IUN students get a chance to provide free dental services for kids
Brooks, a senior dental hygiene student at Indiana University Northwest, was performing a comprehensive cleaning on 11-year-old Adriene Flowers during the school's Give Kids a Smile event Saturday morning when the talk turned to a dental office across the street. Brooks went there as a child and remembered her hygienist, a woman named Alice.
'Alice? That's my grandma,' Adriene, of Gary, said, referring to Alice Harvey.
'Really? I loved her,' Brooks said, amazed. 'She was one of the people who inspired me to go into dentistry.'
A partnership with the American Dental Association to celebrate Children's Dental Health Month, Give Kids a Smile provides local children ages 5 through 12 who don't have dental insurance a comprehensive dental cleaning complete with x-rays, cleaning and fluoride treatments, Clinical Care Coordinator Dana Darman said. It's a national event, with dental schools all around the country helping, and it's free-of-charge for the patients, she said.
The program's benefits are twofold: Not only do kids who might not have the opportunity to get regular dental checkups get a thorough treatment overseen by a dentist, but the dental hygiene students get hours toward their clinicals.
'We're a preventative clinic, so we refer issues out to other dentists,' Darman said. 'Our students, who have to get so many hours with children, adolescents and seniors, do the assessments on patients, and then the dentist instructor checks their work and comes up with a maintenance plan with them.'
Brooks, of Merrillville, was convinced to go into dental hygiene by her own dentist.
'I come from a family of seven kids, and we came to this school for years (for cleanings),' she said. 'I was getting fillings done at my dentist — I was 16 — and she said, 'I think we need more Black women in healthcare.' After that, she let me shadow her a few times, and I was hooked.'
Coming from such a large family, Brooks said she really appreciates programs like Give Kids a Smile as well as IUN's own program, which offers preventative dentistry services at a discounted price. Without it, she can't imagine what her teeth might be like.
'It's personal for me because you have to start kids young on their dental health; just because something looks Ok doesn't mean it is,' she said. 'You might not be able to afford braces, but you can keep your teeth healthy. It's something you can't neglect.'
Angi Gonsiorowski, of Hobart, has been a dental assistant for 13 years and is just about finished with her dental hygiene degree. She waited for her kids to grow up before she went back for her degree, she said.
'The biggest thing I learned was how the mouth affects the body in so many ways,' Gonsiorowski said. 'Blood runs through your body, and it runs through your gums, so if you're not getting your teeth cleaned, all that bacteria runs through your body. That's why it's so important to get your teeth cleaned and brush and floss.'
Arcella Harvey, Adreine's mom, brought all four of her kids to the event. It was her first time, but she's now a big fan.
'It's a great resource for people who don't have insurance. To have this access is a great benefit,' Harvey said. 'It's also great for the students because they get to see things that maybe they haven't seen before. One of my kids has braces, and the hygienist was like, 'Oh, you have to do it this way.''
The Give Kids a Smile program, which will have a second day February 22, is filled, but residents interested in the IUN Dental School's services should log on to https://northwest.iu.edu/dental-clinic/index.html.
