In this episode, cohosts Alison Mariella Désir and Verna NezBegay Volker talk to Kiera Smalls, Executive Director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). Kiera Smalls is a Philadelphia-based runner, entrepreneurial leader, and community builder. She currently serves as the inaugural Executive Director of the RIDC, which means that she’s held that position since the nonprofit’s inception in 2022.
The mission of the RIDC is to “unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access while creating clearer pathways for people to enter the sport and build meaningful careers within the running industry.” It’s the only organization of its kind in the running industry. Alison and Verna are both co-founders of the RIDC. Kiera is also the co-founder of the running community City Fit Girls, which became Strides.
Kiera thrives on connecting people and resources, and making meaningful change. In this conversation, Kiera tells about her own journey to meaningful movement and running and how that led to her becoming a leader in the movement space, starting in Philadelphia. The groups she help found became models for other movement communities. Kiera then applied these skills in her professional life, helping companies and organizations expand their reach and audience.
Kiera has been guided by her motto: If I can’t be me, it’s not for me. And she's applied this to how she envisions messaging to others. Who is this for? All of her experience made Kiera an ideal candidate to run the RIDC, which just celebrated 5 years. Kiera talks about what the RIDC does, some of its big achievements, and announces some big news about what’s happening next. And she talks about her new guiding mantra to “Do less, but do better.”
Through this conversation, discover how Kiera Smalls has developed the ability to make real change happen, how she's turned skills and passion into action, and what those real world changes actually are. It’s also a time for Verna and Alison to look back with Kiera on the ambitious plans they helped set in motion, and celebrate how those plans are manifesting under Kiera’s exceptional leadership.
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Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com
Mentioned in this Episode
Kiera Smalls on Instagram: @kierasmalls
Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) on Instagram: @runningdiversity
RIDC website: runningdiversity.com
Movement for All: runningdiversity.com/movement-for-all
EARTHMOVERS Hosts
Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4
Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir
Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin