Rising Hearts September Blog Updates
Happy September!!! We have 4 more months of 2025! Time to lock in on goals and prepare for winter months! We have a lot of opportunities for you to get involved this month! We are going into our busiest months! That being said here is your yearly reminder going into Oct. and Nov. which is Indigenous Peoples Day and Native Heritage Month. These months are approaching - meaning, 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!
I know last minute opportunities can happen, that’s understand 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 in 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! I’ve received some rude responses when I’ve had to say no, they acted like they were doing me a favor… 🙄)
For those being asked, no matter who you are - be your own advocate! 👏🏽🌻
Please see below for updates and community. If there is anything you would like to promote please reach out to lex@rising-hearts.org.
NEXT AWARENESS + ACTION EVENTS:
+ September: Virtual Film screening of Sweetheart Dancers - stay tuned!
+ September: Back Outside: Running Industry Diversity Coalition event, Washington DC, Sept 13th!
+ September: Every Child Matters - September 27 - October 1st | LIVE NOW
+ September: Know Your Rights Training - stay tuned!
+ October: Indigenous Peoples Day - October 11-14th | LIVE ON AUGUST 8TH
+ November: NYC Marathon - 2 Indigenous runners coming to Lenapehoking lands! Stay tuned!
+ November: Every Woman’s Marathon - 15 entries - Call for runners - LIVE SOON!
+ November: Run In Beauty film premiere in Portland OR - stay tuned!
AREAS OF FOCUS:
Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate Collective:
We are prioritizing our Running With Purpose Athlete Advocate Collective through our own fundraising and partnerships, to support our athletes in their running and advocacy. This has led to hosting panels, virtual panels and workshops, a handful of athletes sharing their voice and and experiences on podcasts and other media platforms, a special book project with one of our athletes and this collective, supporting their initiatives, providing gear, shoes, and stipends. All possible through our fundraisers and partnerships within the running/outdoor industry. To learn more about our athletes and to be part of it, visit www.risinghearts.org/runningwithpurpose.
We have had several Athlete Advocates this year in 2025, attend some big races like the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon and London Marathon! We have a handful of new Athlete Advocates part of the team and we can’t wait to share a special blog and newsletter, spotlighting them! And several of them have helped support our virtual movement events like the 5th Annual Running On Native Lands, 3rd Annual Earth Day 5k + Plogging Challenge, 7th Annual Running For Justice, and #LetThemRun Pride 5k with in person group run and walks in their community!
Running On Native Lands Initiative:
Our Running On Native Lands Initiative is in constant growth. We are updating the toolkit and will be creating a more formalized process in becoming a partner. We had 16 consultations in 2024, with 5 that became partners and collaborators. We hope to have more consultations coming for 2025, as we raise more funds and submit for more grant funding, we will be able to expand and grow our partnerships more feasibly. Through more funds, we will have more opportunities to present and teach about going beyond a land acknowledgement, allowing us to meet more of community, help educate, and learn from community while being able to utilize our skills and connections to support land back efforts as well. So, we are looking forward to our annual virtual/in person Running On Native Lands community gatherings! Learn more at www.risinghearts.org/nativelands.
Exciting - Scott Flatlip (Apsaalooké (Crow), representing Rising Hearts and GU Energy Labs ran the 2025 Western States Endurance Run 100 and FINISHED! We are so excited for him and what he’s accomplished. Notably, Brandon Dugi (Diné, Hoka Runner), and Steven Ovah (Hopi), also ran the grueling 100 mile race as well! Steven sadly had to drop out at Forest Hill but it was so amazing to see 3 Indigenous men participate in this very prestigious and exclusive event. Our 2024 runner, Alex Staten, has her story in post production that we are working hard on! And hoping to get it premiered very soon - details TBD! We are excited for our conversations to continue to grow as we plan for 2026.
We are up to so much! 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
COMMUNITY MUTUAL AID REQUEST
My dear friend and big sister Heather, is looking for Mutual Aid support.
Please help if you can!
Indigenous Social Worker / Sole Provider / Mother of 3
Seeks Community Support for Living Expenses During Cancer Treatment
Heather Wood, a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, single mother and sole provider for three boys, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. As a licensed clinical social (justice) worker within the public school system, she serves as a rock for hundreds of children as well as their families. She is a giver and a helper who is uncomfortable seeking mutual aid from community members during this time. Heather is scheduled to undergo extensive surgical treatment for breast cancer on September 19. Unfortunately, her request for FAMLI+ (Family and Medical Leave Act ---which designates an employee leave with pay) was denied by the state due to her employer opting out of FAMLI+. To receive this benefit for her family's expenses during recovery, she would need to delay surgery for 3 months and apply as self-employed. Early diagnosis and medical intervention are crucial for best outcomes in cancer treatment It is infuriating that our healthcare system puts a devoted single mother in the position of having to put off a critical surgery unless her community rallies around her. But this is the reality of late-stage capitalism.
We invite you to join us in support of Heather's upcoming cancer treatments by sharing what you are able so she can pay her mortgage, insurance, utilities, medical bills and other basic living expenses for her family of 4. Our fundraising goal is $10,000. There is no contribution too small or large. If you can give big, please do! Her boys need their mama. We need our sister. And her community needs her well to continue honoring and uplifting Indigenous values, wisdom, lifeways, and liberation.