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Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
The 8 best shoes for standing all day on concrete, slick floors, and other surfaces that cause achy feet
Best overall: Brooks Ghost 16 They have every feature our podiatrists want to see. Brooks' Ghost 16 sneakers have everything podiatrists say is ideal for the best shoes for standing all day: lightweight cushioning, heel stability, a rigid sole, and a breathable mesh upper. Its insoles are removable if you need to add more arch support. Importantly, they lace up. Priya Parthasarathy, DPM, Maryland-based podiatric surgeon with Foot Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, says lace-up shoes offer better support for standing all day compared to slip-ons. They're comfortably cushioned, but firm enough for long shifts. Our chef tester wore these shoes over a dozen 10-hour kitchen shifts, and during long travel days. Its DNA Loft v3 foam footbeds felt lightweight and slightly springy, but also firm enough to prevent joints from feeling fatigued eight hours into a shift. He raved about how much support they offer for the knees and lower back. They're breathable, even in the waterproof version. Breathability is a key feature Dr. Oldani recommends for standing-all-day shoes. Heat and sweat puts you at and a greater risk for blisters, infections, or slipping around inside your shoe. Our tester wore the waterproof Ghost 16 GTX sneakers during messy restaurant shifts and in drizzly weather. Their well-designed Gore-Tex membranes were effective at keeping his feet dry amid spills and splashes. Best budget: Sorel Caribou Clogs They're surprisingly comfy and incredibly lightweight. Over the past three years, I've worn these clogs for long travel days, running errands, concerts, and standing for over five hours during volunteer shifts. Despite being only $60, the Sorel Caribou Clogs are remarkably supportive and easy to wear. They're made with injection-molded EVA in every part of the shoe, and the material is firm but structured — enough to keep my high-arched feet from aching after long days. They're waterproof with a grippy outsole. These clogs are my go-to shoes in the cold (aside from when I'm tromping through snow banks in winter boots) because they seal out moisture and are made with Sorel's Evertread, a high-traction rubber that delivers reliable grip on slippery surfaces. I wouldn't classify them as completely "non-slip," but they are definitely grabby enough for nurses who may need stability on slick hospital floors. They're stylish. The nearly 2-inch platform on these clogs gives you a height boost and, while they are basically a huge block of rubber color, I get compliments on these clogs all the time when I wear them — to the point that I've had multiple people stop to ask what they are and say they're going to go buy them after I sing all of the above praises. There's even a luxury leather version designed by Proenza Schouler, though the collab is widely sold out. They're not great in the heat. The one downside to these shoes is that they aren't breathable. Being clogs, they're very easy to slip your feet in and out of to catch a little air, but they do build up heat during humid summers to the point where I don't wear them from May to September. Best non-slip: Crocs On the Clock Work Sneaker They're made for spills and easy to clean. Our chef tester wore these on multiple 10+ hour standing kitchen shifts — including one at a very messy oyster station — and only had good things to report. These sneakers, which are part of the Crocs At Work collection, have a synthetic Nubuck overlay that's good at preventing spills from seeping inside, and it's very easy to wipe clean. They're actually slip-resistant. Testing confirms: The Crocs Lock outsole is reliable at preventing a wipe out on slick kitchen floors. They're comfortable and breathable. These sneakers are built with Croc's premium LiteRide footbed, which is why they're beloved among cooks, nurses, and other professionals who are on their feet all day. Our tester reported that his feet felt well-supported and free of aches after long shifts on hard kitchen floors. The lace-up sneakers are ideal for most restaurant workers who need ankle security as they pivot during busy shifts. Our tester also appreciated how breathable the upper material of these sneakers are, especially with their waterproofing overlay. They're well-priced. I hear so many cooks complain about how the expensive, orthopedic non-slip shoes may be worth the price once, but with the stink and stains that come with months of service, they need cheaper shoes that can be easily replaced once they're trashed. The Crocs On the Clock Work Sneaker is easy to clean and rewear for longer, and at $70, they aren't too painful to replace when the time comes. They're polished enough for front-of-house service. We decided to rank these sneakers just above the Crocs Bistro Work Clogs (which are worth an honorable mention) because they offer a