On November 1, four runners will take on 26.2 miles through the five boroughs as members of Team Beginning with Children.
Their reasons for running are as different as their connections to BwC. One is an educator who has found a deep sense of pride and belonging within the BwC community. One is a lifelong New Yorker running for the city that raised her. One is a pediatrician who has dedicated her career to helping children thrive. And one is a member of the Beginning with Children team who works every day to help move the organization’s mission forward.
What brings them together is simple: they believe in the power of opportunity, community, and investing in young people.
Meet Team BwC
Matthew: Running for His Community
As an educator at Community Partnership Charter School, Matthew has experienced the BwC community from inside the classroom. He describes the teachers, staff, parents, and students as a community that has welcomed him with open arms, and one that has made him feel an especially deep sense of pride in being an educator.
“I have never felt so proud to be an educator as I do at this very moment.”
That connection is what makes representing BwC on race day so meaningful for him.
Matthew’s experience at BwC has been filled with moments that remind him why the work matters, including a Winter Showcase dress rehearsal when a student’s performance of “Rise Up” moved him to tears. As he prepares to push himself through 26.2 miles, Matthew is carrying that community with him.
“I’m running for our community: the families, staff members, network, those who donated, and above all, God and His children, whom we are privileged to serve every day.”
And while the marathon will push him to his limits, Matthew has found a particularly local way to fuel his training: a gourmet chopped cheese with avocado from Healthy Bites.
Serina: Running for the City That Raised Her
For Serina, running the New York City Marathon is both a personal milestone and a chance to give back to the city she has always called home.
A lifelong New Yorker and product of New York City public schools, Serina has seen firsthand the importance of creating opportunities for young people. When she learned more about Beginning with Children, its commitment to helping NYC students grow and thrive immediately resonated with her.
“Running my first marathon felt like the perfect opportunity to give back to the city that raised me while supporting the next generation of New Yorkers.”
For Serina, BwC is about more than academic achievement. It is about helping young people discover what they are capable of and giving them the confidence and tools to carry that into their futures.
“I’m running for the chance to experience the best day in New York from the other side (and for the kids, of course!!!!).”
And while the 26.2-mile race may be daunting, Serina already has her post-race motivation figured out: celebrating with friends and family, followed by what she expects will be the best night of sleep of her life.
ChiChi: Running in Honor of Her Dad
For ChiChi, a pediatrician and lifelong advocate for children, joining Team BwC felt like a natural extension of the work she has dedicated her life to.
After learning about BwC’s mission, she saw an opportunity to support an organization working to ensure that young people have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
Her commitment to that work is personal. During college in New York, ChiChi worked with children from under-resourced communities who were interested in STEM. That experience shaped her belief that every child should have the opportunity to excel academically, regardless of their access to resources.
“As a pediatrician, I have dedicated my life’s work to helping children, so I’m excited for another opportunity to do just that.”
But ChiChi is also running for someone very close to her heart: her father, who passed away last year.
His passing motivated her to embrace difficult challenges and seize opportunities she might once have thought were out of reach. Running the New York City Marathon is one of those opportunities.
“I’m running in his honor.”
And if you see ChiChi smiling, or singing, along the course, there may be a familiar soundtrack playing. A longtime Hamilton fan, she knows the musical by heart, and “My Shot” has become a staple of her training runs.
Alyssa: Running to Amplify the Work
For Alyssa, the marathon represents a uniquely personal challenge: running 26.2 miles through the city she calls home, for the organization she works for every day.
“Running a marathon is a special feat; being able to run it in the city you call home, for the organization that you work for, makes it all the more special.”
As Beginning with Children’s Chief of Staff, Alyssa sees the organization’s mission from a unique perspective. For her, putting students at the center isn’t simply an organizational value. It is how BwC approaches its work every day.
“Beginning with Children is amplifying student voices, centering students in our decisions, and meeting students where they are. It’s working backwards from what’s best for our students and then figuring out how we accomplish that. It’s not just a name, it’s how we approach the work every day.”
One experience that has especially stayed with Alyssa is her work leading BwC’s Board Fellowship program, which gives alumni the opportunity to return to the organization, develop board leadership skills, expand their networks, and ultimately serve on BwC’s boards.
For Alyssa, the program is a powerful example of what it means for BwC to be a Pre-K through life organization.
“We are a pre-K through life organization, and our alumni are the ones at the table making decisions that will shape future generations of learners.”
On race day, Alyssa will be running to bring even more attention to that work and the impact it has on students, families, and communities.
“I’m running to amplify the work that we do every day and to raise awareness for the impact that we are making on our students, families, and communities.”
And while she may be running for something close to her heart, she has also found a reliable training ritual to keep her going: every Friday long run ends with a bagel from her favorite spot.
Every mile Team BwC runs is an opportunity to raise awareness and support for the young people and communities at the heart of Beginning with Children.
Want to help our runners go the distance?
More Than 26.2 Miles
While each Team BwC runner has a different reason for stepping up to the starting line, their stories reflect something at the heart of Beginning with Children: young people thrive when communities come together to invest in them.
Beginning with Children was founded on the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Today, BwC serves approximately 1,300 students across five Brooklyn campuses and through the Legacy Network, our multi-year college, career, and leadership development initiative. Together we support young people not only in the classroom, but as they explore their interests, prepare for college and careers, and build the skills and confidence to shape their futures.
That work takes a community.
It takes educators who believe in their students. Families who advocate for their children. Staff members who create opportunities and remove barriers. Community members who show up. And supporters who invest in what is possible for young people.
That is what makes Team BwC’s marathon journey so meaningful. These four runners are not simply running 26.2 miles. They are carrying the stories, hopes, and aspirations of the BwC community with them.
One city. Four runners. 26.2 miles. One community.
Follow along with Team BwC as they train, fundraise, and make their way to the starting line of the New York City Marathon. We can’t wait to cheer them on every step of the way.
