<p>Alison Mariella Désir is the author of the best-selling book, <em>Running While Black</em>, and the tv host and producer of the award winning show,<em> Out & Back w/ Alison Mariella Désir </em>on PBS.</p><p>Alison is known as a thought leader, a community builder, and a culture shifter and has been named one of the most influential African Americans, aged 25 to 45, by <em>The Root 100</em>. Over the past decade, Alison has founded several organizations at the intersection of movement, mental health and racial justice. Alison holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and EdM in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University.</p>
Activist, Author of <em>Running While Black</em> and Mental Health Advocate
<ul><li><strong>Running While Black</strong></li><li>This lecture delves into the story of how running saved Alison Mariella Désir’s life but also explores why the seemingly simple, human act of long-distance running for exercise and health has never been truly open to Black people. Weaving in historical context—from the first recreational running boom to the horrific murder of Ahmaud Arbery—with her own story of growth in the sport, Désir argues that, as a litmus test for an inclusive society, the fitness industry has the opportunity to lead the charge and fulfill its promise of empowerment for everyone.</li><li><strong>Movement and Mental Health</strong></li><li>Research shows that there is a powerful connection between movement and positive health outcomes. For Alison Mariella Désir, running saved her life, connected her to community, and helped her find her purpose. Over the past 10 years, Désir has founded and led running movements and become an outdoor adventurer, all in the name of improving her own mental health and that of BIPOC communities nationally. This lecture inspires listeners to get moving and find meaning and well-being through movement.</li><li><strong>Building Community: From a Moment to a Movement</strong></li><li>In 2017, Alison Mariella Désir ran from Harlem to Washington, DC and raised over $100,000 for Planned Parenthood. In this lecture, Désir talks about how she harnessed the power of community to achieve this and how running supports her social activism.</li></ul>