Champion Highlight: Swaggahouse Run Club
An RIDC Champion is someone who is actively doing the work of the mission and vision of our organization and is a living example of the goals we have.
TW: A note on suicide.
Our next highlight is Swaggahouse Run Club from Philadelphia! The club was founded in the summer of 2020 by Josh Perez and Ronald Pichardo as they worked through fulfilling their promise to finish the Philly Marathon for a loved one who lost their life to suicide. They saw the mental health benefits of running and wanted to make sure there was a space for Black and brown communities to move together, as Perez and Pichardo saw a lack of opportunities both on the trail and in road running.
There is no preferred distance or pace for Swaggahouse, they simply want everyone to show up as they are and move their bodies in a space that feels supportive to them. They have built a very strong community in the short 2 years they have been a group, not just within their club but also with other run clubs in the Philly area. For example, they’ve organized the Hood 2 Hood Run Series in partnership with Black Men Run Philadelphia. Through this summer series of runs, Swaggahouse and Black Men Run join each other in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia that are most impacted by gun violence. Their goal with these runs is to show unity between their groups, as well as show the youth of the city’s neighborhoods another way to use their energy.
Through their amazing efforts and community building, Swaggahouse has moved on to creating their very own space for their club in the community. The Swaggahouse Showcase will be part retail shop and part run club meetup space. And, if you are looking for something to do this holiday season, be sure to check out their Holiday Hustle 5K/10K on 12/18/22. More information can be found on their Instagram page @swaggahouse_run_club
Know someone who is an RIDC Champion? Reach out to amy@runningdiversity.com and share them with us! Stay up to date with all things RIDC by signing up for the Newsletter below.
