RIDC: Increasing BIPOC Employment in the Running Industry
Running Industry Diversity Coalition
Envisioning a running industry committed to racial justice where people of color are welcomed, valued, and amplified.
In our first newsletter of 2024 , I shared that our top priorities for the year would focus on initiatives to expand BIPOC ownership and employment in the running industry. During the first half of the year, we dedicated our efforts to successfully opening applications for RUN THE BLOCK, which received an impressive response rate .
As we move into the second half of the year, we are excited to roll out a new effort aimed at connecting BIPOC individuals with career opportunities at our member organizations. Just as ownership can profoundly impact a person's wealth, finding a fulfilling, well-paying career can be equally transformative.We are thrilled to promote our brand-new jobs page with the same enthusiasm as our ownership program, helping to create more pathways for BIPOC professionals to thrive.If you ask anyone in the running industry how they started, you'll often hear unique and serendipitous stories. Unlike many other careers, there isn't always a clear path to follow in running. Perhaps you stumbled on a summer job at a local retailer or knew a friend working for a running brand. For many, working in the running industry wasn't top of mind. However, this industry offers so much, and we're dedicated to highlighting the available positions and the benefits of a career in running.
We are starting by highlighting roles from our member organizations, who have joined us in a multi-year partnership to support our mission. Through this long-term collaboration, we work with these organizations to enhance their hiring and cultural practices, helping make their workspaces more welcoming and inclusive. This work not only attracts a diverse talent pool but also strengthens their reputation as great places to work, according to the RIDC. For potential BIPOC candidates, this means more opportunities in environments that value and support diversity.
If your company is interested in joining the RIDC to share your job opportunities with our network, simply reply to this newsletter to be onboarded.
In service with you,
Kiera Smalls, Executive Director of the RIDC
RIDC Updates
Going to Communities: Increasing Awareness of Running Industry Jobs?
We are excited to host 100+ guests for our first-ever career summit. Please join us if you or someone you know will be in the Charlotte, NC, area on June 15. The event will feature a run, a panel discussion about working in the industry, and more. If you can't make it to Charlotte, don't worry—stay tuned for future events in this exciting program!
A big thank-you to our event sponsors: HOKA, Feetures, New Balance, Salomon, OS1st, GU, On, Superfeet, ASICS, and Around the Crown 10K.Don't miss out! This is your last chance to register for this FREE event ?and spread the word to some locals.?
Get Moving: Global Running Day is June 5
Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages people of all ages and abilities to get moving. Our goal at the RIDC is to see you running on this important day and to also continue promoting inclusivity in the running industry. Here's how you can join us in the movement!
First, it's time to hit the ground running and make an impact with your digital footprint. We want to see BIPOC take up space in our social media feeds. Post your running content with the tag #GlobalRunningDay along with #Running4Diversity! Our goal is to see the Global Running Day hashtag look more reflective of the industry we want to see!
Second, we invite you to support our efforts of championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in running by making a donation to the RIDC.?Click here to become a donor .
Run and Look Good Doing It!
We're honored to have great partners come up with creative ways to support our mission. Get your new gear today! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the RIDC.
Designed by Emily Glenn, "Unity In Stride" is a limited-edition premium sock by Feetures.?Grab your pair ?today!
Designed by Dakota Aiyanna Carter for the track and field Olympic Trials, the limited-edition Oiselle tee is hot off the press. You'll want to grab one for yourself before they're gone!
Happy Pride Month!
Though Pride Month 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.
With that said, awareness is not enough–we need action! Here's a list of some actionable items you can take:
We also encourage you to take time to facilitate meaningful conversations about making the running industry and run communities safer and more inclusive for BIPOC queer runners.
And, check out this RIDC blog?post that highlights historic LGBTQIA+ figures.
Nominate Now: Attend TRE with the RIDC (Scholarship Form)
Over the past three years, the RIDC's presence at?TRE ?has?grown significantly .?This year, we are thrilled to once again offer full scholarships to BIPOC retail employees, leaders, and owners.?This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the running industry and gain valuable career insights.
Please note that submitting the form does not guarantee acceptance. All applications must be submitted by June 28. Thank you for your interest and/or help spreading the word!
RIDC Champion Spotlight: Chinatown Runners
"I turned to running because it’s always been a conduit for human connection, and I felt that creating a movement centered around bringing people back to Asian neighborhoods and businesses was a way to make these places feel more lived-in, less abandoned, and more seen and protected." –Victoria Lo, founder of Chinatown Runners
Our RIDC Champion, Chinatown Runners, has grown to be a thriving run club that partners with other groups to bring more and more people into East Asian communities. We had a chat with founder Victoria Lo to learn more.?Check it out on the RIDC website !
RIDC Member Spotlight: Mill City Running
BIPOC Run Develops Diversity in Sport. ?"Angie DeLille lined up at the Shiprock Marathon on Navajo Nation land in northwest New Mexico, taking in the moment... “It’s hard to explain, but to be running with other people who have that same experience, it makes the activity less isolating and brings you closer to running,” DeLille said. “It makes me love running even more. Especially these last few years as there’s been a community shift.”
RIDC Media & Events Round Up
What Else Is Happening In the Running Industry?
The Austin Run Crew Is Back for the Fourth Year. “Women fought their way to get into it, and then Black women had to fight their way to get into it. So to see a run community that’s predominately Black women, and we’re going on four years this November, there’s something to say something about it,” said Dominique Sabbs, senior community development manager at the?Chicago Area Runners Association?(CARA), which helped start the Austin Run Crew.
Scottie Nelson Talks About the Need for LGBTQ Visibility in the Sport. "Nelson says they are not the only LGBTQ athletes to have taken part. He hopes others have felt as included as he has done since moving into competitive marathon running. 'Just being at these games with other queer athletes — knowing that there are some others here — it’s so inspiring and makes you feel so much like you belong,' he said."
This Queer Running Group Wants to Make the Sport More Inclusive. "After seeing a handful of races like the?New York City Marathon?and Philadelphia Distance Run debut nonbinary divisions in 2021, Fedorowski created?The Guide to Nonbinary Inclusion in Running ?last year. This free program helps race directors develop more inclusive events, hitting on things from pronoun usage in registration to the signage and colors of port-a-potties."
RIDC Executive Director, Kiera Smalls, Shares How Running Changed Her Life. “By choosing to run, you set an example for a young person, someone with a different body type, and community members, demonstrating that if you can embrace running, so can they.” Via Runners World
RIDC Jobs Round Up
Who's hiring? Check out our new jobs page on the RIDC website!
Thinking about applying for a role at one of the organizations listed in the link above? Awesome! Just make sure to mention that you found the opportunity through the RIDC.?
When you see?the term BIPOC throughout RIDC materials, we are talking about Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color.
Till next time,
Running Industry Diversity Team?
runningdiversity.com ? @runningdiversity?? #Running4Diversity?