? ?
? Bust another move ? ? Get on down ?
- Bust it! - Okay.
? Bust another move ? ? Get on down ?
We accept you-- any shape, size, running level.
Running level is very important.
People get really scared about coming out to run with us.
They're scared that they won't be able to keep up.
And we do a really good job
of making everyone feel comfortable,
making sure no one's left out.
No matter what type of person you are,
you can join our group and run.
- ? Happy birthday, dear Tenia ? - Thank you.
- ? Happy birthday to you ?
[cheers and applause] Yay, whoo!
- ? How old are you? ?
- I think I would describe myself
as an educator, a runner,
and like a leader, motivator.
I'm really happy that we got to have some group.
Look alive, LOOK ALIVE!
[cheering] - Whoo, ay-oh!
- Thank you guys so much for riding it out with us.
This has been a very difficult season, of course.
[techno funk music]
Recently,
kinda of, like, an activist
for creating safe spaces here in Milwaukee.
Even when I was growing up,
I didn't see anybody that looked like me running long distance
so I would sneak and try to be a sprinter,
knowing dang well I had no business doing
that 'cuz I'm not-- [laughing]
I don't have that type of speed.
So, my coach would drag me over
to the long-distance stuff and run that,
and I end up being good at it.
I wanted people that looked like me running long distance,
and they didn't.
So, I mean, I just had to suck it up and do it.
But imagine if a little girl, you know,
sees a African-American woman running a 800, 1,500
that steeplechase, stuff like that,
then they would, you know,
they would think that they can do it.
Look at these baby panthers!
[laughs]
So, today, on your run,
I want you guys to think about how we are making change
through F.E.A.R., through social acts,
and I think the name "Forget Everything And Run"
has taken like a new, like, meaning out.
This is our way of protesting.
This is our way of showing
that we care about our bodies.
This is our way of showing that we can be united.
Those my people.
We're all each other's people.
? Baby, we holding each other ?
- Whoo!
- I know running can be scary,
and just because I used to run in college
and all of this.
I have my bad days, too.
I'm no longer that fast anymore. [laughs]
No, but seriously, like, there are all type of people here.
Seriously, all type of people
and even if you don't like running,
if you wanna come
because you think somebody is cute, that is fine.
I don't care!
Just come run a little bit first.
Literally, all you need is shoes,
and we dang near probably can help you with that.
If you really can't get it,
I promise you I'll help you.
Hold me accountable.
I'll help you get some shoes.
So, that's it.
You don't need the cute outfit,
even though that's a reward.
Like when you do run, you get to look cute.
That is a reward, but you don't need all that...
...for you to, you know,
show up on a Tuesday or Saturday
and step up and be like,
"I'm about to just put myself out here.
I'm gonna run with these people."
You'll have a whole different respect
for one another for sure.
There are some things
that you can share with one another
that you wouldn't experience with any other sport.
I've always said, like,
I can try to change the world through running.
[joyful cheering] - Whoo, WHOO, yeah!
Visibility matters.
I say that all the time.
People need to see people of color running.
It shouldn't be this, like, crazy thing that you see.
With our running group,
we are fighting to desegregate Milwaukee through running.
People could do it all types of ways, whatever way,
but this is our way.
This is what's near and dear to my heart,
and this is what is-- has affected me throughout my life.
Not seeing people that look like me
running these long distances.
So, this is my way of trying to make change.
[piano melody]