Girls on the Run
Dear Editor: The Pathways Coalition would like to thank everyone who supported the 15th season of Girls on the Run this year! Nearly 30 third- through fifth-grade girls spent the last three months training for an “Under the Sea”-themed 5K while learning skills about building self-esteem and cultivating healthy lifestyles.
The run was, as always, successful in large part due to the outpouring of support from GOTR families, friends, and community members. This event would not have been possible without the work of all the wonderful volunteers and coaches who helped with course setup, ran as personal supporters with the participants, and were great cheerleaders! Thank you to everyone who contributed time and energy to make this event such a success.
This season of Girls on the Run was coordinated by members of the Pathways to a Safer Sitka Coalition, with partner agencies taking responsibility for specific components of the program and providing coaches to act as positive adult mentors for participants.
We at Sitkans Against Family Violence are grateful for the contributions of Jeanine Brooks from Keet Gooshi Heen for her consistent support and the Sitka School District for providing the practice space; Nick Hargroue from Keet Gooshi Heen for coaching; Jason Own from Sitka Counseling for coaching; S’eilawúx Roy-Mercer from Sitka Tribe of Alaska for informing the addition of place-based learning into the curriculum; both Barbara Quinn and Bella Howard from Youth Advocates of Sitka for coaching; and Chohla Moll for coaching. Youth Advocates of Sitka also implemented Heart & Sole, the middle school equivalent of GOTR, and we are so grateful to have partnered with them on both the coach training and 5K Fun Run.
GOTR receives incredible support from businesses, funders and supporters throughout our community and state: AC Lakeside, the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the Association of Alaska School Boards, the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Harrigan Centennial Hall, Harry Race Pharmacy and Photo, KIFW, Raven Radio, Russell’s, Sitka National Historical Park, and Daily Sitka Sentinel. Thank you all!
We are grateful to be able to offer our programs on Lingít Aaní, and we thank the Lingít people for being great stewards of this land since time immemorial.
Thank you to all who helped bring such joy and celebration to the community this year. We look forward to offering Girls on the Run again this coming fall, and Boys Run I toowú klatseen in spring 2025. If you’re interested in getting involved in Girls on the Run or Boys Run I toowú klatseen, email schools@safv.org. We’re always recruiting coaches, and we’d love to have you join us in this work. Gunalchéesh,
Cassie Guiley,
Girls on the Run Coordinator,
Sitkans Against Family Violence
