Diversity Philanthropy and Community Investment at Fleet Feet
Challenge
Many People of Color and people with low-socioeconomic status do not have access to mentorship and education on nutrition and the benefits of physical activity.
Actions
- We are finalizing an agreement with Black Girls Run!, an organization dedicated to the encouragement and motivation of Black women to practice a healthy lifestyle.
- We made donations to Black Girls Run! and to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
- We have teamed up with the Civil Rights Race Series (CRRS) to support the 1 Million Miles for Justice Virtual Walk, Run or Ride. Link for more info.
- We hosted our first YouTube Live panel with Black leaders in the running industry entitled Running for Change: Systemic Racism and Running. Please click here to listen: YouTube Live panel discussion. We plan to host more and continue to create dialogue.
Outcomes
It’s too early to understand the effects our support will have but we are committed to helping to end systemic racism and promoting diversity in the running industry long-term. Five years down the line, it’s our hope that 30% of the running industry workforce is part of a minority group and that more People of Color and people with low-socioeconomic status will have access to mentorship and education on nutrition and the benefits of physical activity.
Contact
Robyn Goby
Quote
We are living in uncomfortable and scary times.
For some, though, uncomfortable and scary is nothing new. Systemic racism is a sad reality of our culture and has been since the beginning of our country, e.g., the treatment of the LGBTQ community not as equals with equal employee rights.
We can pretend that plain fact is not true. We can refuse to talk openly about it. We can even continue to try to ignore it. But none of that will make things better.
Pretty words will not solve ugly problems. The time is long overdue for something more than talk, hand wringing, or thinking wishful, happy thoughts. It’s time for those of us who run the system to change the system. It’s time to take meaningful and lasting action.
At Fleet Feet, we are committed to taking decisive steps to create an organization and a running community that's inclusive, respectful, and accessible to all. To be better allies. To understand and commit to where we can be better ourselves. To speak up. I am excited to join CEO ACTION and work with other leaders and be an agent of change.