Creativity Runs Deep: Movers of the Culture
by Na’Tasha Jones, Co-founder + Chief Content Officer
To honor the awe that our creativity inspires in each other and in everyone else, this month (as in every month), we are elevating the movers of the culture--Black women runners, designers, artists, and creatives whose passions and purpose Run Deep . Read more about this initiative.
The act of running has been the start of many movements, both literally and metaphorically. Each of these Black women is a catalyst for growth, change, wellness and joy through their work as creators, runners and community builders.
Mariah Dyson, Dora Belle, Dayna Bolden, and Dana James share how they’re moving the culture with their respective work and passions.
Mariah Dyson - Culture Runs Deep
“Running a marathon taught me that I can do anything; it helped me conquer my imposter syndrome,” says Mariah Dyson, founder of Girl Gang Crazy, an inclusive collective of visionaries that seeks to empower women through sisterhood.
“As I trained, lost all this weight, crossed the finish line, it translated to ‘I can walk into these rooms’, ‘I can talk to these people’, ‘I can do this.’”
That feeling of accomplishment and support was something that she wanted others to experience as well.
“That’s how it first started for me,” she says. “Black women started congratulating me and just seeing me when I was training for my first marathon in 2018. I didn’t realize how impactful that response was until then and, once I started to really get how that felt, I was like, ‘Oh, I want everyone to be able to feel this--my mom and my sisters--I want them to also experience this mental breakthrough’. There’s nothing better than a Black woman you don't know cheering you on.”
When she and a group of friends decided to train for the Nike LA 13.1 Half Marathon last year in April, they didn’t know all that was ahead with the pandemic. They documented their training journey under the username “GirlGangCrazy” before they realized that it would become something official. Then even though the race was officially canceled, she says, many still ran (safely) on their own on the day of the race. Their community became a support group.
“Runners are the most welcoming and helpful people ever. Lifelong friends have been made through this experience,” she says.
“When I first started Girl Gang Crazy, I knew that it was intimidating for many run crews to be all-boys clubs. I wanted to make it so women felt comfortable to come with me and run, giving them a little push, like a mother duck,” says Mariah.
Mariah is also aware of the amount of work needed to help make running spaces and other fitness communities accessible for all. The key, she says, is access.
“Running a marathon taught me that I can do anything; it helped me conquer my imposter syndrome.”
“I'm grateful to have connections with people who work at brands, so I haven’t had to buy running shoes for a while. But I also know that the access that I've been granted is never granted to my WHOLE community,” she says.
As part of her work to get people to pay attention, she isn’t afraid to speak openly about important issues.
“I don’t think I even think twice about it,” she says. “The way my brain works, I’m questioning everything, all day long. I don’t know what people are afraid of when it comes to speaking out about injustices. I live in South Central [Los Angeles] and it's every day that I see it. Why aren't we questioning these things more?”
Although group runs have had to pause, Mariah and Girl Gang Crazy continue to encourage others to ‘run alone, together’ as much as they can, safely. Now a nonprofit, they are also keeping busy with their work on community projects in South Central to address food insecurities and other community initiatives.
Follow Mariah’s journey on Instagram and watch Girl Gang Crazy move the culture.
Dora Belle - Equity Runs Deep
When a past job had her feeling overworked and overwhelmed, accountant and financial services veteran Dora Belle discovered running as a way to feel better both mentally and physically.
“My first job out of college was with a top financial firm. It was the ‘fun’ company and the culture that I thought I wanted, but I didn’t see others that looked like me (Black, women). I also didn't see any colleagues with lives that resembled what I wanted mine to look like. I became miserable and overweight,” says Dora.
During the grueling hours of her busy season, she looked for other things to take her mind off always being in the office. She started volunteering for Fresh Air Fund, an organization that provides life-changing summer experiences for children from New York City’s underserved communities.
“I would leave during the day on my lunch break and go for a run,” she said. “I am a reflective person, so I liked that it was a sort of solo sport.”
She ended up running her first half marathon and was hooked. And although her job was supportive of her running at the time, she ultimately made the decision for herself to leave the toxic work environment to venture out on her own.
To Dora, it’s easy to see the connection between financial fitness and physical wellbeing.
“At this time, we are all figuring out that health is wealth,” she says. “After things open back up, we’ll still have to make sure we’re safe, that we’re taking vitamins and eating properly and moving around. It’s the same as getting your finances in order. It’s hard to save, but if you really want it you’ll make an effort and time for it.”
Now, Dora serves her own clients as an accountant and financial consultant. “It’s been such a beautiful thing to see some of my clients progress, to say more and do more for themselves, to be able to build something,” she says.
It’s also important to Dora to share her knowledge of finance and accounting, specifically with other Black women and Black-owned businesses. In addition to serving her clients’ business finance needs, she makes time to educate others on ways to build equity. By writing articles, hosting live discussions on social media and creating entertaining videos with finance tips, she’s helping others get their financial well-being in order.
“Like anything we have, if we don’t share our gifts, we’ll never find our people in the world, we’ll never find our tribe.”
