This will be my 3rd year running 13.1 miles for One World Project, and I have never been more determined to train and finish and raise money to support phenomenal early education and my daughter’s incredible school community.

OWP is truly a unique beacon of learning and exploration that feels crucial to support for years to come. Through Spanish immersion and caring teachers who are dedicated to fostering social-emotional development and greater equity through play, my daughter and her friends are confident and curious and kind as they learn to be elements of positive change in the environment and the world.

I ran the first year for the first time as a mom, which connected me to when I first ran a race 20 years before, in memory of my mom. Last year, I ran to raise funds for the scholarship fund for the 2’s and 3’s programs, and to help bridge the funding gap for the two free Universal Pre-K classes that don’t receive enough from the DOE to cover much of the enhanced programs like music and the community garden or healthcare for the staff.

This year, my daughter is 4, and in her last year attending UPK at OWP, all the clichés are happening – she is growing up way too fast, how is she already going to Kindergarten next year, can we freeze time please??!?! But it is incredibly clear how 3 years of Spanish-language learning and arts education and the love and support at OWP has played a huge part in the energetic, caring, and creative individual she is, and how connected our family feels to this special place.

It is going to be physically challenging to do this again – the last time I ran at all was crossing the half marathon finish line last April, and I am not sure I have the time or strength to make it happen. But then I think about mile 12.5 in last year’s race after an exhausting morning running through the rain where there was a large group of OWP friends and families cheering. My daughter ran into the road and jumped in my arms… and then her friend followed her and wanted a hug, too, and then a third friend followed for a hug. And there are no words to describe that feeling of holding her in that moment and feeling the love of the families and friends we’ve made.

And that is really it. This year, I’m simply running for her, and for them, in gratitude.

If you have the means, please consider donating. Gracias from my family and many others!