Relationship to KConnect
Success Measure: All
Approach: Curious. Creative. Courageous.
Our Mission
No Surrender Running Club aims to empower West Michigan youth to achieve great things, one step at a time. To achieve this, NSRC uses relationship and running as tools to teach goal setting, build physical and mental health, and foster Positive Youth Development.
About the Initiative
No Surrender Running Club’s (NSRC) Youth Board centers youth as paid leaders empowered to design and pursue mission-aligned projects that address community—and systems-level issues they prioritize. The 2023-24 Youth Board is leveraging social media to increase access to sports in Kent County, share important messages about the movement’s mental health and wellness benefits, and increase representation in running nationally.
All Youth Leaders are recognized for their individual experiences, talents, and interests, which inform their leadership approaches and, therefore, give them a unique role on the team. Elders participate alongside youth, assisting them in developing project scope, meeting facilitation, identifying project needs, and seeking funding to implement the planned project. Youth Board Members meet 1-2x per month, engage in public events, and spend time working in small groups to implement project activities.
When we create access…
Breaking down real and perceived barriers to sports participation and movement-based activities.
No Surrender Running Club then…
- Empowers Youth | Using running to foster Positive Youth Development.
- Connects Communities | Connecting community members to one another while working towards shared goals.
- Strengthens Families | Facilitating intergenerational programs to strengthen the foundation where youth thrive
- Builds Representation | Fostering a sense of place while enhancing representation in running.
Learn more at www.nosurrenderrunningclub.org