Inspiring Women to Be Active and Healthy - Black Girls RUN!

• [:56] Dr. Bantham introduces her guest, Jay Ell Alexander

  • Jay Ell Alexander is the CEO and Owner of Black Girls RUN! and a running, health & fitness enthusiast herself.   

• [1:24]  Carrying on the Black Girls RUN! legacy

  • “So the organization, we've done some beautiful things over the last two and a half years in terms of forging new partnerships out in the community, our membership base has grown about 30%, we have expanded our footprint to about seven new groups across the country.”

• [3:55]  Amplifying voices in the community with a 501(c)(3)

  • “We couldn't tangibly say over the last decade, how much we have moved the needle...So the 501(c)(3) has allowed us to put some strategy and some processes in place to really track our progress, how many members we have, what type of physical activity minutes our members are doing, how much weight is being lost, blood pressure, how much money is being—not in terms of being spent in the community, but how much—is going towards helping to support our members.”

• [5:46]  Building a supportive community

  • “We are building a community, a community that is quite supportive….[w]e make sure that if you come out to a weekly run for the first time or for the fifth time, you feel like you are a part of a group of women that are supporting you, encouraging you, and holding you accountable for your health and fitness journey.”

• [8:44]  Addressing health disparities

  • “We're showing women—I think visually it means a lot to show a woman, again, no age discrimination, no shape discrimination—showing that women can do it, and that black women are out here running and that we can we can definitely be a part of that community.”

• [9:09]  Physicians as role models and advocates for physical activity

  • “But I had a doctor, an OB, that was definitely, she was a runner as well, she was a black woman. And so she was an advocate for my health, and she was not quick to put me on medication. And she was like, you need to change your diet, you need to change your physical activity. And so that's probably one thing, is just, how do you interact with your healthcare provider, making sure, understanding that medication doesn't have to be the first resort, in terms of getting your weight down or getting your health stats in order.”

• [13:42]  Addressing barriers to physical activity

  •  “And it is conversations like this, that if people are aware that those things exist, then we can really help to find some solutions to make sure everyone feels able to just, you know, be able to hit the pavement and feel like they're absolutely welcome and able to do so.”

• [13:57] Creating an inclusive fitness movement

  • “But as long as you're a woman, and that you are in support of what we're doing on the pavement, you are absolutely 100% welcome. And so that's a part of our inclusive message that it does not matter your skin color, that you can definitely join us on the pavement.”

• [16:59] The role of social support 

  • “But that social support is definitely a component about it, that we we want you to fit again, that inclusive message we want you to feel included, we want you to feel encouraged, and those relationships are happening organically, as you start to get more involved with BGR and start getting more healthy and active. So it's definitely a sisterhood.”

• [20:25] Bringing new members into the community

  • “They see us just loud and very vibrant at races and out in events and out in the community. And they see our logo, which is very prominent, and they want to find out ‘Well, what is that all about?’ Or they see us on social media, and they see all these women just having a great time out on the pavement and they're like, ‘Hey, I just want to be a part of that.’ ”

• [23:16] The impact of COVID-19

  • “And then we offered online virtual classes for about three months, in terms of where people could log in, and attend these free classes just to stay active. And then we kind of lifted the suspension, if you will, in mid July, and probably about a third of our groups have resumed to some type of group run, small group run or something. But in terms of races and larger events that we're participating in, the rest of 2020 is completely canceled.”

• [25:27] eRACE Racism 

  • “You know, I've heard of stories of women talking, you know, white women and black women talking, some black women that may be in law enforcement, or you know, some women that may stay in a part of the nation that may be underserved. And so what are those conversations like? What can we do to kind of help, you know, bridge this gap, and create just a, just a better, a better country for us all.”