Black Girls Run!, a grassroots organization that encourages African-American women to live a healthy lifestyle through running, will be featured at the inaugural REI Outessa Summit.
Black Girls Run! Co-founder Toni Carey will speak to attendees at the first two Summits that will be held at Kirkwood Resort near Lake Tahoe, CA, from August 19 to 21, and Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City, UT, from September 9 to 11.
Launched in 2009, Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks-Rocha created Black Girls Run! to combat the obesity epidemic among women in the African-American community and dispel the myth that black women do not run. The organization has grown to include more than 70 running groups across the nation with over 120,000 members. The groups include beginner and experienced runners and provide a support system to help members reach their fitness goals.
“It is important for women to take time for themselves and be active. The REI Outessa Summit will provide an opportunity for women to gather around other power women. It will be an inspiring weekend you do not want to miss,” said Carey.
REI, a national specialty outdoor retailer and consumer co-op, is the title and presenting sponsor of the Outessa Summit. The co-op has been a national partner to Black Girls Run! since 2012. Each year REI hosts in-store educational sessions across the country and participates in the nonprofit’s annual conference.
