Author: zenmochaGR

March, 2018 – On March 2nd, Gospel Run hosted over 60 Pastors, scholars, and racial healing practitioners at the University of Chicago to discuss how clergy can use their congregations as a platform to address racial trauma and divisions.  This year’s convening was held at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. 

Attendees discussed the historical role between race & religion, built relationships with like-minded clergy, and came away with tools & best practices to address racial reconciliation through preaching, teaching, counseling, outreach, and governance.

Convening Speakers included Dr. Otis Moss III  – Trinity United Church of Christ;  Dr. Reggie Williams – McCormick Theological Seminary; Dr. Soong-Chan Rah – North Park University; Joy Bailey – Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing & Training – Chicago.   

“Racial wounds run deep in the US, and no one living in America is immune to its effects on mental and emotional wellbeing,” says Nyasha Nyamapfene, Gospel Run Founder.  “As a public health organization, this year’s Clergy Convening takes on racial healing as an urgent health issue.  Right now – more than ever – it is important for the US and the world to see an inspiring model of leadership and love.  Who better to show that model, than the faith community?” 

NBC 5 Chicago and Moody Radio were media partners for the event.

Event Sponsors included the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and the Chicago Urban League.  

February 2018 – Gospel Run and the Interfaith Coalition Against Racism have formed a partnership to address issues of race and racism in the faith community.  

The Interfaith Coalition Against Racism (ICAR) is an organization of faith-based member institutions formed to mobilize clergy after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.  Its goal is to unite faith leaders to help dismantle racism. 

Gospel Run and ICAR will collaborate as design partners for the 2018 Gospel Run Clergy Convening, which will focus on how Pastors can use their congregations as platforms to help facilitate healing across racial lines, particularly during this racial moment in the United States.     

ICAR will also become an Official Charity partner of the 2018 Gospel Run 5K/10K, forming an interfaith run/walk team that will include Christian, Muslim, and Jewish organizations and span all races.  ICAR will raise funds through the Gospel Run platform with the goal of funding 200 of its congregants to participate in anti-racism training through Chicago Regional Organizing Against Racism (C-ROAR).  

ICAR members include Fourth Presbyterian Church, the Downtown Islamic Center, Congregation Sinai, LaSalle Street Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.   

October 2017–  Out of over 125 applicants from across the United States, Gospel Run won first place in the American Heart Association’s national competition for innovative urban health solutions.  The competition was held on October 17^th at the inaugural EmPOWERED To Serve (ETS) Summit in Washington DC.  

EmPOWERED To Serve (ETS) is a national initiative of the American Heart Association created to advance health justice in urban and minority communities. ETS focuses on fostering health equity through advocacy, policy, education and social change.

 “This is a full circle moment for us,” says Gospel Run Founder, Nyasha Nyamapfene.  “AHA was actually our first local health partner when we launched in Chicago, and now they are our first national partner. The monetary award is incredibly appreciated, and extending our strategic partnership with AHA nationally will also help to extend our reach and our impact.  Winning first place nationally is a great validation of our work from one of our most valued partners.”  

As first place winner, Gospel Run will partner with the American Heart Association to expand the Gospel Run model to additional US geographies and receive $30,000 to support its scaling.   

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association (AHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease.  The Dallas-based organization  has over 33 million volunteers and supporters and over 3,400 employees. 

Link to AHA feature story:  https://news.heart.org/chicago-entrepreneur-works-change-focus-managing-diseases-supporting-health/

April 2017–  Nonprofit public health organization, Gospel Run, has announced that it has established a media partnership with Moody Radio. 

Moody Radio is one of the largest Christian radio networks in the United States.  Its parent organization is the  Moody Bible Institute.  Headquartered in downtown Chicago, Moody Radio owns and/or operates 37 stations and hundreds of affiliates and outlets that carry all or part of its programming. 

Moody Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day, and its stations include WMBI – 90.1 FM in Chicago.  Moody has three online channels – Praise and Worship Channel, Majesty Channel, and Urban Praise (Winner of the 2015 Stellar Award for Internet Radio Stations). 

March, 2017 -Gospel Run has recently announced its newest Partner-In-Health – Grammy and Oscar award-winning Che “Rhymefest” Smith. 

Rhymefest is best known as an award-winning hip-hop artist, having written the hit songs, Jesus Walks with Kanye West and Glory (from the film, Selma) for John Legend and Common.  His own health, however, has become one of his most important projects, since he discovered he has diabetes after an alarming health episode.        

