Rising Hearts November Blog Updates!
Happy Native | Indigenous Heritage Month! Fall season is always a busy season. Friendly reminder, friends and community! Indigenous Peoples are putting in the heart work year round, We see Indigenous Peoples thriving. We recognize the barriers that still exist and we appreciate the commitment and passion many Indigenous Peoples are doing, every day to make a difference for the next generations. We are witnessing a lot of trauma and pain across our communities with Indigenous Peoples targeted by institutions and racism, separating families, genocide, war, bombs and displacement across other Indigenous communities and occupation of lands, it’s unfair, and unjust. We appreciate the many amazing humans and organizations, putting in the heart and time to protect people, the lands, and secure safety. With a government shutdown, we are seeing pain, hunger and uncertainty. Yet, we still see the good humans, doing what they can to take care of community. While we are here to recognize Native | Indigenous Heritage Month, it’s really a time of year of reflection, action, and doing what we can for community. So, keep it up, keep showing up.
And now that Native | Indigenous Heritage Month is HERE - if you’ve been planning on hosting some sort of event that involves Indigenous voices, your invites and planning should’ve gone out weeks or even months ago! We know last minute opportunities can happen, that’s understandable and all of it is within reason, understanding and compassion.
If you are hosting an event, be sure you’re checking these boxes at a minimum (and this goes beyond opportunities outside of these months and for Indigenous Peoples):
+ Do the outreach and your research
+ Have a budget (if asking for free labor and energy, be transparent, let them decide)
+ Let Indigenous voices be part of the planning
+ Be sure to evaluate internally, your DEI policies, hiring policies and opportunities that are available or not available, Board / Council representation, for Indigenous, POC, underrepresented bodies, especially if you’re a brand/company (we do wonder, and a lot of the time, we do ask)
+ Transparency and honesty
+ Begin the planning early on, include it in the next FY Budget
+ If virtual, still pay, if in person, pay and support with travel/lodging support if you can, product support too if desired
+ A true understanding of the person you are asking and / or the organization / group they represent - their heart work and passion
+ Don’t take offense if we have to say no (I’m sure we can help recommend others too! We’ve received some rude responses when we’ve had to say no, and they acted like they were doing us a favor… 🙄)
That’s my minimum list, would love to hear from community, what is on your checklist when being approached to speaking opportunities and event collaborations!
Rising Hearts Stories has been created under new production company Narrative Shift, centered, on community, environmental, racial and social justice efforts, important campaigns that shift the narrative, offer ways to inform, and help shine a light on the celebratory moments in community with our partners and ideas we help co-create! The official launch of this company, that founder, Jordan Marie Whetstone is helping to co-create and lead. Rising Hearts Stories, will have it’s own space on the website and on our own! We look forward to this opportunity and growth.
NEXT AWARENESS + ACTION EVENTS:
+ Run In Beauty Film Screening and Run Event with The Exchange Running Collective + Sin Miedo | Nov. 4th, Wednesday, 6pm
+ US Trail Running Conference, Nashville, TN | Nov. 5-7th
+ Rising Hearts Tabling at Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market | Nov. 13th
+ The Running Event | Dec. 1 - 4th, 2026
We are up to so much! The hustle continues. And we hope to apply for more funding and we will keep raising funds as we go to keep us running in all ways. Wopila tanka, many thanks, to all of you for your support, and we look forward to our hearts moving forward together.
- Rising Hearts
marine corps marathon
Congrats to Rising Hearts runners, @kpahona in the Marine Corps Marathon 8k and celebrating your retirement from the Marines! And congratulations to @__sekaquaptewa__ for running in the Marathon!!!! Missy and Jordan had so much fun running around to cheer you both on! And being in community all weekend. Truly a blessing!
We had so much fun cheering, running around, lots of snacks and good meals, being in community, and lots of laughs, all good medicine.
We look forward to next year!
Rising Hearts has launched our Fall Fundraiser - help us reach $4,000 now through November 15th!
US TRAIL RUNNING CONFERENCE
The US Trail Running Conference brings together the people building the future of trail running: experienced race directors, new race builders, athletes, brands and the community behind the sport. Join us in Nashville for three days of ideas, practical tools and conversations that help races grow stronger. This will be three days built for the people who make this sport possible. Race directors, brands, athletes, media - come learn, connect, and push trail running forward together.
Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Nov 5–7, 2026
Panel + Q&A: The future of public lands and trail running
Permits, access and land agency relationships: what every race director needs to know to protect the trails we run on. Our friends Alex Staten and Harold Bennally will be on this panel!
Alex Staten, DHSc, ATC · Harold Bennally · Todd Janssen · Micah Rice. Moderated by Aimee Kohler.
Thursday, November 5th 10:45am - 11:45am
Breakout + Q&A: Storytelling and branding, with a screening of RUN IN BEAUTY
A screening paired with an honest conversation about how narrative defines a race identity and turns participants into lifelong fans.
Jordan Marie Whetstone · filmmaker, RUN IN BEAUTY · Sally McRae
Friday, November 6th 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Panel + Q&A: Building a more inclusive race community
An honest conversation about opening the trails to runners of all abilities, ages and backgrounds.
Angie Lake · Ryan Jolley · Yolanda Lopez Haugabook · Jordan Marie Whetstone · Ryan Montgomery. Moderated by Renee Janssen.
Saturday, November 7th 10:15am - 11:15am
COMMUNITY EVENT IN LA
If you’re in LA our very own Lex Saenz is bringing back her Thankstaking Day Talk in person! In collaboration with Mohawk Wellness Collective.
“What started as a small park gathering back in 2019 grew over the last several years, it’s time to bring it back and share community & important conversations.” - Lex Saenz
Join Alexis Saenz for a community discussion on what Thankstaking really means. Bring a dish to share and be in community.
This is FREE event but donations are appreciated to Mohawk Wellness for providing the space to gather. RSVP on Partiful and we will see you there!
Thursday, November 26th
11am - 3pm
Discussion starts at 12pm
Mohawk Wellness Collective
1104 Mohawk St
Los Angeles, CA 90026
truthsgiving
CELEBRATE TRUTHSGIVING THROUGH MOVEMENT!
WHEN: November 22 - 29, 2026
JOIN TEAM: Join Rising Hearts and 4 will have a chance to win a pair of shoes.
Rising Hearts and Women In Ultrarunning are excited to bring this community movement event to you in our 7th year!
Wooden Medals | First 100 registrants will receive a medal!!
BENEFICIARIES: HUṠWEJ
HUṠWEJ means “wish” in the Nisenan language — A wish for return, care, and continuity of Nisenan Land, Culture, and community, carried forward through collective responsibility and reciprocity.
As a Tribally-guided nonprofit, HUṠWEJ envisions a future where Land and Culture are reunited, where the wisdom of the ancestors guides innovative pathways forward, and where the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe thrives as sovereign stewards of their Ancestral Homelands.
Informed by Ancestral memory and animated by a sacred wish to carry ancient wisdom into a flourishing future, HUṠWEJ seeks to heal the relationship between people and place –
Restoring Culture to landscape, and landscape to Culture.
Running shirt options!
Truthsgiving Shirts are available year round, grabs yours now and receive in time for Truthsgiving.
Print on demand, then takes up to 2 weeks to ship and receive.
All profits will be donated towards Rising Hearts.
Multiple options: T-shirts | Long sleeves | Hoodies | Youth T-shirts | Women’s Crop
Sizing: All Gender Sizes, Women’s, Youth
SUPPORT HOSAVA
We are raising funds for our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate friend and runner, Hosava Kretzmann! At the 2025 The Marathon Project, we supported his journey in covering his race registration and provided a $700 travel stipend to help alleviate the financial costs this journey can accrue. And, Hoka, with a surprise opportunity, reached out to Hosava, to support him and elevate him more during The Marathon Project! Hosava has had an incredible community and his family, that has been supporting him, every stride of the way.
