Commitment to racial justice
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), our Board of Governors, staff, team members, and volunteers stand steadfast with the Black community against racism and social injustice.
Our mission for over 130 years has been to promote health and fitness through running, and we believe that everyone—no matter their race, gender, or background—should be able to advance their well-being safely and without fear or discrimination of any kind. We cannot work towards health and wellness without recognizing disparities that continue to impact the Black community at a disproportionate rate.
As such, the B.A.A. is
- engaging our entire organization to deepen our commitment to racial justice, while ensuring these values are reflected across all of our programs and events;
- listening and learning while working towards a common language and policies that stand effectively against racism in every form;
- committed to build upon the financial, programmatic, and event support to local organizations that are engaged in health and wellness for the Black community in Boston and beyond;
- committed to achieve greater diversity at both our Board of Governors level and our staff level, with an immediate focus on strategies to recruit candidates of color;
- re-focusing the work of our entire organization from being principally focused on mass participation races to focusing a substantial portion of our regular work in direct support of youth and adult community events in and around Greater Boston, with emphasis on the Black community.
We know there is more we can do. We will continue to listen. We will continue to learn.