Episode 526: Jackie Hoffman – Founder of Peace Runners

Apr 12, 2024

01:09:05

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I met Jackie Hoffman at the Chicago Marathon a few years back! I was so excited to learn about what he is doing with Peace Runners in Chicago. He is the president and founder of Peace Runners. Through his own transformation, his vision and inspiration for Peace Runners 773 were fostered. He grew up in Garfield Park and has brought a running program back to the neighborhood that he grew up in. His own childhood inspired him to be a proponent for change. He really focuses on the life expectancy gap, specifically in his neighborhood in Chicago. It is much lower than the average life expectancy in the US.

Jackie played football in college and then professionally. Now he is a runner through and through! He just ran the NYC half marathon right before we recorded!

Peace Runners is a nonprofit organizations that advocates for health equity. Their programming empowers, educates, and brings awareness to holistic health and wellness through physical, mental, and social wellbeing while creating safe spaces for movement in our underserved communities.

This was such a joy and honor to talk to Jackie!

What we talked about:

3:30- Racing the NYC Half Marathon with his wife

5:50- Jackie’s history with running

8:00- Meeting his wife

9:00- The different role that football and running have played in his life

15:55- His trajectory through college

17:55- Role models in his life

22:25- Lessons he’s learned

25:35- Starting Peace Runners

34:30- The movement to create more running communities in underserved communities

35:45- His job outside of Peace Runners