In celebration of both Black History Month in February and Women's History Month in March, Mary has put together this conversation series.

She sits down with Alison Mariella Désir in part one of their conversation to discuss her book, Running While Black, the thought behind it, what running while Black means to her, the implications the book has had and the disconnect between social justice and Disability Justice.

Alison Mariella Désir is multi-talented: a founder, a doer, an activist, a connector, and an unapologetically straightforward communicator with a passion for community health. Alison came to running organically, following a period of depression, when a Black friend and role model trained for and completed a marathon.

Alison is the author of Running While Black, the tv host and producer of Out & Back w/ Alison Mariella Désir (now streaming) and the host of Out & Back’s companion podcast; listen here.

Alison is the founder of Harlem Run, an NYC-based running movement, and Run 4 All Women, which has raised over $150,000 for Planned Parenthood and $270,000 for Black Voters Matter.

Alison is co-founder and former chair of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, a nonprofit that unites the running industry to provide resources, measure progress, and hold the industry accountable to equitable employment, leadership, and ownership positions and improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Alison holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and EdM in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University.

Alison sits on the advisory boards for Strava and &Mother and is an Athlete Ambassador for Athlete Ally.

You can follow Alison on social media here.

The Politics of Disability was named Best Interview Podcast at the Astoria Film Festival in both October 2022 and again in June 2023.