The Speakers

Named by Women's Running as one of the "Power Women of 2021,” Alison Mariella Désir is an endurance athlete, activist, and mental health advocate. Alison is the founder of Harlem Run, Run 4 All Women, and co-founder of Running Industry Diversity Coalition. 

Purchase Alison's first book, Running While Black: here.

Alison's nickname, “powdered feet,” comes from the Haitian Kreyol saying, which describes a person so active that you never see them, just the footprints of where they’ve been in powder. She holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and EdM in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University.

Ashley is the co-founder of Club Seattle Runners Division (CSRD), a free and inclusive running club in Seattle, WA, that has grown to host over 200 runners each Monday. A former collegiate athlete and current marathon runner, Ashley also serves on the board of Girls on the Run and is a certified group fitness trainer. She believes that movement should be accessible to everyone and is passionate about creating inclusive fitness communities. Outside of supporting CSRD and leading fitness classes, Ashley recently launched her own education consulting firm and partners with school districts across the country to help tackle their most pressing operational challenges.

Kristina is a born-and-raised New Yorker who has dedicated her life to designing better futures. She is an artist, writer, and runner who volunteers as a Captain of Harlem Run. Her experiences span the arts, hospitality, wellness, and sports industries where she has grown communities as a branding & marketing expert over the last decade. Her passions for social justice and well-being inspired her to follow the mindfulness path and she has been guiding others in meditation practices since 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic Kristina launched Liberating Death, a community advocacy platform to raise awareness of compassionate-driven deathcare practices. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for West Side Tenants for Change, a tenant union fighting against displacement, gentrification, and all forms of landlord exploitation in Harlem, Morningside Heights, and the Upper West Side.

Amy Ortiz was raised by a single mother in Connecticut and attended Fordham University in 2002. She has been a proud Bronxite since 2006. Amy is a licensed social worker, lululemon ambassador, noname pacer, Run 4 All Women ambassador, and a dedicated community builder. With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry and a passion for uplifting Black and Brown women, she co-founded Bronx Femme Run and founded Bronx Girl Bike Gang—two women-focused fitness groups serving the Bronx community. Her work in creating these spaces that connect physical health with mental well-being led her to pursue a Master of Social Work, and she recently passed her licensing exam. Today, she is committed to advocating for and supporting individuals through her professional and community-based roles. Amy is also a proud daughter, little sister, and “auntie supreme.”