people+places. collin
5K: GIRLS ON THE RUN; RUNNING SHOE: NOUN PROJECT
The Girls on the Run season culminates in a 5K with hundreds of participants, including the girls and their adult supporters.
GIRLS ON THE RUN inspiring confidence and perseverance
WORDS
SYDNEY BLALOCK RITCHIE
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VEN THOUGH WE’VE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN EQUALITY, no doubt you’ve heard the phrase “Don’t [insert verb here] like a girl.” But why is that an insult? Lanell Rachid and Amy Taylor agree that doing anything like a girl should be celebrated, and that’s why they are part of Girls On the Run—an organization in schools and community centers that uses running to develop confidence and perseverance in young girls. Rachid and Taylor operate GOTR’s Dallas region (which includes nine counties in North Texas). While the national organization has been around for 20 years, the local GOTR started with nine girls in Garland in 2004. Today GOTR serves approximately 1,000 North Texas girls annually in elementary and middle school programs, with fall and spring sessions. We talked to Rachid and Taylor about how GOTR benefits the participants far beyond physical fitness. dfwchild.com / march 2020
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