On May 6, the Juneau community and Gov. Bill Walker joined AWARE to celebrate the accomplishment of students participating in the Girls on the Run and Boys Run I toowú klatseen programs. Seventy-eight girls from Gastineau, Mendenhall River, Riverbend, Harborview, Glacier Valley and Auke Bay Elementary schools, 14 girls from Dzantik’i Heeni and Floyd Dryden Middle Schools Heart &Sole program, and 18 boys from Montessori and Riverbend Elementary Schools participated in the programs. The 5K fun run was the culmination of 10 weeks of lessons for these students, which taught them to practice positive thinking, identify personal values, and practice cooperation and community service, all while training to complete a 5K.
Girls on the Run and Boys Run I toowú klatseen are empowerment programs for 3rd-8th grade girls and 3rd-5th grade boys. I toowú klatseen means “strengthen your spirit” in Tlingit and is AWARE’s newest after-school program helping to build “strength of spirit” for boys. Both programs are part of Juneau Violence Prevention Coalition efforts to end violence, and work by instilling protective factors in kids, such as self-understanding, self-confidence, and conflict resolution, and by providing healthy role models.
AWARE would like to thank all of our awesome Girls on the Run and Boys Run I toowú klatseen participants, coaches, parents and volunteers for another successful season and an amazingly fun and successful 5K event. We thank our generous sponsors who donated to show their support for the programs. Thank you to Super Bear, Heritage Coffee, Breeze In, Safeway and Costco for providing delicious food and drinks! Thank you Alaska Music One for the use of your powerful sound system! We also thank Rainforest Pediatrics, Valley Medical Care, and the City and Borough of Juneau for your ongoing financial support of Girls on the Run. Thanks to your generosity we are able to bring these wonderful programs to youth across Juneau, regardless of ability to pay.
We would also like to thank Gov. Walker for coming out to support the event and speaking on behalf of safety for all Alaskans. Protecting kids from violence both now and in the future is at the heart of what we do.
One of the most rewarding volunteer experiences one can have is coaching a Girls on the Run or a Boys Run I toowú klatseen team. Volunteer coaches work in teams to facilitate our easy-to-follow curriculum with groups of 7-15 girls or boys twice a week for the 10-week season. Coaches are not required to be runners but must be passionate about the mission of the programs, available and committed to working regularly with a group of kids after school, and able to bring energy and joy to each practice. The Fall 2017 coach training for new Girls on the Run coaches is Sept. 2, and the training for new Boys Run coaches is Sept. 9. The season starts on Sept. 18 and ends with another 5K fun run on Dec. 2!
If you’d like to get involved with Girls on the Run or Boys Run I toowú klatseen, please contact Natalie for more information at nataliew@awareak.org or 586-4902.
