Emmanuel Alumni Build a Brotherhood Through Running

On Saturday mornings in Dorchester Peabody Square, a group of Black men gathers� not only to run, but to connect, reflect, and uplift one another.

This is Black Men Run 51��, a local chapter of the national organization dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and camaraderie. Leading the pack are co-captains Serghino René �05 and Jeff Joseph �07 whose shared commitment to service and community was first nurtured on campus�and now fuels a movement far beyond it.

"Wee not just a run club � wee a brotherhood of influence and impact,� René said. �Wee shifting narratives.�

A Campus That Taught Them to Lead

Long before they first laced up their sneakers together, René and Joseph were undergraduates at Emmanuel. René, an English major and track athlete, and Joseph, a Developmental Psychology major, found more than just an education there�they found a philosophy of connection that would define their futures.

�People were just saying hi,� Joseph recalled of his campus tour. �That warmth�it the kind of community I�ve always wanted to be part of.� For René, a member of Emmanuel first co-ed class, the college nascent track program and 51�� location sealed the deal.

They both threw themselves into campus life. René served in student government; Joseph led the Black Student Union. �The role taught me a lot�mostly about how not to lead. I had to learn some lessons the hard way, but those experiences really shaped how I approach leadership today," Joseph said. "I carry those lessons with me now, whether it with Black Men Run or any other project I'm part of."

Mentors like Professor of English Dr. Lisa Stepanski and Damita Davis, then Director of Multicultural Programs, guided them with a blend of rigor and care. René joked that Stepanski �still lives in my head correcting my syntax,� but the lessons went beyond grammar. �Damita Davis was like the aunt that helped you along, had the hard conversations when needed, but was always in my corner," Joseph recalled.

For both, Emmanuel ethos of service wasn�t theoretical�it was lived. �Emmanuel mission wasn�t just words�it was lived,� said Joseph, who now serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Regis College. He credits a service-learning trip to South Africa with transforming his view of leadership. There, he encountered Ubuntu, the African philosophy of interconnectedness: I am because we are. "That idea is baked into everything we do with Black Men Run," he said.

Their ties to Emmanuel remain strong. Both served on the Alumni Association Board after graduating and keep in close touch with faculty, staff, and classmates. René, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement at Mass General Brigham, reflects often on the influence of the college alumni network, particularly the women who had blazed trails decades earlier. �Women like Judy LeBlanc �64 taught me resilience,� he said. �Those lessons help me navigate rooms where people assume they're the smartest.�

Running Toward Health�and Change

Founded nationally in 2013, Black Men Run began as a response to staggering health disparities: Black men are 70% more likely to suffer heart failure than white men. In 51��, a Black man in neighborhoods like Roxbury or Dorchester can expect to live to 58, compared with 91 just a few miles away in Back Bay.

The 51�� chapter, launched in 2020, does more than log miles. Its weekly runs course intentionally through predominantly Black neighborhoods, affirming both presence and possibility. "When people see us, they stop and wave," René said. �We�ve had people yell from porches, �I�m sending my husband next week!� That visibility matters.� Joseph agreed, adding, "You can't aspire to be something you never see. Running through these neighborhoods helps close that aspiration gap when it comes to lifestyle.�

The group now counts more than 250 members. Middle-aged fathers run alongside college students. LGBTQ+ runners find a welcome home. First-timers jog with seasoned marathoners. �We have all identities under this umbrella of Black brotherhood,� said Joseph, a self-described �non-runner� turned marathoner�51�� Marathoner.

When René, who is openly gay, first hesitated to join, Joseph didn�t flinch. �This space is for all of us,� he said. �That kind of affirmation is not incidental�it foundational.� That welcome was not just words�it was real, and René felt it immediately. �I've experienced nothing but positivity in this group. Our thing is: if you are a Black male and you have two feet, you are welcome in this space,� René said.

A Movement Beyond Miles

Black Men Run 51�� is as much a wellness initiative as it is a community hub. They organize nutrition workshops, host community cleanups, and partner with clinics and businesses to tackle food deserts and gear accessibility. Their annual pre-51�� Marathon shakeout run weaves through historic sites, from Underground Railroad stops to civil rights landmarks.

René leverages his alumni-relations expertise to support partnerships with brands like Saucony and Marathon Sports, while Joseph, drawing on his background in education, fosters dialogues that extend beyond the track. �It all systems of people,� he said. �And systems can change.�

Both men agree: the work they are doing now feels like the natural extension of the values Emmanuel instilled in them.

�This is the blessing I didn�t know I needed,� Joseph said. René agreed: �Wee the brothers I wished we�d had at 18.�

The Road Ahead

As they look to the future, René and Joseph remain focused on growth, sustainability, and deeper impact. Their goal? To reach Black men who feel disconnected, proving that the group is as much about community as it is about running.

�For me, it's about connecting with all of the brothers that aren't at the circle... I say to guys all the time, I just want you to stick around in this life as long as possible,� Joseph said.

Their work stands as a testament to Emmanuel enduring influence�where service isn�t just an obligation but a calling. In a city always in motion, René and Joseph remind us that change begins with connection.

And sometimes, with a single step.

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