Hafsa: Now is the time.

07/22/20 • 25 min

Connect and Rise with Hafsa Kamara, 2016 Rio Olympian, Founder of the BrandMe Program, and youth advocate. Hafsa shares her personal journey of becoming an Olympian representing Sierra Leone even when the odds were stacked against her (including her own father's belief that Muslim women did not belong in Track and Field). She reminds us that anything is possible with hard work and determination, even when you think a dream is so big it may never be realized. Hafsa also talks about her current goals which include empowering youth as we continue to demand social justice. She encourages each of us to do what we can because "now is the time for your voice to be heard; now is the time for your actions to matter."

Previous Episode

Jocelyn: Don’t forget your love life to the fullest.

Connect and Rise with Jocelyn, runner, Disney lover, mom, wife, and Physical Therapist Assistant. Jocelyn shares her own personal journey through this pandemic including her strategies for managing anxiety and figuring out how to help yourself. She tells us what it’s like to be working in a long term care facility and how we can all make such a difference by reaching out to older adults whether they are family or not. We also discuss running, the benefits of moving your body, embracing your pace, and remembering to have fun. Joselyn urges us to never forget to live life to the fullest and to remember that we are capable of great things.

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Kendra: Be patient with yourself and remember the little things add up to big things.

Connect and Rise with Kendra Chambers, Pro-USA Track and Field Athlete (sponsored by Oiselle) and Athlete Advocate. Kendra’s insight and perspective is so powerful! She discusses how important it is to be patient with yourself, especially during the pandemic. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is not to look too far into the future but instead to focus on the 24 hours in front of us and what we can do in that day. Kendra takes us through her journey as an elite runner experiencing kidney failure. She reminds us that each new level of our lives will require the next level of our strength and training. In hindsight, you will see that the little things turn out to be a big things, so stay focused on the small things you do on a daily basis. Kendra also shares some very powerful insight about what it means to be seen and heard as a Black female athlete. She provides excellent strategies to get involved and be a part of change. Kendra encourages us all to embrace the beauty that can be found in personal growth. In the pursuit of your “why,” make sure the little things you do every day align with that mission.