On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at Sylvia Mendez Elementary, a group of girls in grades 3 through 5 lace up their shoes, gather for a community meeting, and head out the door to run. They are not only training for a race, they are building confidence, leadership skills, forging connections, and discovering new strengths as they run.
This great community is Chicas Corriendo, a bilingual running club that has uplifted students at Sylvia Mendez since 2018. This school year, the program is powered by a Berkeley Public Schools Fund Equity Grant. Running is a great way for young students to set goals, challenge themselves, and learn to be in tune with their bodies. As program leaders Regina Maradiegue and Lucero Lupercio wrote in their application,
“We saw that there was a need for girls, in particular our girls of color to have a space to express their leadership skills, a space where they were empowered to act with intention and purpose.”
Chicas Corriendo is the space they envisioned. Each running session opens with a community meeting centered on “sheroes,” health, and empowerment. The chicas run, often with a family member beside them, building their endurance week by week. The whole season builds towards the Aztec Run for Education next month! 
The program’s philosophy is captured beautifully in the team’s own words: “Este trabajo es una obra de amor y rebeldía:” This work is a work of love and rebellion. Through this ongoing community, young girls are equipped with the tools to build healthy habits and lifelong resilience.
Since the program’s founding, teachers have noticed that Chicas Corriendo participants come to PE class with greater confidence and engagement. Students track their own growth through reflection sheets after their runs, ready to inspire the next wave of girls to join. We’re excited to see the great work of this program continue, as Chicas, their families, and teachers keep growing their love for community, running, and girl empowerment.