Coaches of Color Initiative Hosts Inaugural Summer Summit

August 1, 2023

Free Event Will Feature Diverse Speakers and Serve as Fundraiser

Lehi, UT/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Coaches of Color Initiative today announced that it will host its inaugural Summer Summit in Flagstaff, Ariz., on August 8^th and 9^th. A hybrid in-person and virtual event, the summit will feature five presenters speaking on topics ranging from creating safe spaces for BIPOC individuals within endurance sports to coaching from a cultural perspective.

All of the presentations will be streamed live on the Internet and made available for on-demand viewing. Attendance is free and open to all, but a separate 30-second registration is required for each talk. When registering, prospective attendees are invited to make a donation to the Coaches of Color Initiative. To learn more about the Summer Summit, make a donation, or register, visit https://www.accelevents.com/e/coci-summer-summit.

The five presenters are COCI Executive Director Angelina Ramos, who coaches cross country and track at Ball State University; COCI creator Matt Fitzgerald, who co-founded 80/20 Endurance, a leading provider of online training and education resources for endurance athletes and coaches and COCI’s primary source of funding; COCI advisory board member Jessica Schnier, who was the program’s first apprentice; current COCI apprentice Mireille Siné, a Los Angeles-based running coach; and Siné’s fellow apprentice Jarred Ervin, a Phoenix-based running coach. Also attending will be COCI advisory board member Bertrand Newson, who heads the Too Legit Fitness running club in San Jose, California.

“I see the Summer Summit as a kind celebration,” said Fitzgerald, who will host the event at Dream Run Camp, a year-round training camp for runners that operates out of his private home in Flagstaff. “It’s an opportunity to show off the amazing people who are involved in COCI, to give back to the broader endurance community, and to seek the support of that same community.” Between presentations, in-person attendees will enjoy group runs on Flagstaff’s pristine trails, enjoy Dream Run Camp’s many amenities, and dine at local restaurants.

Created in 2021, the Coaches of Color Initiative is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve diversity in endurance sports through an apprenticeship program for people of color aspiring to careers as endurance coaches. In addition to a monthly stipend of $1,000, apprentices receive free training and certification as an 80/20 Endurance Coach, one-on-one mentoring sessions with established coaches, and opportunities to create training content and gain valuable coaching experience through the 80/20 Endurance platform. To learn more about COCI, visit 8020foundation.org.