Black History Month Blog
Hello Rising Hearts community,
We are celebrating Black History Month all month (and all throughout the year) to appreciate, elevate, learn and show up how we can.
Rising Hearts is celebrating Black and Afro Indigenous Voices! They can’t take away joy, culture, pride and resilience. Community is still here and will always, in all ways, be here. The heart work continues.
Take this time to educate yourself. Diversify your feed. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Watch films. Sit and process new information and lived experiences. And commit to being a good relative and protect, defend, celebrate and respect.
See below our highlights from different athletes, creators and collaborations. We are so proud of our community and want to share them with you all!
- Rising Hearts
SPOTLIGHT
Meet DeAndra!
She designed the new logo for Rising Hearts 2026 shirts!
DeAndra Hodge (Dee-On-druh) is an illustrator and designer based in Washington D.C. who graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the University of Montevallo.
She loves projects that showcase the importance of community, culture, history, and education.
She is best known as the illustrator of the That Girl Lay Lay, and Beyond the Game series, as well as Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark (Macmillan) and Tell Me About Juneteenth (Macmillan).
Rising Hearts became friends and connected with DeAndra who is the illustrator of a children’s book about Jordan Marie Whetstone, “Beyond The Game - Athletes Change The Game: Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Whetstone.”
What has it been like for you to collaborate with Rising Hearts?
”Collaborating with Rising Hearts has been a wonderful experience! I was so excited when Jordan asked me to work on this project. Not only is it great to work with a client that aligns with my values, it's even better when communication is so clear and concise. Truly, one of the best client experiences I’ve had!”
What was your approach to this special and empowering design?
”For every design, I always like to learn as much as I can about the client, what they like, what they don’t like, and what story they want to tell with the design. I found the phrases “Be A Good Relative” central to creating this design. It helped me stay focused on the overall visual theme so I could create something that felt true to Rising Hearts.”
What does being an illustrator mean to you?
”I love it more than anything! It’s a job I take seriously, since we get to use our skills to represent our real world and the people in it. In order to do that well, we have to be open and learn as much as we can about the world around us. It’s so much fun, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this for a living.”
What are you looking forward to in 2026?
”New opportunities, making new friends and spending time with old ones, and exploring as many new places as I can! “
FOLLOW AND LEARN
Respect their voice. Respect their space. Learn from them. Don't be extractive. Be resourceful in your education. Compensate them. Don't flood their DM's asking questions unless solicited or approach it in a way that is respectful. Don't DM saying they are wrong. That is not your lived experience. Then compensate.
UPCOMING RACES, COMMUNITY EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Registration for 7th Annual Juneteenth Half Marathon and 10k has opened! Secure your bib or sign up to volunteer now!
Follow @runjuneteenth for the latest updates.
This event was founded by Freddie, Run Juneteenth!
The Backstory:
The first “Juneteenth” celebrations occurred almost immediately following Gen. Granger’s announcement on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, TX.
Juneteenth as a holiday holds significance in that it represents both the ‘ceremonial’ end of the formal practice of slavery in America, but also the ‘statutory’ beginning of a new personal agency for blacks living in America.
In more recent American history, the seismic changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic set against the backdrop of 2020’s near unrelenting unrest and uncertainty found many Americans presented with an opportunity for personal reflection—mainly the possibilities offered by seizing this unique moment in time to chart a new personal and/or professional course in life. Establishing a new ‘beginning’ of sorts…oddly similar to Juneteenth.
The Mission:
It is from this that the Juneteenth Marathon draws its primary significance—the idea of a running/multi-sport community realizing and leveraging their own agency to maximize the resources at their disposal to further benefit their communities.
The Inaugural ‘Juneteenth Marathon’ was held June 13, 2020, when members of the DC and Baltimore running communities honored the Juneteenth holiday by collectively organizing the running event. Starting at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, marathoners ran the bounds of all four DC quadrants—per L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the ‘City of Washington’—finishing 26.5 miles later at the foot of “Cedar Hill”—Frederick Douglass’ home in Anacostia. In keeping with Juneteenth tradition, a red-themed Juneteenth celebration cookout was held thereafter.
Juneteenth Marathon aims to organize/coordinate an annual running event that formally and physically brings together the many disparate local running communities throughout the Washington, DC-Baltimore region and beyond.
Our mission is three-fold:
Foster fellowship between participating runners, run clubs, volunteers and the community at large;
Provide a platform for runners to support their local/community-based running clubs throughout the region;
Leverage the collective resources/decision-making potential of runners throughout the region to help improve their local running communities, the localities to which they belong and, in turn, their individual lives.
