Thanks to incredible community support, Sitka’s sixth season of Boys Run I toowú klatseen was a huge success! Following 10 weeks of learning social and emotional skills necessary to build healthy relationships and communities, nearly 30 3rd-5th grade boys ran a 5K fun run on Saturday, December 14th, accompanied by friends, family, and supporters. Boys Run works to combat Alaska’s high rates of suicide, substance abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault by teaching boys to recognize and process emotions, and connecting them to adult mentors and Southeast Alaska traditional culture and values.
The amount of community support for the Boys Run program has allowed it to thrive in Sitka. We at Sitkans Against Family Violence are thankful for Youth Advocates of Sitka, Sitka School District and Sitka Tribe of Alaska for co-sponsoring Boys Run. Sydney Carter with YAS helped train coaches before the season. Diana Twaddle, Keet’s Elementary Learning Support Coordinator, and Casey Demmert, Keet’s Principal, have provided crucial support throughout the season. Thank you to Chuck Miller and Alex Johnson with STA for sharing their knowledge of Southeast Alaska traditional culture and values with participants throughout the season, and encouraging them to have strength of spirit at the 5K. Thanks to Raven Radio, KIFW, and the Sitka Sentinel for allowing us to share Boys Run messages through their channels. Thank you to SeaMart for donating gift cards, Russell’s for providing discounted shoes, Harrigan Centennial Hall for providing the 5K space, and Sitka National Historical Park for donating the park permit for the 5K. And thank you to the nearly 30 individuals who came to help out at the 5K!
We appreciate our incredible volunteer coaches, who gave four hours of their time weekly to serve as positive role models and mentors for program participants. Xannie Borseth (STA), Madison Sprague (SAFV), Johnny Elliott (Alaska Fellows Program), Frank Eccher (Alaska Fellows Program), Grace Greenwald (Alaska Fellows Program), Alec Duncan (Sitka Counseling), Margaret Heftler (SAFV), Missy Mongiovi (Sitka Counseling), Heather Chandler (SAFV), Evan McKernon (YAS), and Cyrus Unvala (USCG): thank you for engaging in this meaningful and important work, and ensuring the success of the program.
Of course, Boys Run would not be what it is without the enthusiastic and engaged boys who participate in the program. We can’t thank this season’s participants enough for their commitment to their goals and community. We’ve seen them grow an incredible amount throughout the season, and trust that they’ll go forward to practice healthy expression of emotions, teamwork, allyship, and to celebrate cultural diversity throughout their lives.
Sitka, thank you again for showing your care for and support of this community’s boys, and your dedication to helping them grow into respectful, inclusive men who can express their emotions in a healthy way and support their community.
If you’re interested in getting involved with Sitka’s Boys Run I toowú klatseen next year, or its partner program, Girls on the Run, this spring, please contact Emma Thompson at ethompson@safv.org or 747-3489. We’re currently looking for Girls on the Run coaches and we’d love to have you join us in this work!
