*UPDATE: We’re no longer taking applications to join the WITNESS team, please contact development@witness.org to stay informed about future opportunities.*

Fall time in New York is beautiful. Holiday cheer is in the air, coffeehouses are brewing your favorite seasonal beverages, and everyone is collectively enjoying the aura of being in NYC in November. The most exciting thing happening that month, however as any true New Yorker knows, is Marathon Day.

Even the toughest, most unsentimental New Yorkers can’t help but be swept up in the marathon spirit, as 50,000 courageous runners blaze through the streets to the thunderous roar of an adoring city.

WITNESS is proud to be an official charity partner in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon for the ninth consecutive year. On Sunday, November 4, five dedicated runners will represent Team WITNESS and run for human rights change– and you can be one of them!

WITNESS welcomes runners of all levels and backgrounds, from dedicated multi-marathon champions to first-time runners. Cumulatively, our past teams have raised close to $100,000 in support of human rights defenders everywhere. They have empowered thousands of activists and everyday people to use video for change on some of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time – from war crimes in Syria to police brutality in the United States to sexual and gender-based violence around the world. And they did this while running the race of their lives…sometimes multiple years in a row!

We hope you will follow in their footsteps and join Team WITNESS in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon.

Why WITNESS?

WITNESS makes it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend human rights. With millions of people empowered to film injustice – often with just smartphones in their pockets, we make sure that they are equipped with the right tools, guidance, and techniques to make sure that their voices are heard.  By joining us, you become a witness to human rights.

How It Works:

• Register with Team WITNESS. Registration for charity partners opens after the official lottery drawing on February 28 and closes on September 13. Note that spots are limited and will go quickly – so the sooner you reach out, the better!
• Pay the registration fee ($255 for NYRR members, $295 for non-members, $358 for non-U.S. residents)
• Meet your fundraising minimum by November 30 – with help from our amazing fundraising team. Each runner commits to raising $3,000 in support of WITNESS’ programs. But you don’t have to do this alone! You’ll have the full support of our in-house fundraising team, who will help you out with strategies, tips, and additional assistance.
• And lastly, run your heart out in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon!

As a member of Team WITNESS, you will receive:

• A guaranteed spot on the starting line on November 4;
• A personalized WITNESS jersey;
• Fundraising tips and strategies to help you meet your goals;
• An amazing team of human rights defenders to train and share your journey with.

Interested in joining the team? Contact development@witness.org to learn more and secure your spot today.

Don’t believe us? Check out this highlight reel from last year’s event. We challenge you not to get a little misty eyed.

WITNESS is proud to be an official charity partner in the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon for the eighth consecutive year. On Sunday, November 5, five dedicated runners will represent Team WITNESS and run for human rights change– and you can be one of them!

WITNESS welcomes runners of all levels and backgrounds, from dedicated multi-marathon champions to first-time runners. Cumulatively, our past teams have raised close to $100,000 in support of human rights defenders everywhere. They have empowered thousands of activists and average citizens to fight for change on some of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time – from war crimes in Syria to police brutality in the United States to sexual and gender-based violence around the world. And they did this while running the race of their lives…sometimes multiple years in a row!

We hope you will follow in their footsteps and join Team WITNESS in the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.

Why WITNESS?

As images of refugees, police violence, and attacks on civilians flood our social media feeds and shape our reaction to current events, it is impossible to deny the power of visual imagery for human rights. That’s why WITNESS is making it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend human rights. With millions of people empowered to film injustice – often with just the smartphones in their pockets – we make sure that more videos lead to more rights. By joining team WITNESS, you are helping us make it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend human rights.

How It Works:

• Register with Team WITNESS. Registration for charity partners opens after the official lottery drawing on March 2, and closes on September 14. Note that spots are limited and will go quickly – so the sooner you reach out, the better!
• Meet your fundraising minimum by November 30, 2017 – with help from our amazing fundraising team. Each runner commits to raising $3,000 in support of WITNESS’ programs. But you don’t have to do this alone! You’ll have the full-support of our in-house fundraising team, who will help you out with strategies, tips, and additional assistance.
• Run your heart out in the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon!

