Events
Information
Author of “Running While Black”, Alison Desir, will be visiting Michigan as part of her book launch. Playmakers and Gazelle Sports are partnering to create a multi-day and location experience to celebrate Michigan’s diverse community of runners, as well as hold conversations about what it means to hold a marginalized identity in the running community.
This event page is to register for Lansing area events, which are all FREE! By registering you will be entered to win a signed copy of Alison's book "Running While Black".
The Lansing area events on November 11th are the following:
- RUN•WALK WITH RUN THA CITY 517
- 8:30am | Uncovered Beauty Studio | Old Town
1106 N Cedar St Suite 221B, Lansing, MI 48906
- 8:30am | Uncovered Beauty Studio | Old Town
- BOOK SIGNING + MEET & GREET
- 12-1pm | Socialight Society | Lansing Mall
5454 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917
- 12-1pm | Socialight Society | Lansing Mall
- PANEL DISCUSSION + BOOK SIGNING at Playmakers
- 2299 W Grand River Ave, Okemos MI 48864
- 5pm Book Signing
- 6:30pm Panel Discussion
See below for more information on the Detroit + West Michigan Events with Gazelle Sports.
Contact Us
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Location
Playmakers
2299 W Grand River Ave
Okemos, MI 48864 US
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Other Michigan Tour Events
November 10th in the Detroit Area:
- “Running While Black” Reading
Gazelle Sports Birmingham || 99 W. Maple Rd, Birmingham, MI 48009- In-store book signing 11am-12pm
- Book reading 12:00-12:30p
- Q & A 12:30p-1p
- WeRun313 Community Shoe Drop and 5k/10k Group Run
Robert C. Valade Park, 2670 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48207- Playmakers and Gazelle Sports will come together in partnership with WeRun313 to donate gently used shoes to those in need in the Metro Detroit community. Attendees will be entered into a raffle to receive “Running While Black” by Alison Desir
- 5:00pm-6:30pm shoe giveaway
- 6:30pm: Introduction and brief remarks from Alison//Run Starts
November 12th in West Michigan
- Gazelle Sports Community Run and Panel
Downtown Grand Rapids Gazelle Sports || 52 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids MI, 49503- 8:00 am run/walk with local run/walk groups- 3mi out and back route
- 9:00-9:30am - Running Safety Panel- what does it mean/what’s needed to feel a sense of safety running with a marginalized identity. Panel discussion hosted by Sammie Bennett of Lyon Street Run Club and Trail Sisters GR (@sammieb instagram)
- 9:30am-10:30 am Alison Desir book signing
- Gazelle Sports Kalamazoo Event: Book Signing and talk
4:30p || Gazelle Sports Kalamazoo || 214 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo,MI 49007- Bronson, Black Wall Street and other racial justice organizations meet up
- Run this Town Run Crew host Alison for a talk and book signing at Gazelle Sports Kalamazoo
About Alison
Alison Mariella Désir is an endurance athlete, activist, and mental health advocate.
Running saved Alison Mariella Désir’s life. At rock bottom and searching for meaning and structure, Désir started marathon training, finding that it vastly improved both her physical and mental health. Yet as she became involved in the community and learned its history, she realized that the sport was largely built with white people in mind. To help make running more inclusive and welcoming to people of color, Désir founded Harlem Run, an NYC-based running movement, and Run 4 All Women, which has raised over $150,000 for Planned Parenthood and $270,000 for Black Voters Matter.
Désir is currently co-chair of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, a Run Happy Advocate for Brooks Running, and an Athlete Advisor for Oiselle. A graduate of Columbia University for her bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, including a master’s of education in counseling psychology, Alison has been published in Outside Magazine, contributed the foreword for Running is My Therapy by Scott Douglas, and founded the Meaning Thru Movement Tour, a speaking series featuring mental health experts and fitness professionals. Running While Black is her first book. Alison Mariella Désir currently lives with her son, Kouri Henri, and partner, Amir Muhammad Figueroa, outside of Seattle.
To learn more please visit, alisonmdesir.com.
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