Jennifer Heiner-Pisano is the retail director of a running company based in New Jersey, which currently has four retail locations. In addition to her professional interest in running, Jennifer Heiner-Pisano is a member of several running organizations, including New York Road Runners and USA Track and Field (USATF). She is also a member of some local running clubs within her hometown and community.  

New York Road Runners (NYRR) represents the interests of more than 670,000 runners competing in various races and events of distances ranging from the Mile to the Marathon. In addition to ensuring the safety of each runner, the organization has made a commitment to diversity and inclusion.  More recently, there has been a public demand and outcry from prior NYRR staff members and volunteers, raising the issue of a lack of diversity and inclusion in its ranks.  To this end, NYRR has recently reviewed its internal operations with the goal of taking actionable steps that can facilitate lasting change. During the summer of 2020, NYRR began collaborating with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts on matters of workplace inclusivity and strategies for effecting change throughout the greater New York running community. Similarly, the organization has initiated outreach efforts among employees, as well as the state’s runners.  The outline of the issues cited by the former NYRR affiliates can all be found in an Instagram account created to create awareness as to these issues. Jennifer Heiner-Pisano has no personal knowledge of such discrimination or inclusivity issues within NYRR, and does not attest that any of what is contained in the Instagram is true.  However, the overwhelming amount of anecdotal evidence does need to raise concern and be taken seriously.  

A few examples of ongoing NYRR initiatives include an overhaul of human resources (HR) policies, new DEI training for NYRR leaders, the development of an NYRR Community Council, and making donations to organizations such as Black Girls CODE and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. More information regarding these efforts, including how runners can support inclusivity initiatives or reach out to the Community Council, can be found online at www.nyrr.org.