The Sedona Charter Schools Girls on the Run program held its annual community service project in West Sedona on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 1. The team of third through fifth-grade girls meets twice a week for 10 weeks during the school year to practice athletic development.
Every year, the team engages in a community service project. In previous years, members have volunteered at Sedona Winds Assisted Living or held a bake sale to benefit the Humane Society of Sedona. This season, the girls decided to create posters to spread positivity and hold them up for motorists to see on their commute at the intersection of State Route 89A and Dry Creek Road.
“This is my fifth season coaching Girls on the Run,” head coach Jolene Flores said. “One of the key components of the program is the community impact project … Each year, the projects are different, entirely based on what the girls decide. It’s a 100% girl-driven effort to give back to the community.”
Roster
- Head Coach: Jolene Flores
- Assistant Coach: Margot Barre
- Elijah Baird
- Bella Marie Barre
- Lilu Cordova
- Ashlynn Doyle
- Arantza Esquer
- India Flores
- Niki Jangaghi
- Mia Maratea
- Cali McAtee
- Chloe Stumpf
- Bryn Taylor
- Alexa Taylor
“The project is we’re making posters for people that are not enjoying their day, so we’re doing posters that are making people happy,” Lilu Cordova said. “Mine says, ‘You are a good person and have a good day.’”
“Everybody here is so motivated, and it’s super like fun, because every time I come back I learn something new,” Ashlynn Doyle, who is in her third year with the program, said. “We learned about helping the community and helping spread joy all around.”
“Just look at the good things in the world and forget about the bad stuff for a second,” India Flores said.
Mia Maratea said she was excited to be part of the program for the first time and added that running has helped her with her dance training.
“We’re making posters to make people happy,” she said. “It’s about bringing happiness, even to people who might be having a tough day.”
The Girls on the Run program currently has 27 teams in Northern Arizona, which include approximately 340 girls from Coconino, Yavapai and Navajo counties. In the Verde Valley, the program is available at Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary, Cottonwood Community School, Mountain View Preparatory and West Sedona. Each team is capped at around 25 participants to ensure individualized attention.
“I like Girls on the Run because you get to explain your emotions and you have to talk about it, too,” Bella Marie Barre, who is in her third year in the program, said. “ I love running in general, and I like accomplishing it because we have a book and we write down [how much] we think we’re going to do today: ‘I want to do three laps’ … And I love doing these projects.”
“My mom started running, and then I got really inspired, so that when I found out about Girls on the Run I wanted to get started,” Chloe Stumpf said. “I made a sign that says, ‘Honk if you’re happy.’ And we wrote positive things on the other side like, ‘Believe in yourself,’ ‘Stand up for yourself.’”
Alexa Taylor also said she joined the program with the encouragement of her mother.
“Finding a ‘happy pace’ is like taking a breath — it’s not too fast, it’s not too slow. It’s that perfect balance, and that’s what we want the girls to find for themselves,” Jolene Flores said. “I’m inspired by these girls. They motivate me to keep going.”
The Verde Valley fall season wrapped up on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Camp Verde Sports Complex with all of the teams competing in a 5K run.
For more information about Girls on the Run, visit gotrna.org