As a member of Team WITNESS, you will receive:

• A guaranteed spot on the starting line on November 5;
• A personalized WITNESS jersey;
• Invitations to special WITNESS events;
• Fundraising tips and strategies to help you meet your goals;
• An amazing team of human rights defenders to train and share your journey with.

 Interested in joining the team? Contact natalie@witness.org to learn more and secure your spot today.

These seven individuals are helping WITNESS make it possible for anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend their human rights.

Thanks to team members Sarah, Sam, Alessandro, Bridgette, Sean, Bryce, and Carolina.

WITNESS staff will be stationed around mile 8 of the race with a big sign. We will be standing in front of Mo’s Bar & Lounge on 80 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, starting at 10:30AM.

Come join us and cheer on our runners, who will be wearing WITNESS orange jerseys!

If you can’t make it to our cheer zone, let us know if you’ll be stationed in a different location and we’ll make sure our runners look out for you. Here is a map of the route.

Or, consider donating to our runners’ fundraising campaigns here. 

See you on race day!

Why did you decide to run for Team WITNESS for this year’s marathon?

I decided on Team Witness because I feel that the work being done by the organization in support of human rights and combatting human rights abuse is very specific and tangible. So much of what we learn these days about human rights abuse is coming from video footage, thus the importance of supporting the powerful vehicle of film as a tool against abuse.

What are your goals for this marathon?

I’d like to run it under 3 hours and qualify for the Boston Marathon

How have you been preparing for the big race?

I am training 6 days a week, using the Run-Smart program. Additionally, I try my best to practice as much yoga as I can.

What causes are you most passionate about?

I am very passionate about the Trans community as I have people close to me who are a part thereof. I feel that it’s the next/current forefront of the ongoing civil and human rights movement. I feel it needs a great deal of education and communication to help those not as close to it understand it.

Is there a video/film that is particularly important to you and why?

Yes, I studied film in college as a minor and in particular films most recently that have been very important to me are:  Beasts of No Nation, Embrace of the Serpent and Wings of Desire.  These films in particular open up new worlds of experience for me and very unique visions of how life is for each filmmaker.

Why did you decide to run the 2016 TCS NYC Marathon?

Mostly I wanted a different challenge and experience than my previous small-town marathons. I’ve run the Wineglass marathon a couple times, which takes place in my home town in Corning, upstate NY. I’m really excited about something very different; many more people, many fewer cows.

What inspired you to run for Team WITNESS?

I’m an audiovisual archivist, and I became familiar with the amazing work of WITNESS through archival channels. I very much admire their work and the resources they provide to enable individuals and archivists to document human rights abuses with video, and to ensure that it is available for use as evidence to fight for justice. I saw that Team WITNESS was looking to fill a runner spot just as I was scouting out fall marathons. I immediately – and somewhat impulsively – jumped at the opportunity, but I haven’t regretted it for a second! I’ve learned more about how WITNESS is fighting for justice against human rights abuses since I began fundraising. I’m so motivated to spread the word and raise money to support this important work. And I’m so excited to run with folks who share my passion for this cause, for the value of video documentation, and for marathon-ing!

What role has video played in your life?

Hmmm…one thing that comes to mind is being able to watch my aunt in action as a peace activist throughout my life. The first of these videos I watched of her was of her arrest in Palestine when I was very young. I remember first learning that she was in jail and thinking she must have done something really bad! One of the fellow peace activists took a video of the event and I watched it with her when she returned, and I saw that she had participated in a peaceful protest. Now I am able to keep up on her work on Facebook mostly through videos. I have so much admiration for how she conducts herself in the face of conflict. She’s told me a lot about her work and I read her speeches. It’s just totally different to view her in action and to witness events as they unfolded.

As an archivist, I think learning how to preserve and provide access to resources in a variety of formats goes hand-in-hand with our goals to preserve and provide access to a diversity of perspectives and stories. Video presents unique archival challenges, but I’ve found those challenges to be the most interesting and motivating!

