A quiet Sunday morning, June 1st in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, IL, men and women ran the streets. Not in the fashion you might expect in this Southside neighborhood. They ran for Peace.

The brainchild of Christopher Posey, a Chicago native, Run For Peace was started to ignite and inspire people to start making a difference in their communities.

Posey said, “Run for Peace was started because I just felt something needed to be done. We always talk about the senseless violence that’s going on in our hood, but rather than continue to talk about it, I wanted to try something to show that care about what’s going on and we want it to stop.

So instead of talking about it, Posey started with the running group he is involved in called Men Run Deez Streets, asked them to participate and others in a Run for Peace through Englewood…….and people showed up to support the idea.

RUNNING FOR PEACE: Englewood

The RUNNING FOR PEACE run took place on Sunday, June 1st, 2014, from 12pm to 2pm. The starting and ending points were  63rd and Halsted.

The course of the run is as follows:

1. 63rd Halsted to 67th Halsted
2. 67th Halsted to 67th Loomis
3. 67th Loomis to 52nd Loomis
4. 51st Loomis to 52nd Racine
5. 51st Racine to 63rd Racine
6. 63rd Racine to 63rd Halsted

Total: 6.2 miles

It was a great run, but don’t be turned off by the distance. 6 miles might seem like along way to run, but we didn’t run the whole time. We waited for everyone in the group, so it was a nice leisurely pace.

The emphasis was on building a bond with the community, not seeing how fast we could run through Englewood.

Posey said, “The initial run planted the seed. The feedback we have received has been great. Residents of Englewood cheering us on, asking what are we running for. And our response was we’re running for peace.”

Members involved in the run would stop and engage the residents of the neighborhood as we ran past. The residents were informed of the group Men Run Deez Streets and the goal of running to raise awareness for peace in the community, but also to get physically fit and getting people involved in the community.

If you do good, good things happen to you.

While we were waiting for a few runners to catch up with the group on 51st Street and Racine, members of the running group were given free gatorades and waters by the corner store.

After learning why so many people were running through the streets of Englewood, the store opened up their beverage selection for the people. A small gesture that shows if you are willing to put your best foot forward, the world will greet you in kind.

The store is Family Foods, right on the corner. If you are in the area, show them some love.

Running for Peace: Chatham

The feedback was tremendous from the participants and the people of the Englewood neighborhood, so Posey and the MRDS team want to bring their campaign to more neighborhoods in Chicago.

Next up is the Chatham neighborhood!

RUNNING FOR PEACE run will be Sunday, July 13th. Meeting location will be the Target parking lot on 86th and Cottage Grove. Run starts 11am SHARP!

RUNNING FOR PEACE Route

1. 87th Cottage Grove to 87th Stony Island
2. 87th Stony Island to 79th Stony Island
3. 79th Stony Island to 79th State 
4. 79th State to 87th State 
5. 87th State to 87th Cottage Grove

Total: 6.06 miles

I think this is a great idea to take the RUNNING FOR PEACE campaign on the road to other neighborhoods in Chicago. Maybe this could start a movement across the country of people getting off the sofa and into the community for engagement, fitness and peace.

Please show up if you are in the area to run or support the runners as they attempt to spread peace in our communities.