In 2020, the Rochester Running Club signed on to be a member of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). One responsibility of membership to this organization is to report back to our community the efforts we are making for diversity and inclusion. Since we joined the RIDC, we have taken the following actions:
- We formed a Diversity and Inclusion committee to intentionally address ways to make our running club more diverse and inclusive.
- Several members of the RRC Board attended the Grappling with Bias Workshop in February 2021.
- We started a “Get to Know Your Running Community” feature on our website and on our Facebook page to highlight the diversity in our running community, from age to race to nationality to pace to experience and beyond. We would love to feature YOU and hear more about your unique running story. Please email rochesterrunningclub@gmail.com to fill out the survey or to nominate someone we should invite to share their story!
- We are improving the authentic representation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color on our webpage and communications. We want anyone and everyone to see RRC posts or the website and know that they belong here!
RIDC focuses on racial diversity, but as a running club, we are extending our inclusivity efforts beyond race. This summer, we are inviting athletes in wheelchairs and para-athletes to race in the Hal Martin All-Comers Meets. We are connecting with local physical education teachers to help us spread the word.
Another exciting initiative led by our Diversity and Inclusion Committee is to promote running clubs for kids, especially kids in schools with high rates of free and reduced lunch. Too many youth sports are “pay to play”, meaning the price-point to be part of a team is not feasible for families struggling financially. This summer, the RRC will be holding a running club at the Boys and Girls Club as part of their summer programming. Then in the fall, we will be partnering with school running programs to offer quality, fun, and high-caliber sports opportunities for free.
Our efforts to promote free kids running programs led us to apply for Rochester to be designated an Aspen Institute’s “Project Play Champion.” The mission of the Aspen Institute’s Project Play is to provide every child access to sports, regardless of their ability to pay.
We are proud of the work we have accomplished this past year, but we know we have much more work to do. We invite you to partner and collaborate with us in these efforts. We have some big goals, and being truly inclusive to all will be a community endeavor.
Yours in health,
The Rochester Running Club Board and Diversity and Inclusion Committee