Episode 9 - Keshia Roberson on Radical Joy in the Outdoors

"The more confident and empowered we feel, the more likely we are to speak up and use our voice."

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with activist Keshia Roberson. Keshia is a community advisor for Run4AllWomen (an organization founded by activist Alison Desir; Run4AllWomen ambassadors Mikka Kei Macdonald and Elyse Braner were on earlier episodes of this podcast). Keshia has been involved with the organization since its beginning and participated in a leg of the organization's first journey from Harlem to DC!

If Run4AllWomen sounds familiar, it may because you've been hearing all about their Women Run The Vote 3.0 Virtual Relay supporting Black Voters Matter.  This iteration of the relay runs on the virtual map from Cuba, Alabama to Phenix City, Alabama. This event uses the Racery app, which allows participants to record intentional movement (think running, walking, biking, cooking, housework...) and learn historical facts from the Alabama Black Belt.  You still have a few days to sign up, so grab a group of 6 friends and register while listening to the podcast.

Outside of discussing Keshia's involvement in Run4AllWomen, we also discussed how Keshia began combining movement with activism; her founding of Major Knox Adventures, an outdoor series that promotes radical joy of cycling and other outdoor activities while continuing to celebrate the legacies of Major Taylor, Kittie Knox, and countless lesser-known Black outdoor enthusiasts; and finding one's place in the activism space.

Keshia is a wealth of knowledge and someone who takes action to make her community a better, more inclusive space. I really enjoyed getting to learn from her, and I hope you do as well.

As always, thanks to Dan Hoffman for the soundtrack you hear.