more clean, understated look for servers and bartenders. Best cushioning: Asics GEL-Nimbus 27 They have pillow-soft cushioning, yet with a more rigid structure. As someone whose knees become strained from hours of standing, I found the GEL-Nimbus 27s more nurturing than something like the Brooks Ghost 16s. That said, the GEL-Nimbus 27 have a firmer midsole (which helps to keep your foot from sliding around), and are rigid enough that they can't fold in half. They don't get squishy after a few hours of wear. High-cushion shoes aren't always ideal for standing all day because the foam compresses over time, creating a sinking or muddy feeling. But the joint relief is worth it for some, and after testing the Asics GEL-Nimbus 27s for 100+ cumulative hours across international travel days, I can confirm this is a high-cushion sneaker that maintains its structure. They're highly breathable, even in the heat. The jacquard mesh upper is both roomy and breathable, with plush sock liners that feel soft around the ankles. The ventilation and expandable space made these sneakers comfortable and cool after they'd been on my feet for 20+ hours on a long summer travel day to Copenhagen. Best for walking: On Cloudtilt Their soft-but-rigid cushioning stays springy after standing all day. I've tested a lot of different walking shoes, and the On Cloudtilts strikes a perfect balance between cushioned and supportive. On's signature technology, CloudTec, builds the midsole out of firm foam cutouts, or "clouds," to provide structured support. These clouds are organized in a sequential collapse pattern, so they compress gradually in away that offers just the right amount of give. This allows for better balance and disperses the impact of walking all day, thereby reducing fatigue in your legs. The uppers feel super stretchy and breathable. The Cloudtilts use a knit upper made from 100% recycled polyester that feels more elastic and forgiving — especially if your feet tend to swell. It hugs your foot like a sock without trapping heat. One downside: The sock-like upper means you lose some structure and lateral stability, so it's not ideal if you pivot a lot on the job. The secure laces are easy to slip on and off. Dr. Parthasarathy says she finds lace up shoes are more supportive for standing and walking all day compared to one-size-fits-all slip ons. That said, sometimes you want a shoe that slips on and off easily. I love that this lace system lets you tighten across the top of the foot as needed, but has enough stretch and a simple stopper knot so you can slip them off without having to untie and re-tie every time. Best for working outdoors: Wolverine Overpass CarbonMax 6" Boot They're proper work boots — durable, weather-ready, and grippy. Wolverine has been making work gear since the early 1900s, with a long-standing reputation for quality and durability. While my husband has torn through other boots within half a landscaping or construction season, this pair showed no wear-and-tear (besides dirt stains) after two and a half months of heavy use. These boots are made with premium waterproof leather, an abrasion-resistant toe, and a ContourWelt construction that feels both flexible and secure. They have a composite safety toe. Wolverine's Overpass CarbonMax boots are made with a composite safety toe made from lightweight carbon fiber. This meets the ASTM standards for impact and compression, and feels more lightweight than steel-toed boots. Unlike steel, it also won't conduct heat or cold, making it a better choice for extreme weather. It's also thinner than traditional steel toes, giving your toes more wiggle room without sacrificing protection. They're comfortable for standing on soil or concrete. These boots required zero break in time and were comfortable for an all-day shift right out the shock-absorbing midsoles and removable Ortholite footbeds minimized foot fatigue, even after standing on concrete or uneven ground for 8+ hours. They also have a slight lift in the heel to take the pressure off your foot tendons. They're lightweight and breathable. Despite being incredibly durable and having that protective composite toe, these boots weigh just 1.63 pounds. And even though they're waterproof, they're still quite breathable thanks to a moisture-wicking mesh liner. They're backed by a 30-day comfort guarantee. Wolverine offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don't find these boots comfortable once you've worn them on the job. Best sandal: Fitflop RELIEFF Recovery Toe-Post Sandals These combine the ease of flip flops with orthotic-level support. These look like your average poolside flip-flops, but they're secretly built like a recovery shoe. They combine a firm, supportive sole with a plush recovery foam footbed that absorbs shock and relieves pressure at key points like your heel, arch, and ball of the foot. The wide toe box also lets your foot spread naturally, and the slight 1-inch heel takes pressure off your plantar fascia — a feature recommended by our