Of Course We Do! In fact, that’s the motto of the eight-year movement that has unleashed over 70 running groups across thirty states. As shared on the Black Girls Run website, the movement was created “by Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks in an effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic in the African-American community and provide encouragement and resources to both new and veteran runners.” Women of all shapes, sizes, athletic abilities, and many zip codes gather to combat the growing statistic that 4 out of 5 African American women are considered overweight or obese on the BMI Scale. The good news is that out of darkness has come a great light, and what’s most exciting is this running community exists to provide sisterhood and support! The Black Girls Run Boston! Group currently boasts over 1,000 members on Facebook and some of these ladies run through our very own neighborhoods and streets!! I went for my first run with the group the summer of 2013, and left having found true sole sisters who can share running highs and lows, but also everything else going on in our lives because the time and distance we spend with one another increases over time!! So what do you think? Will you consider checking out the group that has given so many brown and black women across the country an opportunity to “preserve the sexy” with fitness and achieve leading a healthier lifestyle? If you listen carefully, your sneakers just might be calling your name!
About Shanae Burch
To introduce myself, my name is Shanae Burch. For just over a year, I have been a Qualitative Research Intern for Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, and have been inspired by every minute. A 2013 graduate from Emerson College’s Acting program, I am very passionate about preserving the art of storytelling and believe the use of stories can raise awareness of existing health issues and equip communities with tools to forestall or even reverse projected health outcomes. It’s why I believe in Community Conversations, and why it’s such a treat to be involved with this organization as an intern and participant. As a Special Studies student at Harvard Graduate School of Education this school year, I’ll be crafting a program known in my heart as “Storytelling for Health Education.” I look forward to blogging about my experience as an Intern, as well as faith, fitness, and food adventures in Cambridge.