“Like anything we have, if we don’t share our gifts, we’ll never find our people in the world, we’ll never find our tribe,” she says.
“I do this because it costs me nothing to give this info. I had the opportunity to work on a team and get the knowledge, and I know that there aren't many faces in the corporate world that look like me, Black and brown people and especially women,” she says.
“Sometimes it's a matter of a tidbit you learned because of family or access you’ve had. You can share with someone else who may not have had access and break it down in an easy-to-understand way. If I’m able to do that for people who look like me, why wouldn’t I do it?”
Catch up with Dora on Instagram and at her business site Outcount.co, where she also posts helpful finance tips for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Dayna Bolden - Family Runs Deep
Fitness and lifestyle influencer Dayna Bolden has built her brand around “inspiring women to go boldly after their goals.” As creator of Define Bold Fitness, she’s drilling down on health and wellness as achievable life goals.
As a young woman, Dayna was athletic, playing basketball and running track in high school, and even going to college for basketball. As she had children and grew her family, life got busy, as it often does. She started to not feel her best and longed to get back to a healthier personal routine.
That all changed last year, however, when she decided to make major changes in her fitness and take on a challenge to get back in shape. As soon as she saw how much it changed things for her, it sparked a new lane and a new passion for fitness.
“I have always shared motivation and lifestyle tips but now I am building a community outside of my personal page to get other people excited about fitness, healthy eating and more,” says Dayna. Her Define Bold Fitness page showcases challenges, live discussions and workouts.
“By sharing what’s working for me, I hope I can inspire other women to take charge of their health.”
She believes it’s important to “show both the win and the work,” so that people know that it’s not always easy, but the wins are worth it.
“We see a lot of celebrities and models who seem to just wake up that way,” says Dayna. “I don’t claim to be an expert at fitness, but by sharing what’s working for me, I hope I can inspire other women to take charge of their health.”
A big element of how she’s able to get things done is through her family.
“My family has been so supportive--even when I did a 75-part challenge!” says Dayna. “I wouldn't have been able to complete it without them. It’s inspired my husband, too, and my daughter will follow along with workouts. I didn't grow up with my mom working out every day, but I know that my daughter seeing me so committed is something that will be ingrained in her as a priority. I love being an example for her. ”
Dayna also knows the importance of seeing Black families prioritize healthy habits.
All the time I hear, “Oh my gosh, I love your family.” Being able to share our example of a healthy, Black, loving family is very important to me. I love showing how I feed, take care of my kids and my household and my marriage.”
Follow Dayna’s health and family journey on Instagram and well as her Define Bold Fitness brand for healthy lifestyle tips.
Dana “Franky J” James - Music Runs Deep
As a deejay, wardrobe stylist and virtual event curator, Dana “Franky J” James, is immersed in creativity, music and movement on a daily basis.
Like many creatives, though, the emergence of the pandemic last year took its toll on her creative process early on. “I knew right away that life would be different, and it took me some months to get motivated to do live [virtual] deejay sets,” says Dana. “I had to get my mind right.”
She started to test the waters, going live more on Instagram, and coming up with ideas for virtual events.
“I learned, even if your viewership is low, you keep going. It’s your passion, and you never know who’ll show up,” she says.
Months later, Dana has people reaching out to her to host all sorts of virtual events and deejay sessions. Her favorite recently was a collaboration with D.C. consulting firm Red Sprinkle to host a set for young girls, where Dana showed them how deejaying works.
“They had never seen a girl, or especially a Black girl doing this,” she says. “I showed them it’s possible and that moment was like, ‘Wow’.” The representation she can provide for other young women is an important responsibility for her.
“Before the pandemic, you would get into a routine and you don’t think about how others might see you. But these girls got to see what I do and learn that they don’t have to go the traditional route, they can do something different. That means so much,” she says.
Staying true to herself is super important. For Dana, creating as a DJ is about authenticity. “Make sure that people know who you are, that it's not just a facade,” she says. “[My DJ name] Franky J is part of my name, and I feel like I’m myself all the time.”
“I personally love music in general. I know if it makes me feel good, it makes other people feel good.”
While Dana has always had a love for music and movement, when she ran Track and Cross Country in high school, there was no music on her runs. “There was just nature and your breathing,” she says.
It wasn’t until she tried running with her local run club, District Running Collective in Washington, D.C., that she was introduced to running with music. Their group runs with weekly playlists allowed her to connect with music on the run and let the vibes enter her movements.
These days, she uses running to not only de-stress but to also help spark creative ideas, as she has time to think about what she wants to work on next.
“Running can be therapeutic. I like to do longer distances if I can, at least three miles, to give myself time to think. Now, I put all my latest songs on shuffle and go with the flow,” she says. “It really helps set the vibe for the run.”
“It feels good, it’s nostalgia--like music in that way.”
Catch the vibes (and lots of great playlists) with Dana on Instagram and frankyj.co.
Na’Tasha Jones
Co-founder + Chief Content Officer