IMMIGRATION TEAM RUNS FOR LSNA

Runner Profiles # 5 & 6: Husband and Wife Team Alejandro and Susan Yanun

Alejandro:
It might be safe to assume that Alejandro was dragged to the Bucktown 5K by his wife, a long-time runner and employee of LSNA.

That wouldn't be quite accurate, however. Alejandro is an accomplished tennis and soccer player who started running after a retinal detachment made other sports reliant on good eyesight more difficult. His competitive nature kicked in and now his goals are to come in first on the immigration team in time and in donations received -- or at least beat his wife!

Susan:
Susan believes that working at LSNA gives her the chance “to live out my values every single day and to fight alongside diverse like-minded people who fight for social justice.” She feels that immigrants have been under attack since the last election and has urged people around her (including her husband) to work on this this issue. Susan will run the Bucktown 5K for the Immigration Team with a diversity of goals in her mind. As a former runner in college, she is not hoping to beat any personal records in the race but intends to raise awareness about immigration and is pushing for two big numbers: “At least $300 personally and around $1,200 with my team,” she says.

9 DAYS TO GO! Meet Immigration Team Runner Itzel Moreno:

Itzel Moreno feels a great attachment to LSNA because it “holds a very special place in my heart.” She strongly agrees with the values the organization stands for. Itzel says that immigrants make this country a better place and is ready to raise money for the LSNA’s Immigration Team in Bucktown. “As an immigrant myself, I choose to run for this team in the 5K,” she says. As for the race, she has set her goals: “I may not win it but I plan to finish it and by doing so I hope to inspire others to help stand for immigrants so they can realize their American dream.”

We have exactly 11 DAYS until RACE DAY! Meet runner Stephanie Truax!

Stephanie Truax plans to “raise” in the Bucktown 5K. No typo here: her goal is to raise $500 and run a race on September 17. She does not consider herself a runner but expects to run for LSNA’s immigration team for two main reasons, to show her attachment to the organization and to raise her voice in favor of immigration. “I moved to Logan Square in 2002, and again in 2014 with my husband and our dog. In that time alone, the neighborhood changed drastically, and not always for the better. It is important to have organizations like LSNA that work to preserve Logan Square's diversity, and amplify the voices of community residents,” says Stephanie, who has her own expectations for race day “Our current administration has made it clear that they want to deport immigrants. I want to help the immigration team to continue providing resources, support, protection, and advocacy for my neighbors.”

We are over 15% of our goal!! Thank you for your support! Please share with your friends to help us keep up the momentum!
This week we are profiling Immigration Team runner CLAUDIA MARCHAN!

Claudia Marchán, who grew up in Hermosa and Logan Square and worked earlier in immigration and education issues in Pilsen, has been involved with LSNA for a few months, which has been enough for her to decide to compete in the Bucktown and focus on a double goal. “Running the 5K for the Immigration Task Force Team is empowering to me and to our team, and my goal is to break my record of 10-minute miles in Bucktown”, said Claudia, who will participate in this race for the first time.

Meet our Runners! Every week we will post a new runner on our page. Please donate for Marcelo!

Marcelo Ferrer
Marcelo Ferrer, a recreational runner, will make his racing debut this year at the Bucktown 5K. A former refugee who came to the US four decades ago, Marcelo is concerned about the current administration’s immigration policies. Marcelo says it’s about time for community leaders to lead by example and take the bull by the horns. “Now more than ever we need to rally together as a staff, shoulder to shoulder, to fight and show solidarity,” says Marcelo, who intends to work with his team members to raise $2,500 for LSNA. On September 17, he will be pushing shoulder to shoulder -hopefully not too hard- along the streets of Chicago. He has never run a race before and says he doesn’t understand technical running expressions such as PR (personal record). But as a rookie and no prior racing results, he will undoubtedly set one.