by RBR Admin
The Atlanta Track Club is developing a program called “Common Ground”. “Common Ground”.
The “Common Ground” program is “designed to educate and inform its staff, leadership and members on issues of social justice and anti-racism. “
This is an important idea. We applaud the ATC on taking this approach. We live in a complicated time. Listening is an important skill.
Common Gound: Bob Holmes, Founder of South Fulton Running Partners, Intro
Atlanta Track Club Announces Common Ground Initiative
Club to Facilitate, Encourage and Provide Space for Conversations on Race
ATLANTA – July 21, 2020 −Atlanta Track Club, a non-profit with a mission of improving the health of Atlanta through running and walking, is asking Atlantans to slow down, pause their stopwatches and take a seat for a conversation on race. The Club on Tuesday announced its Common Ground initiative, a program designed to educate and inform its staff, leadership and members on issues of social justice and anti-racism.
Atlanta Track Club will give benches made from recycled water bottles used at the 50th Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race to local non-profits, schools, parks, public institutions and partner corporations throughout the Metro Atlanta area. The benches – part of the Club’s existing efforts on environmental stewardship − will be used as a designated space for learning about the history and impact of systemic racism in the United States and listening to ways in which it might be dismantled.
“Following the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and far too many others, silence and complacency is unacceptable,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s Executive Director. “As runners ourselves, Arbery’s death here in Georgia undermines our core belief that no one should fear for their life when they step out the door for run. Today, we commit to being an anti-racist voice and that begins with listening.”
Common Gound: Bob Holmes, Founder of South Fulton Running Partners, Episode 1
Kenah and other members of the Club’s Diversity & Inclusion Commission are embarking on a listening tour, engaging in conversations with leaders who run with a focus on Black members of the running community. These conversations will be posted on YouTube and offered as podcasts. The first conversation, with Bob Holmes, longtime Georgia legislator and founding member of the South Fulton Running Partners, was released today. Holmes told Kenah that running as a sport can lead the way in making the world a better place.
“I’ve never really had any problem with anybody that I have been running with that is a different color than I am,” said Holmes. “I don’t know what it is about runners, but it creates a neat feeling among people. We are all interested in health. We are all interested in sisterhood and brotherhood. And we are all interested in achieving the same goal of keeping us healthy and safe.”
Founded in 1979, the South Fulton Running Partners is the nation’s oldest Black running club. Atlanta Track Club hosts a 12K road race in conjunction with the organization each January.
You can watch the complete interview with Holmes here or listen to on Atlanta Track Club’s Soundcloud page or on iTunes or Google Play.
Atlanta Track Club will be contacting organizations and groups to offer the opportunity to place one of the benches on their properties. Organizations interested in receiving a bench can also email commonground@atlantatrackclub.
Atlanta Track Club has also announced updates to its diversity and inclusion statement, which can be found here.
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About Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K in the world, the Publix Atlanta Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