podiatrists. I've worn the Fitflop RELIEFF Recovery Sandals for over 8+ hours walking and standing in museums and shops around Spain, as well as over four straight days out and about in New York City, and my feet felt as comfortable as if I were wearing sneakers. They're surprisingly stylish for orthotics. With their slight heels and regular-width straps, these flip flops blend in perfectly with a casual summer outfit without screaming "sensible footwear." They do rub a little in the humidity. I don't think this is a deal breaker because no blisters formed, and they felt fine when I wore them for shorter stints in drier West Coast climates. But after two days of standing on subways, in line at museums, and walking around a humid late-June New York, the straps caused some friction between my toes and outer edge of my foot. I wore preventative Band-Aids, which fixed the issue. Best clogs: Dansko Platform Pro Their legendary support earns them podiatrists' praise. There's a reason "Dansko" is pretty much synonymous with "supportive clogs": The brand's shoes are built with a footbed like no other — contoured specifically to reduce strain on the feet, ankles, and lower leg and made with memory foam to learn your foot's curves the more you wear them. I wore the Platform Pro clogs during six-plus hours of standing at an outdoor concert, as well as many all-day stints at my standing desk. They offer me incredible arch support and strategic cushioning on certain areas where I want it most, like the ball of the foot. The heel counter is very firm, and there's a slight 0.5-inch heel-drop wedge — two features podiatrists recommend for lessening foot fatigue. They're slip-resistant. Designed with an outsole that grips on wet, dry, and oily surfaces, the Platform Pro is ideal for kitchens, hospitals, or anywhere with slick floors. The chrome-free, breathable lining keeps your feet from overheating through long shifts. The leather is super versatile and ages well. I particularly love how chic and versatile the leather Platform Pros are over any other Danskos. They pair nicely with jeans or slacks, so they're great for any dress code. They're not too clunky — though they're a bit loud, and not the most lightweight. The platform on these clogs gives them a bit of an elevated look, but they're also designed with Dansko's signature rocker sole to promote natural movement as you walk. This helps to minimize the clunkiness. That said, they aren't quite as lightweight as, say, the Sorel Caribou Clogs. They're also a little noisy to clomp around in on hardwood or concrete floors, so if you work in a quiet office, these might not be the best pick. Other shoes we tested Honorable mention: Crocs Bistro Work Clogs Many cooks and chefs prefer shoes that slip off easily in case of hot liquid spills. The Crocs Bistro Work Clogs do just that — and kept our kitchen tester's feet supported on countless 10+ hour shifts — while still offering Crocs Lock slip-resistant tread, toe protection, and a heel strap to keep your foot secure as you move around the kitchen. Dansko Bridget: With a double strap to hold your toes in place and Dansko's supportive contoured footbed, we found these sandals to be supportive. However, the heel cup was very narrow. Hey Dude Wally Work CE Classic Slip Resistant: These non-slip shoes are lightweight, have removable insoles, and are overall pretty comfortable, but they aren't breathable enough. : While we like the sleek and versatile aesthetic of these double-strap FitFlop sandals, they didn't provide enough arch support after three hours of standing. Consider them only if you have flat feet. Hoka Gaviota 5: While these are our favorite walking shoes for arch support, the Gaviota (and most Hokas, for that matter) aren't rigid enough to off-set the high cushioning. They started to feel too squishy after a few hours of standing in them. Nike Motiva: With a breathable upper, wide toe box, and balanced cushioning, the Nike Motivas proved to be comfortable for hours on your feet — though not quite as supportive as the Brooks Ghost 16s or Asics Gel Nimbus 27s. Oofos OOmy Zen: A slide-on, high-cushion sneaker from a great recovery footwear brand, these shoes are very comfortable for walking all day. They run a full size small and may be a little too cumbersome for some people, but if you're not a fan of the Asics Gel Nimbus 27s, these are a solid high-cushion alternative. : These lightweight boots are made with the same top-tier durability, composite toe, and high-traction outsoles as the Wolverine Overpass boots, and come with a cushioned, energy-returning footbed. They just take a little longer to break in. What to look for in the best shoes for standing all day "Wearing high-quality, comfortable footwear for standing all day lowers your risk of injury and other foot issues, such as plantar fasciitis or neuromas," says Dr. Parthasarathy. Conversely, choosing unsupportive footwear can create inflammatory conditions that may take months to resolve, Dr. Oldani adds. Here's what both