Back On My Feet Promotes Social Responsibility & Self-Sufficiency

On occasion, Healthy Living Marketing runs across a socially responsible organization that offers so much innovation and appeal that we are forever taken with their mission. Back On My Feet is one of those rare organizations that not only gives with its heart, but with its “soles” as well.

Founded in 2007, Back on My Feet is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in health and running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem to help rebuild their lives. Back on My Feet does not provide food nor does it provide shelter, but instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership.

Back on My Feet is much more than just utilizing running as a discipline to follow; it is a comprehensive socially responsible program that offers connections to job training, employment and housing, but these benefits are not free. Program participants, known as ‘Members” earn the opportunity to move forward in the six month to nine month program by maintaining a 90 percent attendance rate at the morning runs three days a week. For many Members, support from the group is key to getting back on their feet.

The organization is the brainchild of Anne Mahlum, 29, a North Dakota native who founded it in Philadelphia. Since then, one thousand Members have gone through the program with nineteen finishing marathons as a demonstration of their commitment to rebuild their lives. Not only has the Philadelphia chapter of Back On My Feet flourished, but there are now active chapters in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Boston. Plans call for a Chicago chapter later this year.

Commitment To A Healthy Community

Back on My Feet started when Mahlum, who studied at American University, was between jobs and would jog by a homeless shelter. She began to develop a rapport with the men outside on the corner. What started as waves and smiles from a distance became more intimate as they developed a comfort level with one another. And one morning a simple idea stopped her in her tracks. With a call to the shelter and support from the community and the media, Philadelphia’s first Homeless Running Club was “up and running”. Says Mahlum, “the first run took place on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 at 6 am…and now 3 years later, we are operating in 4 cities. It’s pretty amazing. Running is such a beautiful metaphor for life. Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing roads filled with opportunity, hope and happiness.”

Mahlum goes on to say “Back on My Feet envisions a community where all members have the support and motivation required to move towards self–sufficiency. Every major city has a homeless problem and while providing food and shelter are very important basic needs, something is missing. We work to rebuild, revive and re-energize individuals. It is only when we have self-respect, self-confidence that we are truly able to move forward. Back on My Feet focuses on helping our members find a road of happiness, hope and opportunity, which includes a stable job and a place to live. This is our goal and we will get there one step at a time.”

Back On My Feet plans to expand to 10 more cities by the end of 2011.

If you would like to learn more about Healthy Living Marketing and social responsibility campaign development, please contact us at (301) 378-0384.

Tags: Back On My Feet, healthy community, social responsibility, socially responsible organization