- M
Hi friends, family & community-
These past few months have been more to process than any of us were prepared for and everyone has been affected in at least one way or another. Life feels simultaneously more and less eventful than it did back in January or February and many of us have been facing losses: jobs, loved ones, hope, a sense of normalcy, etc. But in this unique & challenging space & in the midst of a global pandemic, we’ve been presented with an opportunity to learn and use our housebound energy to fight for anti-racist policy, action & education. The murder of George Floyd in addition to countless other senseless murders by the police of BIPOC men and women has prompted a large scale unified national & global push to educate and break apart the enduring injustices of systemic racism in our society - a push that is all too delayed (by non-BIPOCs).
During the past few weeks, I have been realizing how I have contributed to racist systems with my silence, and am committed now to educating myself and actively working to use my privilege for good instead of taking it for granted. I have so many people to thank for providing opportunity for me to learn more - to name just a few: my roommates Megan Turley and Zac Trafney, my coworker Matt Hendren for inviting me into an Anti-Racist book club, and my high school XC friends for getting uncomfortable together in the process of unlearning what the communities we grew up in taught us. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but I am ready to pace and challenge myself and continue to find ways to learn and take action.
Some of my incredible friends (Audrey Keohane, Michaela Scott, Elena Aker) with producible talents have been using their skills to garner donations for multiple important organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color Of Change, and Black Visions Collective. Although I don’t have a producible, artistic talent, I have an able body and I am willing to push its limits.
One of my connections, Victoria Rainbolt, rode her bike 300 miles in under 24 hours this past weekend, with no sleep, to raise money for the NAACP Legal and Defense Fund (nearly $2500 at this point!). This inspired me and I have decided to attempt the Goggins challenge (4x4x48 - aka running 4 miles every 4 hours, over a 48 hour timespan). In other words, I will be running 48 miles in 48 hours with very broken sleep and rest. I will be starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24th @ 8PM (PST) and starting the final run on Friday, June 26th @ 4PM (PST).
After doing research on different organizations, I have chosen to donate to 3 orgs that support Black Womxn, with focus on 3 categories: mental health, sport, & mothers. I will be splitting all donations equally between the following:
1. The Loveland Foundation
Started by Rachel Cargle, who is an activist, lecturer and educator exploring the intersection of race and womanhood. The foundation provides “opportunity, access, validation and healing to marginalized peoples'' primarily in the form of therapy for black women and girls. Their goal for the 2020 year is to provide 1,000 women financial support for 4-8 therapy sessions. In the midst of a global pandemic, the accessibility of good physical AND mental healthcare is so important and that is one of the many reasons I wanted to support this org.
2. Black Girls Run!
Black Girls Run! started in Atlanta and their mission is to “encourage African-American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority.” BGR! provides resources and support for Black runners and is actively working to lower obesity rates in the African American community. Community in running has always been vital to my motivation to keep moving & therefore why I support this org.
3. Black Mamas Matter Alliance
I am supporting this org because a statistic from the CDC shocked me: pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births for black and AI/AN women older than 30 was 4-5 times as high as it was for white women. This org works to “center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.”
I kick-started the GoFundMe with $144; ($1 for every planned mile)x3 for each organization. If you are able to donate, any amount that you can contribute makes a difference and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured to do so! Your support and willingness to even have read this far into my post matters. I don’t know what to expect but if donations reach $1000, I will double my personal contribution, and if they reach $2000, I will triple it. I will leave the GoFundMe open until July 1st @ 12 AM (tentative // may be extended) and I will post receipts for all donations made! As I go through the challenge, I will record and post all the 4-mile Strava activities.
Thank you.
These past few months have been more to process than any of us were prepared for and everyone has been affected in at least one way or another. Life feels simultaneously more and less eventful than it did back in January or February and many of us have been facing losses: jobs, loved ones, hope, a sense of normalcy, etc. But in this unique & challenging space & in the midst of a global pandemic, we’ve been presented with an opportunity to learn and use our housebound energy to fight for anti-racist policy, action & education. The murder of George Floyd in addition to countless other senseless murders by the police of BIPOC men and women has prompted a large scale unified national & global push to educate and break apart the enduring injustices of systemic racism in our society - a push that is all too delayed (by non-BIPOCs).
During the past few weeks, I have been realizing how I have contributed to racist systems with my silence, and am committed now to educating myself and actively working to use my privilege for good instead of taking it for granted. I have so many people to thank for providing opportunity for me to learn more - to name just a few: my roommates Megan Turley and Zac Trafney, my coworker Matt Hendren for inviting me into an Anti-Racist book club, and my high school XC friends for getting uncomfortable together in the process of unlearning what the communities we grew up in taught us. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but I am ready to pace and challenge myself and continue to find ways to learn and take action.
Some of my incredible friends (Audrey Keohane, Michaela Scott, Elena Aker) with producible talents have been using their skills to garner donations for multiple important organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color Of Change, and Black Visions Collective. Although I don’t have a producible, artistic talent, I have an able body and I am willing to push its limits.
One of my connections, Victoria Rainbolt, rode her bike 300 miles in under 24 hours this past weekend, with no sleep, to raise money for the NAACP Legal and Defense Fund (nearly $2500 at this point!). This inspired me and I have decided to attempt the Goggins challenge (4x4x48 - aka running 4 miles every 4 hours, over a 48 hour timespan). In other words, I will be running 48 miles in 48 hours with very broken sleep and rest. I will be starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24th @ 8PM (PST) and starting the final run on Friday, June 26th @ 4PM (PST).
After doing research on different organizations, I have chosen to donate to 3 orgs that support Black Womxn, with focus on 3 categories: mental health, sport, & mothers. I will be splitting all donations equally between the following:
1. The Loveland Foundation
Started by Rachel Cargle, who is an activist, lecturer and educator exploring the intersection of race and womanhood. The foundation provides “opportunity, access, validation and healing to marginalized peoples'' primarily in the form of therapy for black women and girls. Their goal for the 2020 year is to provide 1,000 women financial support for 4-8 therapy sessions. In the midst of a global pandemic, the accessibility of good physical AND mental healthcare is so important and that is one of the many reasons I wanted to support this org.
2. Black Girls Run!
Black Girls Run! started in Atlanta and their mission is to “encourage African-American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority.” BGR! provides resources and support for Black runners and is actively working to lower obesity rates in the African American community. Community in running has always been vital to my motivation to keep moving & therefore why I support this org.
3. Black Mamas Matter Alliance
I am supporting this org because a statistic from the CDC shocked me: pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births for black and AI/AN women older than 30 was 4-5 times as high as it was for white women. This org works to “center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.”
I kick-started the GoFundMe with $144; ($1 for every planned mile)x3 for each organization. If you are able to donate, any amount that you can contribute makes a difference and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured to do so! Your support and willingness to even have read this far into my post matters. I don’t know what to expect but if donations reach $1000, I will double my personal contribution, and if they reach $2000, I will triple it. I will leave the GoFundMe open until July 1st @ 12 AM (tentative // may be extended) and I will post receipts for all donations made! As I go through the challenge, I will record and post all the 4-mile Strava activities.
Thank you.