experts recommend: A shoe that matches your activity. If you're walking a lot during your shift, you'll want something with more ankle support than clogs. If you're working construction, you need a boot durable enough to withstand flying debris. Cushioning. This is crucial to increasing shock absorption and reducing stress on your ankles. Rigidity. When you hold the shoe by heel and toe, you shouldn't be able to fold it in half. Supportive heel counter. A solid heel counter cradles your Achilles tendon and prevents you from excessively rolling your feet inward as you step (also called "overpronation"). Breathability. When you're in an active profession, even air flow prevents overheating. A slight wedge. A slight lift in the heel (half an inch, ideally) takes pressure off your Achilles and plantar fascia. Removable insoles. Ideally, you can place a custom orthotic in your shoe as needed. Secure straps. Some people find a lace-up shoe provides better support for standing all day because it keeps your foot in for sandals, look for styles with adjustable ankle straps, including one over the toes for better stabilization. FAQs What are the best shoes for standing all day? After testing 22 pairs of shoes, we think the Brooks Ghost 16s are the best shoe for most people who spend hours on their feet. They're cushioned to absorb shock, but rigid enough to not fold in half, with a firm and supportive heel counter. Are flat shoes good for standing all day? No, flat shoes aren't ideal. You actually want a shoe with a slight 0.5-inch heel, as this helps take strain off your foot tendons, and one with a supportive footbed, Dr. Priya Parthasarathy says. Are HOKAs good shoes for standing all day? It depends on which model, but for the most part, HOKAs are too flexible to be supportive over hours of standing. If you want a similar high-cushion shoe with a more rigid midsole for better support, opt for the Asics Gel Nimbus 27s. What should I do if my feet hurt after a long day of standing? If your feet hurt after standing all day, Dr. Priya Parthasarathy recommends rotating your shoes to provide different levels of cushion and support, stretching during and after your shift, and icing to reduce inflammation. She adds that wearing compression socks may also help.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
PHOTO ESSAY: Many Californians lack safe tap water and don't trust cleanup efforts
THERMAL, Calif. (AP) — Agustin and Ricarda Toledo loaded eight empty 5-gallon jugs onto their truck and drove to a water store some 14 miles from their Southern California home, just as they've done almost weekly for years. The couple, originally from Mexico, planned to make dozens of chicken tamales for their five children and 13 grandchildren that weekend, and the limited flow of clean, safe water from their home filter wouldn't suffice. 'We can't consume the water; we can't use it' to drink or cook, said Ricarda, a retired farmworker whose family lives in and co-owns a mobile home park, speaking in Spanish. 'We'd like to have potable water.' In the agriculturally rich Eastern Coachella Valley , water is a source of worry. What flows from many people's taps contains health-damaging arsenic, and in areas where the issue has been resolved, distrust about the tap water lingers. Many rely on water donations or drive miles to fill water jugs and buy packs of bottles. Residents here are mostly low-income Latino and Indigenous farmworkers whose only affordable housing options are mobile home parks served by small, outdated systems more likely to violate drinking water rules . Luz Gallegos, executive director of Training Occupational Development Educating Communities, or TODEC, an immigrant and farmworker justice group, said people live in places with contaminated water because they have no other choice. 'Our community right now is not thinking of prevention. Our community is thinking of survival,' Gallegos said. More than a decade after California legislatively recognized that all residents have the right to clean water, more than 878,000 people were connected to failing water systems, many of which can increase their risk of cancer or other serious health issues, according to 2024 state data, the last year available. The Environmental Protection Agency has been working with a local nonprofit to restore safe drinking water to some Eastern Coachella residents. Last year, the agency announced that more than 900 people could safely drink and cook with tap water again. Distrust of tap water is widespread Many still fear the tap — an issue not unique to the area. Flint, Michigan's water crisis that began in 2014 eroded public trust of government and tap water. Even after high levels of lead were reduced to well below a state threshold, many residents still won't drink or cook with it . It's a distrust most common among non-white populations, research shows. A recent study on drinking water behaviors and perceptions in Evanston, Illinois, a suburban city north of Chicago, found, in part, that people who drank mostly bottled water were more likely to be Black, Indigenous or other people of color. Compared with white respondents, they were more than three times more likely to distrust tap water. The finding that minority groups in Evanston were more likely to distrust tap water was 'remarkably consistent' with research elsewhere, said Sera Young, a study co-author and co-director at the Center for Water Research at Northwestern University. 