Emancipation Day Fun Run/Walk

Despite slavery being abolished, anti-Black racism is still prevalent in our provinces and country. To honour Emancipation Day (August 1), collectively we are accepting that slavery existed in what we now call Canada. As a founder and co-organizer of Black Lives Matter (BLM) - In This TOGETHER, I wanted to look at ways to enable our group’s mission statement (see below) to educate, but also create a better understanding of slavery and its implications on the social determinants of health of people of African descent.

It is extremely important to spread awareness through acknowledging but also acting on was to address anti-black racism past and present. To do so, we must acknowledge, act, and ameliorate.

The Fun Run/Walk is just one small step at MOVING forward in the right direction.

A little bit about BLM - In This TOGETHER: BLM- In this TOGETHER was formed on July 11, 2020 in Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. This was largely in response to George Floyd’s death and the means to spread awareness by unifying people to MOVE within the BLM Movement, as sitting still does nothing. The group BLM - In this TOGETHER supports the BLM Movement. This is done in contrary to the fact of everything that is going on in this world to Black people and even here in Nova Scotia. The vision is to move within the Movement and to move to dismantle inequality, racism, police brutality, and systematic racism, but also bringing awareness to the impacts of such experiences on one’s overall health.

Three African Nova Scotian communities : Cherry Brook, Beechville and North Preston have come together to organize this run/walk. The Beechville Education Society & North Preston on the Run to Fitness collaborated with BLM ~ In this TOGETHER to spread awareness to one and ALL on Emancipation Day!!!

This Virtual Fun RUN/WALK for ALL AGES

Date:

August 1, 2021

Where:

IT"S VIRTUAL so YOU CHOSE WHERE you walk/run your 1K, 5K, 10K or 21K. It is encouraged (not mandatory) to do so in one of the many African Nova Scotia Communities (see above photo of ANS communities)

Here are some routes of ANS communities in HRM:

https://onthegomap.com/s/849edbve Cherry Brook to Riley Rd to Black Cultural Centre

https://onthegomap.com/s/6k01iimi Lake Loon to Riley Road to Black Cultural Centre

https://onthegomap.com/s/ar2l7fpg Beechville

https://onthegomap.com/s/1omtceg6 Hammonds Plains

https://onthegomap.com/s/1sc06usk Lucasville

https://onthegomap.com/s/jmm5ce7b Africville

https://onthegomap.com/s/gtekfhmn North Preston to St John Hall

https://onthegomap.com/s/kunettk3 North Preston to Black Cultural Centre

https://onthegomap.com/s/na6ah56c North Preston Only

https://onthegomap.com/s/qeurcait East Preston Rec Centre to Black Cultural Centre

https://onthegomap.com/s/1uvcbjrg East Preston to Black Cultural Centre

https://onthegomap.com/s/ss86m1hm East Preston only

https://onthegomap.com/s/k5td3917 Preston Township ( North & East Preston, Cherry Brook and Lake Loon

Time:

Your choice!!!! The beauty of virtual is it can be done at the time you’d like. However many are doing this run/walk at 10am

Cost:

NO COST (FREE) ~ TOGETHER let's spread awareness and make some positive change

* We ask that you wear a BLM t-shirt, tank, or other attire as you participate in this run*

Please contact Mekisha Johnston: mekisha_johnston@hotmail.com