Please help us spread the word. Every share and every contribution is impactful. Together, we will provide this loving mother with the resources she needs, allowing her to grow old with her boys while continuing to serve her community after recovery. We are sharing this directly with our communities to avoid service fees that platforms like GoFundMe charge. Your payment will be managed by Zoe Davidson (née Miller) and 100% of your contribution will be given directly to Heather.
Venmo @Zoe-Davidson-8
PayPal @ZoeDavidson
Cashapp $zoamay
Zelle 719-473-4278
Your support means the world to Heather and all of the people who love her.
At lala Nyal’s memorial 5k in 2018
At Crow Creek Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration
WASHINGTON DC! RIDC COMMUNITY WALK/RUN
The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) is hosting "Back Outside: DC" with our friends at Altra and REI. Taking place on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM ET, this community event—open to all—is focused on making the local trail running scene more accessible and welcoming to BIPOC* runners. This experience kicks off with your choice of a 3- or 5-mile paved trail walk/run, followed by coffee, breakfast, giveaways, and a panel discussion on exploring trail running.
Never run trails before? No worries, you don’t need any special gear or prior experience to join us. Whether you're new to trails or already a regular, you’ll leave with helpful tips, resources, and connections to support your journey.
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Experience
Free Coffee & Food + meet new walking/running friends
All paces welcome, no prior trail or running experience needed
Giveaways for all attendees
Awesome running gear raffles
Hear from BIPOC leaders shaping trail culture
Meet local running groups
Walk/Run Route
3.1 Miles (Strava Map)
5 Miles (Strava Map)
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
WE ARE EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR VERY OWN! LEX SAENZ’S BUSINESS MOVE WELL!
Move Well provides movement wellness classes for companies and organization’s employees through dance, fitness and movement meditation. Empower your team by encouraging them to connect with us through movement wellness classes. The vision is to create safe spaces where participants can heal, so they’re able to move more freely in the world, for their communities and for the next seven generations. Be a part of a community that values the art of movement and its profound impact on well-being.
@lexxsaenz | @movementwellness_
UPCOMING RUNS + EVENTS:
SAVE THE DATE | REGISTER | DONATE
This September Run to Remember.
September 30th - Wear Orange
Reach out to us if you’d like to host an in person run/walk in your community!
When: Sept. 27th - Oct. 1st
Where: Virtual and In Person
And all funds will continue being donated to Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and Indian Residential School Survivors Society to support their heart work, impact, and support for survivors, families, and community through healing, justice, accountability, and support.
#OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters
6th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day run/walk/bike/move is coming up!
It’s that time of year again! Sign up virtually, share this with your local run club or team (sign up together), create your own virtual team, or join ours (Running With Purpose), and participate in celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day!
When: 10/11 - 10/14
Where: Virtual
Distances: 5k, 10k, 13.1 miles
Registration: Link in bio or stories!
With your participation, funds will be supporting:
+ Touching Land
+ Heal Palestine
+ Rising Hearts
Perfect opportunity to participate, celebrate, honor and give back to Indigenous led efforts, amplify Indigenous voices and causes throughout the whole weekend (and any day of the year), and make space for Indigenous visibility!
We are headed to Scottsdale, AZ for the 2025 Every Woman’s Marathon! And we want to bring 15 of us together through movement and connection! Stay Tuned for runner announcements!
RUN REFLECTIONS
Shayla R. Manitowabi | Charity Runner
2025 Green Bay | EPIC Half Marathon
Race Recap:
1:25:18 for a near 3min PR ️
17th out of 877 runners, 4th female, and 1st in my age group!
Grateful to toe the line and test my limits.
I ran this race as a charity bib runner for Rising Hearts, raising $541 (surpassing my $500 goal). I feel honored to have represented Rising Hearts and everything they stand for. Huge thank you to all who supported my fundraiser, through donations, shares, or kind messages; to Rising Heart for the cute racing top (look good, run good); and to their partnerships with athletic brands Hylo and Gu for providing me with training shoes and fuel.
During this run, I thought about Palestinians living under occupation -- the exhaustion they don’t get to opt out of; Indigenous peoples here on Turtle Island, whose struggles for land, sovereignty, and survival echo across borders; and resilience that isn’t a choice but a necessity. I wore my kufiya patterned headband as a small yet intentional act of solidarity.
#RunningWithPurpose
(Small plug to check out West Bank Apparel, a Palestinian-owned business that donates over 15% of its profits to aid in Palestine).
FUNDRAISE FOR RISING HEARTS
We had 11 runners in 2024, turning their passion into purpose! We came close to $15,000 for 2024! Here’s a chance to support our heart work through a different means - running! We hope to find 8 more runners for 2025 and 2026! Perks, you’ll get a singlet, shirt, and support!
2026 RACES ARE OPEN!
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 35 Rising Hearts runners! And we have 25 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
THE RAMBLING RUNNER | HOST: MATT CHITTIM
#695 - Miki Sawada: From Professional Concert Halls to Conquering the Western States 100. Learn more about our new friend that we were able to enjoy some miles with in VA - Miki Sawada!