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The Boston Running Collaborative

Developed by the B.A.A., the Boston Running Collaborative (BRC) is comprised of organizations and individuals committed to building a diverse Boston running community, improving health and wellness, and expanding access to running and walking in Boston with a focus on communities of color.

The Boston Running Collaborative

 

 

The Boston Running Collaborative is led by a steering committee from Greater Boston’s running and non-profit communities
  • Adrienne Benton, B.A.A. Board of Governors Member, Member of Black Girls Run! and the National Black Marathoners Association
  • Sherman Hart, Manager of Track & Field, Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center
  • Thaddeus Miles, Director of Community Services at MassHousing and founder of Hood Fit, B.A.A. Member
  • Kamilah Rowe, Former Head Track and Field Coach at John D. O’Bryant High School
  • Ruben Sança, 2012 Olympian and Assistant Athletics Director for Administration at UMass Lowell
  • Tom Grilk, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boston Athletic Association
  • Suzanne Walmsley, Director of Youth & Community Engagement, Boston Athletic Association
Who Are the Members?

In 2021, the Boston Collaborative developed three cohorts, which members were invited to join in order to concretely address barriers to walking, running, and a healthy lifestyle. The cohorts focus on youth of color, adult runners of color, and walkers or inactive adults of color. To date, the Boston Running Collaborative has engaged with:

  • Charles Anderson, M.D., President & CEO, Dimock Community Health Center
  • Femita Ayanbeku, USA Para Athlete and American Record Holder 100M T64 Division
  • Sidney Baptista, Founder, PIONEERS Run Crew
  • Katonya Burke, Ambassador, Black Girls Run! Boston
  • Tiffany Chenault, PhD, Ambassador, Black Girls Run! Boston
  • Hector Cruz, Principal, HLC & Associates
  • Tony DaRocha, Founder, Boston United Track Club, Physical Education Teacher, Boston Public Schools, MTFOA
  • Jeff Davis, Founder, Black Men Run Boston Chapter
  • Linda Driscoll, Founder & President, Dream Big!
  • Avery Esdaile, Director of Athletics, Boston Public Schools
  • Kathleen Field, Director of Health Promotion and Service Programs, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
  • Trevor Garrick, City of Boston Track & Field League Commissioner, Road to Wellness 5K Coach
  • Gael Henville, Road to Wellness 5K Head Coach
  • Hatim Jean Louis, City of Boston Head Coach, Cross Country; Track & Field
  • Jeff Joseph, Vice-Captain, Black Men Run Boston Chapter
  • Yvel Joseph, Road to Wellness 5K Coach
  • Aliese Lash, Captain, PIONEERS Run Crew
  • Leonard Lee, General Manager and Curator Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex and Roxbury Heritage State Park/Dillaway Thomas House
  • Jess Leffler, Director, Sole Train, Trinity Boston Connects
  • Tung Mai, Academic Director, Boston United Track Club
  • Myechia Minter-Jordan, M.D., President & CEO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
  • James Morton, President & CEO, YMCA Greater Boston
  • Allyce Najimy, CEO & Executive Director of Foundation To Be Named Later
  • Tomorrow Peeples, Founder, Boston Lions Track Club
  • Abeo Powder, Co-Founder, TrailBlazHers
  • Frances Ramierez, Co-Founder, TrailBlazHers
  • Saleena Rashed, Founder, MetroCobras Track Club
  • Liz Rock, Co-Founder, TrailBlazHers
  • Raquel Rosenblatt, Vice President for Development, Dimock Community Health Center
  • Kamilah Rowe, Former Head Coach, O’Bryant Track & Field
  • Bekah Salwasser, Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Boston Red Sox
  • Brad Schoonmaker, Red Sox Foundation
  • Bryan VanDorpe, Executive Director of the Youth Enrichment Services
  • Joe Walsh, President, Adaptive Sports New England
  • Kate Yenrick, Community Engagement Manager, Girls On The Run Boston
Grant Recipients 

In honor of the 125th Boston Marathon, the Boston Running Collaborative awarded $125,000 in grants to organizations that have engaged with the B.A.A. in work towards expanding athletic opportunities for all. The recipients of these grants include:

 

Learn More about the Boston Running Collaborative

If you would like to learn more or are interested in joining the BRC in the future please contact Suzanne Walmsley, Director of Youth & Community Engagement at, swalmsley@baa.org.

Boston Running Collaborative Request for Proposal
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Media

B.A.A. Announces Boston Running Collaborative to Broaden Access to the Sport of Running Across Greater Boston