5K Freedom Run/Walk

Despite slavery being abolished, anti-black racism is still prevalent in our provinces and country. As a founder and 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 health determinants affecting people of African descent.

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

The Freedom Run/Walk is just one small step MOVING forward in the right direction!

Overview: BLM - In This TOGETHER: BLM- In this TOGETHER was formed on July 11th, 2020, in Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. This was largely in response to George Floyd’s death, creating ways and means to spread awareness by unifying people to be proactive (MOVE) within the BLM Movement, as talking about these issues simply was not enough. I decided it was only right that I echo the words of Iyanla Vanzant, " It's time for you to move, realizing that the thing you are seeking is also seeking you."

Our group, BLM - In this TOGETHER supports the BLM Movement. Contrary to the fact of endless atrocities being inflicted on Black people around the world including here in Nova Scotia, this movement represent an enlightenment for people of color in our evolved and documented history.

Our vision represents proactiveness and its consistency thereof, a movement of absolute progress aimed at dismantling inequality, racism, police brutality, systematic racism, while at the same time; creating awareness about these experiences and how it affects us as a people as well as our individual health and wellbeing.

Nelson Mandela once said, " We as people need to acknowledge both the rights and responsibilities of every citizen to ensure we are daily promoting not just individual, but societal wellness." Therefore, in the society we live, the lives of Blacks need to be highlighted. Their overall well-being, must be at the forefront, motivating our actions to stand up for what is right and just in our democratic society. It is essential to note that every modern society has been built from the blood sweat and tears of Blacks and all their natural wealth stolen from the motherland, Africa.

Ubuntu illustrates that people are people through other people.

Date:

OCTOBER 15th, 2022

Where: 10 Cherry Brook Road ( Start and finish race/run)

Leaving the Black Cultural Centre turn left up Cherry Brook Road to the T junction. Turn left onto Cherry Brook Road and proceed as far as Loon Lake Road. Turn right on Loon Lake Road and run to turn around point heading back along Loon Lake Road until Cherry Brook Road take a left onto Cherry Brook Road and follow Cherry Brook Road back to the Black Cultural Centre. See below photo of measured race!

Time:

9:30-10:15am Tshirt give away ( while quantities last)

10:30am Race whistle is blown at 10 Cherry Brook Road ( Black Cultural Centre)

In the words of Angela Davis, " I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept." TOGETHER let's spread awareness and make some positive change.

Please contact Mekisha Johnston (Founder and Race Director) at: mekisha_johnston@hotmail.com