GOAL: $16,000 to help support this. journey and costs
Here is a estimated breakdown over 2 years:
- Running shoes (training shoes and racing shoes): $6,000 ($3k per year)
- Registration and travel funds for the 2027 Berlin Marathon: $4,000 (or for the 2027 Tokyo Marathon as an alternative)
- Registration and travel funds for the 2027 Chicago Marathon: $2,000
- Registration and travel funds for the 2027 Grandma's Marathon: $1,000 (or for the 2027 Chevron Marathon as an alternative)
- Registration and travel funds for the 2028 Olympic Trials, hosted in St. Louis, Missouri: $3,000
For those donating via Givelively, if you donate $250:
+ you’ll receive the cream color shirt, with an autograph from Hosava and some other little goodies!
run reflections
Caroline Sekaquaptewa | Charity Bib Runner
This was my first time running the MCM. I was excited to have the opportunity to run, because it coincides with my husband’s retirement from the Marine Corps after 24 years. We did a fundraiser as a celebration for Rising Hearts and for the Hopi Cancer Assistance Fund. In Hopi culture, the value of Nami’ nangwa means helping others without being asked to. This weekend was an example of this; in many ways.
We are grateful for all the donations contributed from friends and family. It makes me happy to know others will receive an amount of assistance due to the generosity of others. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with Jordan and Missy, and to network with other runners through our acquaintances. Running brings us together to make us stronger and this weekend we were able to have conversations that created ideas for more ways to strengthen collaborations between people, groups, and organizations.
Finally, I am grateful for the journey of a running weekend with my husband where he participated as well. He is normally the support person who navigates the course and takes care of getting me where I need to be. This weekend he was a participant and a memorable moment was at the end of his run (the last mile), on an uphill, he was smiling. He found joy in running and understands the purpose in running for others. He celebrated a major milestone in life, with running. I am happy to share this joy of running with a loved one. Askwali (thank you) Rising Hearts for creating this community so many of us can share moments like this, around running. My heart is happy.
Karla Estudillo Fuentes | Charity Bib Runner
Life has thrown a lot at me this year, both joyful and full of grief, and through it all I had one big goal: run my first 50K! When life felt unstable it was the one tangible milestone I had in front of me, literally putting one foot in front of the other. The training, the prep, and the learning I went through during this process made me so grateful for the community I've found in running, and now in ultrarunning. I completed my first 50K during Camp We Run Long and it made it even more magical to start the race and end it surrounded by people whose stories are full of resilience and joy who celebrated me just as I am. I'm so grateful for this race and the beautiful Ute lands it took place on. The aspens were yellowing, and my heart was glowing. Thank you to the team who made this possible and every camper who made my first ultra so incredibly special!
Kelsey Long | RWP Athlete
My relationship with running has been challenged the past two years so I look forward to Camp We Run Long each year because it brings me so much joy. We’ve hosted events for the past 5 years and each year just keeps getting better because of the people who get added to our community. The leadership team puts in the heart work to make it a special weekend for the campers but I get so much out of it too.
West Line Winder Trail Races is a tough course for this Oklahomie and I’m grateful to my body for getting me across the finish line. Sometimes I wish I looked more like the “typical runner” but I have an amazing community who accepts and supports me I hope to be running for many years to come so I’ll do my best to keep my body healthy and try to quiet the negative body image thoughts. I know it’s hard to start or keep showing up when you don’t have the “runner look” but I hope that you do. Not so much to change your body but to challenge yourself, to stay healthy, to find joy. As my friends at Altra Running say, Stay Out There
Charlinda Haudley | Charity Runner
Attending Camp We Run Long marked my first experience at a running camp. It was truly special for me as I crossed the finish line, completing my very first 30K trail run alongside BIPOC runners and athletes. Over the weekend, I formed connections by engaging in meaningful and authentic conversations about our experiences as individuals from underrepresented or marginalized communities. The WRL staff created a welcoming environment where we could be around people who are not only progressing in their running journeys but also serve as strong advocates and allies for others. It was a wonderful atmosphere filled with laughter, listening, and healing. While finishing the 30K was a significant achievement, it is the relationships I built that fill my heart with joy when I think back on the camp. I also want to express my gratitude to Rising Hearts for their ongoing support with gear throughout my training. During my time at the camp, I felt immense pride in wearing my Rising Hearts gear and was so excited sharing the mission of the organization. A year ago, I didn’t see myself as a runner, but today I do, thanks to Rising Hearts providing me with opportunities to run in places where I discover more about myself each time and meet incredible individuals with good hearts and genuine intentions to improve the world for others. I left Camp We Run Long with the important reminder that everyone has a story to share, and we should take the time to listen to one another, as there are countless lessons to learn, and we can all contribute to bringing healing and joy to those we meet.
