Running the NYC Marathon

And fundraising for a literacy nonprofit for youth in Harlem

Hello friends!

As many of you know, I’ve been spending the fall and spring semesters in New York City while studying at Union Theological Seminary. When I’m not in class or studying, you can often find me running through Riverside Park, Central Park, or along the Hudson River Greenway. Once a week, I’ve also been joining Harlem Run for Wednesday speed workouts—and it was there that I met Emily, the founder and Executive Director of Next PAGE.

I’m so excited to share that this November, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon to raise funds for Next PAGE and the work they are doing alongside young people in Harlem and across New York City.

Next PAGE is a literacy nonprofit that offers trauma-informed creative writing workshops to NYC youth in detention and reentry, as well as young people otherwise impacted by the justice system. Through writing, mentorship, and community, Next PAGE creates spaces where young people can explore their experiences, develop their voices, and recognize the value of their own stories and perspectives.

I find this work so necessary. What a gift it is for a young person to find a community that stokes their inner power—to be encouraged to reveal, shape, and own their stories rather than having their stories written for them. I would hope that every young person might have access to this kind of learning environment: one grounded in creativity, curiosity, dignity, and genuine attention. The reality, however, is that these opportunities are increasingly rare, particularly for young people who have been systematically denied equitable educational resources and who have experienced the criminal justice system.

Over the next few months, I’ll be training to run 26.2 miles through the five boroughs, with the goal of raising $3,000 for Next PAGE along the way. I would be incredibly grateful if you would consider supporting my run. Whether you give $10, $25, $50, or more, your contribution helps sustain spaces where young people are taken seriously as writers, thinkers, storytellers, and members of their communities. If you make a donation, please fill out this form so that I can share my thanks with you!

And, of course, if donating isn’t possible right now, sharing my fundraiser with someone else is also a wonderful way to support the effort.

Thank you for cheering me on, and more importantly, for supporting the young people whose voices Next PAGE is working to nurture and amplify. I’m honored to have a reason bigger than myself to carry with me all the way to the finish line.