The 5th Annual 5k for Kelli walk/run takes place August 5th at Wegerzyn Gardens
The 5th annual 5k for Kelli run/walk is happening this Saturday, August 5th, 2017, which honors and supports women with breast cancer, and to remember those who lost the fight. This is a super fun event for the whole family. It is a 3.1 mile out and back course that begins and ends at Wegerzyn Gardens and winds along the beautiful Stillwater River.
This race is in memory of Kelli James who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006, and is organized by her two loving sisters. Kelli loved fairies so participants are encouraged to wear tutus, wings, and flower crowns. No fairy gear? No problem! Handmade gear is available at the merchandise tent. They will also offer free fairy face painting from our friends at Princeton Management and free colored hair spraying from Great Clips.
When: Saturday August 5th– Onsite registration starts at 7:30 am. Race starts at 9 am.
“We need to make this country welcoming to all enterprising, energetic, and ambitious people. This is the biggest no-brainer in the world.” – Richard Florida
One such example of the boldness of inclusion is Hamilton the musical. Going beyond the spectacle and privilege of attending live theatre, how the subject of the founding of our nation and one its chief architects was presented by a multi-cultural and ethnic cast and crew with the intention of changing the lens of viewership speaks to that audacity. Yes, it was clever in its use of rap as a vehicle to tell this dynamic story, the bigger story was the intentionality of the inclusion and diversity. When it comes to our urban core (which we call Dayton) that kind of intentionality has to come into effect. I applaud when it occurs, however the omnipresent flipside to this progress is tokenism.
Tokenism can very be debilitating to the civic engagement process as the flip side to the lack of inclusion. Tokenism hinders and binds us to an even greater extent than the lack of inclusion. It can create a false sense of progress. It becomes a tricky and complicated situation in these civic meetings and socially uncomfortable, when it becomes painfully and unappealingly obvious that it is occurring. I am willing to acknowledge that personal discomfort not out of a need to avoid this particular social landmine, but out of a need to detonate it, in order to move forward. When we detonate this particular landmine, the blast will leave a lasting impression, an acquired social knowingness, that stings, hurts, shreds and decimates personal barriers and biases in this massive polemic we call “Race.” There will blood, but I also believe there will be the freedom of release and healing.
next wave of progress must involve immigrants and other ethnicities being engaged in the decision making process and actually getting the job done. Going back to my Sci-Fi Nerd Star Trek reference lower your shields. Do not ask me how to begin this process, I am not in possession of a magic road map to the minefield of “Race.” You as leaders and activists have to chart your own paths and bravely take the first step. Trust yourself to screw it up and be honest and verbal about it, take the hits. Yes, it will feel inorganic and messy at first, but over time you will get the hang of it. If you stay still and take no action, progress will pass you by.
