haha will you please??) along the way on November 1st, you'd be embodying loving kindness with me, in community! adrienne maree brown has taught me that activism emerges from small movements that ripple across hearts and this is my attempt at that. I was recently told by someone that nothing I will do in my little life will impact the problems we face today, nothing. Not a single thing. Many of us may have been told this same, disheartening message in our lifetimes. If a single person is moved, changed, inspired, or a bit more loving because of this, it will have been worth it. If not, I know my own heart will be changed somewhere in that 26.2 miles, so it's still worth it! This is my interpretation of a living faith, prayer backed with action, and it won't be enough, but it is something.
My church community, The Garden City Community Church, is raising money for ERASE Racism, Inc., a Long Island based organization fighting injustice. I've chosen to raise funds for this same organization to build on the impact our community has set in motion, thanks to the beautiful heart of Katie Masters. Ripple effects are happening people! Any donation will help!
More information about ERASE Racism, Inc. (ERASE Racism): To expose forms of racial discrimination, advocate for laws and policies that eliminate racial disparities, increase understanding of how structural racism and segregation impact our communities and region, and engage the public in fostering equity and inclusion.
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change."
On the Pulse of Morning, Maya Angelou
Hello! My name is Jill, she/her, and I'd like to embody peace and take new steps of change in light of the pain I am witnessing in the world today. Black and brown sisters and brothers are speaking of their pain and have been for much too long. What can I do? Am I moved to do anything at all? Am I hardened by news cycles, statistics, debate, divisive hatred, the murky, thick, conversations had with loved ones that break my heart over and over again? Or am I numb, tired, confused, hopeless that the comfortable will never sacrifice comfort for justice and truth, disillusioned, spent? Am I guilty, culpable, mistake-making, righteous, wrong, failing constantly in an unrealistic attempt to heal the world?
Yes. I am all of these things and so much more. I am also whole and human, a singer and a speaker. I'm a mover too! I'm a runner. I run because it makes me feel like I'm flying, something I've always wanted to do, and the wind on my cheeks and my legs leaving the ground before they've barely touched down is the tiniest most miraculous thing that has saved me. I've run in almost every city and town I've ever been to, seen sights, felt free in new places, allowed my body to glide over concrete, sand, dirt, earth. This year, I've decided to run a marathon in support of black lives, in solidarity with pain, as an embodiment of loving kindness, as a moving prayer. I was inspired to run this way especially after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a jogger in Georgia who couldn't run freely the same way I have been able to. After 3 consecutive years of entering my name into the NYC Marathon lottery, and now with this year's race being virtual due to Covid-19, it could've been another great excuse not to run one! "Yeah, it's on my bucket list, I'll get to it one day," I would so often say. Well, one day is here!
I'll be mapping out 26.2 miles in Nassau County, beginning in Garden City, the primarily white and segregated town I grew up in and currently reside in. If you'd like to join me for a mile or two or 10 (haha will you please??) along the way on November 1st, you'd be embodying loving kindness with me, in community! adrienne maree brown has taught me that activism emerges from small movements that ripple across hearts and this is my attempt at that. I was recently told by someone that nothing I will do in my little life will impact the problems we face today, nothing. Not a single thing. Many of us may have been told this same, disheartening message in our lifetimes. If a single person is moved, changed, inspired, or a bit more loving because of this, it will have been worth it. If not, I know my own heart will be changed somewhere in that 26.2 miles, so it's still worth it! This is my interpretation of a living faith, prayer backed with action, and it won't be enough, but it is something.
My church community, The Garden City Community Church, is raising money for ERASE Racism, Inc., a Long Island based organization fighting injustice. I've chosen to raise funds for this same organization to build on the impact our community has set in motion, thanks to the beautiful heart of Katie Masters. Ripple effects are happening people! Any donation will help!
More information about ERASE Racism, Inc. (ERASE Racism): To expose forms of racial discrimination, advocate for laws and policies that eliminate racial disparities, increase understanding of how structural racism and segregation impact our communities and region, and engage the public in fostering equity and inclusion.
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