Ask Yourself: What have I been doing?

*RIDC panel for retailers at the RIA's Runchella conference in Chicago.*

In the last two months, we have participated in or cohosted workshops held in Chicago, LA, Boston, and London, where we engaged in discussions with leaders across the running industry regarding our organization's work and the progress (or challenges) happening with racial justice in our field.

We communicated the most urgent need: Effectively addressing racial justice requires a shared responsibility.
Sharing responsibility means going beyond receiving instructions on what needs to be done and ensuring that each person feels personally accountable for the progress and advancement of racial justice.
Our educational workshops, resources, peer learning groups, and cutting-edge research serve as guiding points for our industry. They correct historical misinformation and provide recommendations for action while also leaving space for you to develop solutions and changes that positively move our work forward.
Ask yourself: What have I been doing? What does my accountability look like in advancing racial justice for our industry? What can I do to get my peers up to speed?
If we ask ourselves these questions daily, we will see more tangible progress in our companies, race events, and stores–send me your responses to the questions above by replying to this email. I'd love to read them.
One of our partners summed this up well: This isn't just the work that the RIDC is doing that you're supporting; it's work that you're doing that the RIDC is supporting.

Kiera Smalls
Executive Director, The RIDC

RIDC Research: In celebration of Juneteenth, we will be releasing our groundbreaking research to our partners and community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the countless individuals who generously dedicated their time and energy to completing our surveys and engaging in stimulating discussions with our teams. Stay tuned for another email from us in late June!

**Pride for the Rest of Us**

Pride Month celebrations and acknowledgments typically center on the experiences of gay white men. Though it is meant to be a celebratory month, we would be remiss if we didn't hold space for the constant threats to BIPOC queer lives in this country and in our sport. This means a Pride celebration paired with the bitterness of grief. Take time to facilitate meaningful conversations to discuss making the running industry and run communities safer and more inclusive for BIPOC queer runners.

**Global Running Day: Run With Us**

Join us again in filling up the #GlobalRunningDay and #Running4Diversity hashtags on social media with BIPOC runners. Together, let's run at least 1,350 miles that day, representing the 135 million BIPOC people in the US (Census, 2020). Join the RIDC club on Strava and be ready to track your miles on June 7! Learn more on our website.

**Historymaker: The Grandmother of Juneteenth**

Join us in honoring the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” Ms. Opal Lee. In 2017, at 89 years old, Ms. Opal Lee walked from Fort Worth, TX, to Washington, DC, campaigning to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Her dream, along with Lula Briggs Galloway and others, came true in 2021.

**Workshop Recap**

Oftentimes we hear that running is good for your mental health. But what happens when mental health conversations are rarely addressed or celebrated in your community? Our May workshop facilitated a much-needed dialogue on cultural stigmas surrounding mental health in the Black and AAPI communities. You can read the recap and watch the recording here.

**RIDC Partner Spotlight: Pacers Running**

"*Pacers Running* *is a proud sponsor of the* *Chocolate City Relay, and will be supporting the ladies as they run relay-style sixty miles across DC in June to celebrate Black female runners. Pacers is also a proud sponsor of the fourth annual* *Juneteenth Half Marathon/ 10K! In addition to the Juneteenth race sponsorship, Pacers is participating in a trail clean-up to prepare the course for the race, as well as promoting the free race and volunteering on race day. "*

RIDC Media Round Up

Road Races Look Different From the Back of the Pack (Pictured)

DC Front Runners Pride 5K returns with focus on philanthropy: "Beneficiaries of this year’s race include SMYAL, the Wanda Alston Foundation, Team DC, Teens Run DC, the Blade Foundation, Pride 365, and Ainsley’s Angels of America."

Check our Underarmour's 2023 Pride Collection.

Two-Spirit: A Trans Woman's Struggle for Acceptance (Video)

Preorder Martinus Evans's new book: Slow AF Run Club!

Paul Ladipo's LinkedIn post is a must-read: "DEI does not exist to pat you on the back for being diverse. It exists to shed light on mistakes against marginalized people. Too often, companies create DEI departments in the hopes of making their organizations more inclusive. And that works, until DEI staff point out issues in the organization. Instead of humbly receiving this advice, leadership (typically white, male, and/or straight) goes into fight-or-flight mode."

Saucony, Clarks and Others Join Claima to Address Systemic Racism for Creatives of Color: "Furthering its mission to uncover the systemic barriers that impact creatives of color, Claima has revealed a new product- and film-based effort, and has recruited a two powerhouse footwear brands for help."

Phil Knight ponied up $400 million to help historically Black areas of Portland. Meet the woman investing it.

The Cost of White Discomfort: "If only white America were as disquieted by the evil on which its comfort is built as it is by our demands to be treated humanely. If only your comfort were not so damn expensive for the rest of us."

Have an article, podcast, or event we could share? Send it our way to hello@runningdiversity.com. Thanks in advance!