'It's a global phenomenon,' Young said. Respondents' main concern was contamination. A lack of trust in government and negative experiences with water were among other reasons. 'People who thought that they had been harmed by their water in the past were more likely to think they would be harmed by the water in future,' Young said. That's true for Martha. For 18 years, she and her husband lived in the Eastern Coachella Valley's Oasis Mobile Home Park, where the EPA found high levels of naturally occurring arsenic in the tap water in 2019. Martha, who is in the country illegally and spoke under the condition that only her middle name be used, said the water sometimes smelled like rotten eggs. An itchy rash would sometimes break out over her body when she showered, and her hair would fall off in clumps. She thinks the water was to blame. Martha and her family now live in a new place and have been told the tap water is safe to consume. 'We don't trust it,' Martha said. They buy water at stores or pick up bottled water at one of TODEC's offices, where plastic-wrapped packs cram a closet. The group provides free water to many of the area's residents and organizes know-your-rights workshops in farm fields, among other things. Perceptions can cause cascading effects Anisha Patel, a pediatrics professor at Stanford University who has studied drinking water access and tap water perceptions for years, said immigrants from countries with unsafe tap water can also bring those perceptions here and low-income families are more likely to distrust the tap because they may live in older homes. These perceptions can have significant negative impacts. People are more likely to consume sugary drinks, eat out and spend limited money on bottled water — upward of 10% of their household income, said Patel. Microplastics found in containers like bottled water, researchers are learning, may be harmful. Then there's the environmental impacts — single-use bottled beverages create enormous waste. Convincing people to drink from the tap is not easy, but experts have some recommendations based on their research findings. That includes government funding to improve plumbing in people's homes and investing in community-trusted groups to implement water testing programs and educational campaigns, said Silvia R. González, co-director of research at the UCLA Latino Politics and Policy Institute who lead a study in 2023 exploring drinking water distrust in Latino communities. 'It's been something that we've been trying to understand for the past 10, 15 years now, and I don't think we're closer to solving the issue, but we definitely see similarities across different communities,' especially among immigrant, Spanish-speaking and other non-English-speaking groups, González said. Back in the California desert, water jugs and stacked packs of bottled water are a common sight inside and outside homes. The kitchen in Virgilio Galarza Rodriguez's mobile home is cramped by bottled water — boxes and shrink-wrapped packs piled four high, a drinking water dispenser topped by a 5-gallon (19-liter) jug with a spare nearby and more loose bottles scattered around. The Galarzas, raising three boys, drank and cooked with tap water 16 years before a 2021 inspection by the EPA revealed arsenic at levels more than six times the federal limit. Despite now having filters and regular water tests, the family still worries. 'They tell us it's safe to drink, but we don't really trust it,' Galarza said, speaking in Spanish. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
How an ex-football player is tackling health issues — and inspiring hope — on the West Side through running
If you've been wanting to get active but don't have the group to do it with, look no further. The Peace Runners have you covered. 'Seeing people hit their ultimate goals are the benefits of what running can provide,' Peace Runners 773 Executive Director Jackie Hoffman said. 'It's not about how fast you can (run), as long as we can get through that finish line. That's the thing we care about as an organization, and I think that's powerful.' Peace Runners 773 is a nonprofit running club located on the West Side that offers free runs and workouts for anyone interested. Whether you are a trained runner, looking for a late-summer body transformation or want to meet like-minded people, the group can provide all of the above. The club's goal is to 'tackle real community issues such as obesity, low life expectancy and mental health.' Hoffman, 35, always has been active. After growing up on the West Side and playing football and basketball at Curie, he played on the offensive line at College of DuPage and Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla., later receiving a tryout with the Chicago Bears. He said his football career helped show him what Chicago can be. 