Gospel Run is partnering with Rhymefest and NBC 5 Chicago to raise awareness about diabetes and men’s health among African Americans, open a dialogue, and inspire men to embrace healthier behaviors.   

Black Americans face more than a 70% greater risk of getting diabetes than white Americans. For Hispanics, their risk is more than 65% greater.      

Rhymefest reports that the risks and reality of his disease hit home when Malik Taylor, the hip hop artist known as Phife Dawg from Tribe Called Quest, died at the age of 45 after a prolonged battle with diabetes. 

“I put off getting a check-up, and almost went into a diabetic coma, because I didn’t know I had the disease,” says Rhymefest.  “I now have to actively manage my diabetes with self-care.  That includes working out, jogging, keeping my metabolism going, and nutrition… so that the foods I eat don’t kill me.” 

Rhymefest will participate in the fifth annual Gospel Run 5K run/walk on Saturday, June 2nd and share his story with thousands in attendance.  He will also take the stage during the post-race concert, performing a special remix of his song Jesus Walks. 

Gospel Run and Rhymefest are launching the “Jesus Walks Youth Remix Challenge,” a contest that invites Chicago youth to write an original verse to the song Jesus Walks.  The winning youth will perform their lyrics on stage with Rhymefest and his band on race day.     

The Chicago Gospel Run 5K is a multi-generational event that draws individuals and families from throughout the Chicago region, with participants ranging from age 3 through 85+.  Gospel Run, in partnership with Howard Brown Health, will offer free diabetes screenings at the race.   

Link to the NBC feature Story: 

February, 2017 –  Gospel Run has launched its first Pastors’ Health Challenge, designed to inspire and support increased physical activity among Senior Pastors.  The initiative was announced in partnership with NBC at the 2017 Gospel Run Clergy Convening, and 20 Pastors signed onto the Challenge on site. 

“Gospel Run is committed to fostering healthy congregations and communities, and healthy Pastors are an essential part of that,” says Nyasha Nyamapfene, Gospel Run Founder.  “The Challenge provides an opportunity for Pastors to lead by example, inspire their membership, and take steps toward their own health journey.”      

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of chronic and fatal diseases worldwide.  Increasing physical activity can be a strong catalyst for reducing health disparities in Chicago.  Gospel Run is a nonprofit public health organization that serves as a connector of the faith community and partners with clergy and congregations to close the health gap.

December 2016 – Gospel Run has announced that it will partner with NBC 5  to raise awareness year-round about health issues in Chicago.  

“Our commitment to Chicago neighborhoods is strong, and we are proud to partner in the work of Gospel Run,” says David Doebler, President and General Manager of NBC 5 Chicago.  

NBC 5 Chicago will broadcast live from the Chicago Gospel Run 5K race, and Chicago’s own Regina Waldroup will serve as race-day emcee.  NBC 5 Chicago staff will form a team to run/walk in the 5K race.  Anchor Michelle Relerford will emcee the 2017 Gospel Run Clergy Convening.  

March, 2015 –  RUSH University Medical Center has chosen public health organization, Gospel Run, as its physical activity (PA) partner as a part of the ALIVE! Project, a multi-year research study designed to use faith-based strategies to address health disparities on the south side of Chicago.    

The ALIVE! Research Partnership is a 3-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) collaboration between academic researchers from Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) and the Pastors of five African American churches.  The focus of their work together is to help the five congregations and their communities at large build healthier lifestyle behaviors.

The church partners are: Covenant United Church of Christ; Faith Community Church; First Baptist Church of Park Forest; Parkway Gardens Christian Church; and Third Baptist Church.    

March 2014 – Public health nonprofit, Gospel Run, has announced that it will partner with the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).  The post-race concert of the annual Chicago Gospel Run 5K will be a part of the 29^thannual Chicago Gospel Music Festival.   

The Gospel Run 5K is a music-filled regional health event.  The 2014 Gospel Run 5K, Gospel Kids Run, and post-race gospel concert will take place in the historic Jackson Park on the south side of Chicago.  The post-race concert will include Stellar-award winning Fellowship Chicago Church Choir and Kierra Sheard’s BRL.   

Chicago is credited as the birthplace of gospel music, and Thomas Dorsey, former music director of Pilgrim Baptist Church in the Bronzeville community, is regarded as the “godfather” of gospel music.