Volunteer Engagement

Volunteers, By now, you should be starting to get used to our weekend routine. Here are a couple of tips for making the most of your weekend runs:

• Keep engaged with students: Remember to run with and converse with students. That's why we're here! If you find a student running by himself or herself, or even find that you are running by yourself, please alter your pace to pair up with a student.
• Keep engaged with other volunteers: At the start of the runs, check in with your Lead Volunteer and others in your volunteer group. Consider participating in the Thursday Evening Social/Training Run at Lake Merritt as a fun way to get to know other volunteers. Tonight we start at 6pm at the corner of 14th and Oak. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Steve Roberts for more details.
• Keep engaged with marathon training: Remember that although a marathon is mostly mental, physical preparation can make it so much easier. Last week, we emailed out a training calendar to serve as a guide, especially if you are new to marathon training and looking for some additional information on how to help yourself be as prepared as possible to run with students in LA. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Steve Roberts if you did not receive your copy.

Week 4: 4 miles

This weekend we'll run along the SF Bay Trail through Alameda for another four mile long run. Typically this run is not as windy as the Emeryville Marina, but come prepared for anything! It's getting late enough in the year that a sweatshirt or jacket for after the run is a good idea.

Students, there is a Nutrition Clinic with Dr. Michelle Mietus Synder on Thursday this week (Oct 22) at the YMCA. You can browse our Nutrition Resources and look through your Student Handbook for some basic information. Bring your questions to Thursday's clinic!

Volunteers, this weekend we begin the process of splitting everyone up into groups, with Lead Volunteers, Student Support Volunteers, and Students. If you are unable to make this run and don't find out your group, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Steve Roberts. Also, please remember to sign up for this weekend's run on the calendar, where you can also find directions to the run.

Beginning Our Runs Right

Students and Volunteers, congrats on your first two weekend runs! It may seem like a long way now, but in a few short weeks this mileage will be easy for you!

This weekend we'll be at the Emeryville Marina for 2-4 miles. Before the run, SRO's own Becky Austin, MD, will provide a clinic on stretching. Proper stretching during your marathon training will help you increase flexibility and prevent injuries. You can review our handout on injury prevention and stretching, or check your Student Handbook or Volunteer Handbook for some background information. Be sure to bring your questions to Saturday's clinic!

Volunteers, please remember to sign up in advance for this weekend's run on the calendar.

Violence in Our Communities: Message from the Executive Director

In major metropolitan cities, urban communities across the country, inner-city students are being murdered in alarming numbers. As we watch the nightly news and hear about our wars, the economy, and health care, the murders of young people seem to become just statistics. But they are casualties taking place right in our own backyards.

In late August when I visited one of our schools to start recruitment discussions, I entered a somber campus and learned that the school community was mourning the death of one of its students who had just been murdered. Three weeks later, another one of our schools, Oakland Tech, lost a young person; she was murdered on Labor Day. This second senseless death hit even closer to home: she was in SRO's training program last season.

For the last few weeks, I sat to write about this deeply troublesome issue. Out of respect for the families and their privacy, I first decided that perhaps I should not write anything. But as each day progressed, I have become more compelled to voice the sheer anger and sadness I feel with what is going on. All too often when there is tragedy in our communities, it is followed by outrage and the feeling to do something; but as time moves on and the cameras or reporters are gone, the outcry and rallying to act dissipates. I often wonder what then happens to all of the emotions. If we only react during crisis, I am not sure how we will ever prevent them from occurring.

Many of the young people that we serve in SRO have experienced the loss of a friend or classmate by senseless acts of murder. Probably what is most troubling is that they are experiencing these atrocities as part of the realities of life. But we cannot allow ourselves and our youth to accept this as a truth. While I can't figure out how to stop or change it, what I have come to understand is that we must continue to keep a focus on each tragedy. Only by keeping these tragedies in the spotlight will there ever be change. I think more and more of us are realizing this. I applaud Sheilagh Andujar, the principal at Oakland Tech who established a task force of concerned parents, teachers, and citizens to come together to collectively change our young people's realities. I have pledged my support to Sheilagh to be an active member of this effort. I also encourage members of SRO to get involved.

Until we make ending the violence a top priority, more of our students will continue to lose their lives. We are all desperately needed in this fight. Those of you who want to get involved to make a difference, let me hear from you.

- Spencer Hooper, Executive Director

We are meeting here to put an end to this cycle [of violence], to put things back in order and to put the wheel of peace on the right track. The task is very great, but our hopes are greater.
- Hosni Mubarak