'That was the experience and exposure space for me to go see life and go to see every other place,' Hoffman said. '(When I came) back home, I'm like, dang, this community that I grew up in is not the place that everybody wants to be.' Hoffman said his reason for founding Peace Runners comes back to his mother. During the pandemic, she was on the phone with a doctor who informed his mother, 62 at the time, that the average life expectancy on the West Side was only 66 and the number varies with area codes. His mother dealt with high blood pressure, prediabetes and obesity, Hoffman said. 'That's the moment where it hit me,' he said. 'To me (my mom) is Superwoman. For the first time, (I saw) that she had a weakness, (that) this is a bad thing.' Hoffman challenged his mom to walk a mile a day. His push turned into 60 lost pounds, a decrease in medication and increased time between doctor visits. After that, Hoffman wondered what he could do for others on the West Side. 'Everybody (thinks) that gun violence is how people pass away in these intersecting communities, but it's this secret killer (of bad health) that is taking us away,' Hoffman said. 'We normalize somebody that's 60 years old dying. On the behalf of my mom, no, that's not happening.' From there, Peace Runners was born. The Peace Runners symbol is a peace sign with wings and the 773 area code on both sides. It represents the group's goals: violence prevention and mental health security. 'The biggest thing is when people see (a group of) Black or brown people, (I wonder) what the first image of that (is),' Hoffman said. 'When people see us and see those wings, they know it's the Peace Runners.' Participants have covered more than 50,000 miles all over the globe. Hoffman and other Peace Runners have hit the streets in cities such as Tokyo, Sydney and Boston. 'If I go to Sydney or Tokyo and run 26.2 miles with 'Peace Runners' on my chest, everybody understands the mission of why I'm running this race,' Hoffman said. 'I'm shedding light on the disinvestment in our community. It's something we don't deserve. It's time for changes to happen so we can push forward and grow as a community.' The club wants members to experience a family-like feeling. Peace Runners is centered in Garfield Park, which the club calls an 'inspiring backdrop for individual transformation.' One way the group checks in with members is with the #BigSteppaWednesday hashtag, whereby runners post themselves running or exercising along with their progress on social media. 'Love for us isn't something that you have to earn,' Hoffman said. 'Love is (where) we go meet you where you're at and greet you with love. We understand that on a daily basis, people aren't meeting you with that.' Members feel the love from the Peace Runners leaders. 'I was sick a little bit in the hospital and called (Hoffman) to come to the hospital to see me and (they) only have family members coming in,' track coach Brendan Gilbert, 36, said. 'We show up to not only this, we come to people's work events, we go to birthday parties and we meet each other's families, so it's nice.' Added member Sarah Lyons, 36: 'I always thought I was a solo runner, (but) it's so much better to run with people who (are) on the same page and have the same goals, and Peace Runners does a great job of bringing everyone.' Those with minimal running experience should feel welcome in Peace Runners' Couch to 5K program, which helps transform non-runners into 3-mile form. Running a 5K can appear daunting but is easier than it sounds. 'It's basically getting the person who has not run in their entire life the nutrition, the proper techniques and tools to get them moving,' said Nicole Midderhoff, 42, the group's community events and engagement manager. 'To be able to run your first 5K, that's big.' On June 14, the Peace Runners held their Juneteenth Wellness 5K run on the West Side. More than 520 people showed up. Hoffman shared what it means to him for people of color to come together in a run. 'After learning about Juneteenth, (we said) let's do something positive in the community,' Hoffman said. 'It was only 20 people (the first time), but to go from 20 to 520 is insane. 'In broader conversations about community, people have to see people that look like them in the space and see positive things for others to be positive. When you see 500 people running (together), it changes the mind and inspires and provides a feeling of hope.' If there is a Peace Runners sighting, the group asks spectators to throw up a peace sign. 'Or better yet, JOIN US!' as their website states. 'The Peace Runners is the best place in the world, not just Chicago,' Hoffman said. 'To be inspired and loved, that's what we're about, so tell them to pull up to Peace Runners.'