RunJuneteenth + Altra Trail Running Grant
"Application open now! Closes on Sunday February 22, 2026, Applicants will be notified by March 1st.
Applications Open: Juneteenth Marathon
× Altra Trail Running Grant (2026)
We're excited to partner again with @altrarunning to expand access to trail running through our 2026 RunJuneteenth x Altra Trail Running Grant.
- Four runners NEW to trail running will receive:
- 1:1 coaching (RRCA Level 1 certified coach)
- A personalized 12-week training plan (Half Marathon or 10K)
- Weekly strength training support
- Altra trail shoes + apparel
This 12-week journey (March 23 - June 13, 2026) is designed to prepare you to confidently tackle the historio Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail at the Seventh Annual Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K.
Eligibility:
Must be registered for the 2026 race
Physically able to train for at least a 10K
Commit to consistent weekly training
Public IG account + willingness to document your journey
Liberation and Freedom Days Reparations Run and Walk with Prolyfyck Run Creww
Where: Charlottesville, VA
Prolyfyck Run Creww is excited to announce the support from @guenergylabs for this year's Liberation & Freedom Day Walk/Run.
WE ARE BACK but with Medals & the NEW audio app guided tour.
We're proud to partner with @cvillejeffschool for another year to announce the 2026 Liberation and Freedom Day Reparations Walk/Run!
Liberation and Freedom Day is a municipal holiday in Charlottesville celebrated on March 3 to commemorate the day in 1865 when Union Major General Phillip Sheridan and his troops arrived in Charlottesville - liberating over 14,000 enslaved people.
This near 4 & 8 mile route allows you to appreciate some of Charlottesville's rolling hills and engage with some of the City's important sites of African American history while passing some of the African American businesses along the way.
Registration is NOW open!
Fuel/Energy for every participant - provided by @guenergylabs #gugives
Socks provided by @brooksrunning
Bagels provided by @bodosbagels
FREE classes - provided by @formula_complete_fitness
JOIN US - 7am, Saturday, February 28th
Join @peace_runners773 Big day in Chicago! February 21st is officially a day of movement, community, and milestones with Peace Runners 773. They have two major events back-to-back, and they want the whole city there to celebrate with Peace Runners 773.
Event 1: Black Is Beautiful 5K Run & 1-Mile Walk
Start your morning with purpose. We're hitting the pavement to celebrate community, health, and the beauty of our culture.
When: February 21, 2026
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Where: Marillac House | 2859 W. Jackson Blva, Chicago, IL
Event 2: Peace Runners Wellness Headquarters Ribbon Cutting
The finish line of the run is just the beginning of a new chapter! Join us as we officially open our new home. This space is for us, by us-dedicated to wellness and peace.
When: February 21, 2026
Ceremony Starts: 11:00 AM
Where: 3563 W. Fifth Ave, Chicago, IL
Peace, health, and progress. Whether you're running the 5K, walking the mile, or joining us for the grand opening, let's make history together.
Black History Month 5k Unity Run - Honoring Ahmaud Arbery | February 22nd, 9am (see photo attached)
Where: REI Co-Op, 201 M St. NE, Washington, DC
"ALL HANDS ON DECK! 2026
Unity Run at the REI DC Flagship store on Sunday, February 22, 2026. WE NEED YOU THERE!!
Unity Run in honor of Ahmaud Arbery
The run is an out-and-back on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, the entrance of which is across the street from the NoMa Metro Station M Street NE entrance
The run will start at the corner of M Street and 2nd Streets
NE by REI (please note that 2nd Street NE is called Delaware
Ave NE from M Street south to L Street NE).
Parking:
Garage parking available - $12.70. Entrance to garage (1140 3rd Street) is located on Congress Street, NE, off of L Street
NE between 2nd and 3rd Streets NE. After parking, take stairs closest to
3rd Street (opposite side of garage from where you entered garage) to ground level and exit through the side door onto 3ro Street, NE. Go left to the corner of 3rd and M Streets NE then turn lett.
One (1) hour validation available from REI.
On-street parking (metered and unmetered) is available on 3rd Street NE and L Street NE. An open-air lot is located on L Street, NE, between 1st and 2nd Streets, NE (across from Marriott). Fees vary.
Public Transit: Red Line to NoMa-Gallaudet (M Street Exit).
The store is 1 block east.