FUNDRAISE FOR RISING HEARTS
Right now, to end 2026, we need 10 more runners to help raise funds for Rising Hearts! That means, if you’re already signed up for a race, and you want to help support the heart work we do, reach out, sign up with us, and we can reimburse you your registration fee. Then we can provide with you fuel, singlet/shirt, and shoes! And then we will share a fundraising link for you, and help promote you and your efforts until 1 week past your event / race.
If you feel like you have more racing left in your legs, and thinking about signing up and want to bring more purpose to your run and your why, then reach out, sign up, and we can reimburse you your fee or provide a stipend for the amount it would cost you up front. Then get you set up with fuel, a singlet/shirt, and shoes! And then we will share a fundraising link for you, and help promote you and your efforts until 1 week past your event / race. There are no penalties for not reaching your goal. We do have suggested amounts we start at - scroll down to see below! However, if you feel those amounts are too much, remember, no penalties :) We have runners with goals of $2,000 to $250.
It’s fairly simple. It doesn’t need to be strict or hard like some other organizations have it. We are just grateful to connect with you and support you!
If we were to get a minimum 12 runners to join us, here’s what this could look like:
10 runners x 800 (suggest max limit) = $8,000
10 runners x 500 (suggest min limit) = $5,000
We still have 2 months to reach our goal for Rising Hearts! Let’s keep it going!
We recently missed out on 7 grants, made to second round or reviews on 1 more (now still waiting). And, we recently just lost a grant with a big company, that helped cover the pay for our PTE Programs Coordinator role. The last year and a half has been especially hard with loss of DEI initiatives and funds that support more deeper/meaningful support for organizations, groups, like Rising Hearts and many other community friends that felt these impacts.
With your help, you help keep the heart work going, help bring more runners to the start lines, help increase representation on panels and attending conferences and outdoor/running expos, more shoes and gear to make it more affordable and not a barrier, and more films and storytelling to elevate more voices and awareness to the things we advocate for and care.
And to everyone who has fundraised with Rising Hearts in 2025 and so far in 2026, WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH! Wopila tanka, many thanks!!!
WANT TO RACE FOR RISING HEARTS OUTSIDE OF THESE WE HAVE SELECTED?
Not seeing a race you want to run in this list? Check out all of the Wander Project events and choose the “Your Choice” option. They will reach out to learn more about your charity of choice and once you let them know that you’ll be running for Rising Hearts, they will make sure your funds come to support our mission!”
Athletes who want to support Rising Hearts for a race that is not listed, can sign up for any of the events on The Wander Project calendar: https://www.wanderproject.org/event-partners/ and pick 'Your Choice' for charity and then fill out the form to indicate they want to support Rising Hearts: (FAQ page here: https://www.wanderproject.org/athletes/frequently-asked-questions/)
Reach out to us via email, info@rising-hearts.org. Share with us your plans, then we’ll set you up with the link!
Want to run for Rising Hearts?
This is more new for us! We have a givelively link specifically for runners/individuals, who want to raise funds for the heart work we do! If it’s not through our partnership with The Wander Project, or our other partners at CIM or Boston, you can run for Rising Hearts at any race you choose and bring more fun and purpose to your why and the run.
We hope to get 15 Rising Hearts runners! And we have 26 runners now :) With a $36,400 projection of funds raised by the end of the year!
Suggested fundraising limits:
RH Athletes / Community = $500
Open to Community = minimum $800
Perks: RH Singlet, merch, stickers, fuel, and if shoes are needed, we can help you!
PODCASTS
Creativity is the cure podcast
Alexis Saenz: The Truth about Thankstaking
Our very own Alexis (Lex) Saenz talks about the Truth around this holiday, what it means and how we can all be better relatives when it comes to Truthsgiving.
LISTEN HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ibYxuFXK6k