Running While Black ~ A Conversation with Author Alison Mariella Désir

On the latest edition of the Joy Trip Reading Project book discussion. this month’s author is Alison Mariella Desire, author of “Running While Black”.
This discussion is particularly important because February 23rd was the three-year anniversary of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate his life that was sadly taken from the world far too soon.

ALISON MARIELLA DÉSIR is an endurance athlete, activist, and mental health advocate. Currently, cochair of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, a Run Happy Advocate for Brooks Running, and an athlete adviser for Oiselle, Désir is the founder of Harlem Run, a New York City-based running movement; Run 4 All Women, an organization that fundraises for social justice-focused nonprofits; and the Meaning Thru Movement tour, a speaking series featuring mental health experts and fitness professionals. A graduate of Columbia University with her bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, including a master of education in counseling psychology, Désir has been published in Outside magazine and contributed the foreword for Running Is My Therapy by Scott Douglas. Running While Black is her first book. Désir currently lives outside of Seattle with her son, Kouri Henri, and partner, Amir Muhammad Figueroa.