Earn community service hours by running the ‘streetz’

Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor

‘We Run The Streetz’ Jackson is a new program at Jackson State University that combines getting in shape while meeting new people and gaining service hours. Founded by Michael Bembery, a graduate public policy administration major from Detroit, Mich., the program encourages students to ‘Sweat and Connect’, get fit and active. The fitness group started a year ago with five participants and has continued to grow to over 50 participants within a year.

“I know that fitness is very important in today’s society, so I really just wanted to reach out to people through fitness. I like running; running can help you through your day as far as your mood or relieve stress. I just wanted to reach out to people and hopefully bring everybody together through fitness,” said Bembery.

On Sept. 8 at 7 p.m., “We Run The Streetz ” held a Two Mile Fun Run dedicated to Sickle Cell Awareness Month. As an incentive students who participate will earn three service hours for each run. This was the first time students were able to get service hours for participating. Each run will be dedicated to a different awareness every week.

“We Run the Streetz” is a fitness lifestyle group for the students and the university to keep them in shape while they obtain their degree,” said Bembery.

Tomysyne Ford, a JSU graduate student from Birmingham Ala., participated in the run.

“This event is great.  I like to feel the burn in the morning so hopefully this will help me put down those fried foods, fries, hamburgers, and live a healthier lifestyle,” said Ford.

Henry Goss, a junior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss., is a faithful participant of the program.

“I love fitness even though I’m not very active. I need to get active and what better way than doing it now, plus we get community service hours and I believe we’re helping to raise awareness of different causes and I’m all about that,” said Goss.

Bembery added that his program is about unity.

“We always have different ideas. It’s an open type of program. I’m the leader and the creator of the program but it’s open to anybody giving their insight. It’s a student run organization,” said Bembery.

“We Run The Streetz” will be held every Monday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center parking lot. For more information about the program follow the Instagram page:
@werunthestreetzjxn.

Tenesha Hughes contributed to this story.