What causes are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about social justice and human rights causes, especially those that work to develop new solutions to address our current social problems, and that hold people accountable for their actions. It’s not surprising that as an archivist I’m passionate about causes to ensure that all people have access to the right information and the ability to use it, and I’m passionate about quality, accessible education for everyone.

How are you preparing for the big race?

I’m following a training plan (Hanson Brothers) aimed at achieving my goal time. I run 6 days a week, each at a designated distance, intensity and speed. It’s a big commitment and it’s hard! But I like it. As you improve, at some point it feels like you can’t take credit for all of it. When the runs get long I think, “supposedly I’m going to be able to run 16 miles today?”, but if you’ve put in your miles, you do it! The same goes for marathon day. The thrilling part is the unknown. I won’t do a 26 miler in my training, but just have to trust that all the miles over months have prepared me and go for it!

Support Bryce run her first NYC Marathon by donating to her page!

Why did you decide to run the 2016 marathon?

Running through the city in the 2014 NYC Marathon was such a unique, spiritual experience, and I decided immediately afterwards that I’d do it again soon. For that race, my training period was abbreviated due to a soccer injury, so although I finished, I want to run it at a much better pace in 2016. I also like that it sets a good example for my two children, and they see the work it takes to achieve goals like this.

How did you first find out about WITNESS?

I actually discovered WITNESS the day of the lottery for this year’s marathon. I knew I wanted to run it no matter what, so I looked into charities that guaranteed a spot. WITNESS is an organization that has a message I genuinely believed in and could represent passionately, so I decided to join the team!

What impact do you hope to make by running for WITNESS?

Through my fundraising campaign, I hope to make people aware of WITNESS and their goals. I think right now, an organization like this is more important than ever, considering the current social issues in the USA. As a filmmaker, I’ve always believed in the power of the camera for artistic purposes, but it’s become an incredible tool for justice where there used to be none.

How did you start running?

When I was young, my uncle Louie ran the NYC Marathon, and I have fond memories of that inspiring our Italian American family from CT. Although I’ve had some periods of inactivity, it’s been a part of my life for a long time, from playing sports as a youth, spending time in the military, and getting back in shape after quitting smoking. Overall, it’s a big component of my overall fitness regimen.

How is training going so far?

Training is going great! I feel much better, healthier, and stronger at this stage than I did last time. Although a bit unorthodox, I’m still mixing in a lot of plyometrics, pick up soccer and weight training, but in the next few weeks, I’ll start to hit the really long runs and focus on the distance.

Do you have any tips for other runners?

There’s a lot of (conflicting) information out there, and every runner is different, but there are a few things I’ve found to be especially important for me over the years.

Proper shoes. I cannot stress this enough, spend the time and money to invest in a good pair. Go to a reputable running store. Your feet and legs will thank you, and you’ll avoid overuse injuries, especially when running the long distances required for marathon training. Don’t buy the cheapest pair that look shiny and fit. I made that mistake for you already.

For the last marathon, I cut out almost all dairy and added sugar and bread. That seemed to help my energy levels and kept my weight down during the time I was injured in training (I think it actually saved my marathon). I’m doing that again.

Spend the time to stretch afterwards. This has helped my recovery and keeps me loose afterwards.

Most of all though, have fun and switch up the routine sometimes. Take a different path. Get lost in the journey itself, and not the end goal.

Help keep Alessandro achieve his goals and donate to his campaign for WITNESS!

Every couple of months we will be profiling a runner to share a little bit about them, their regimen, and why they chose to support WITNESS. Here’s what our first runner, Carolina MacWright, an immigration lawyer and artist, had to share about her history with running and human rights:

Why did you decide to run the 2016 marathon?

Last year, I had the opportunity to run the NYC marathon. It was the best race I have ever ran. It was so incredibly inspiring to see all the athletes that worked so hard to fundraise for all the different causes. I decided the next time I ran the NYC marathon, I would fundraise for a cause that was close to my heart. Brooklyn was the borough with the most heart, so I decided I wanted to find an organization based in Brooklyn.

Why are you running for team WITNESS?

Finding a local organization fighting for a cause close to me was my main target. WITNESS fit the bill perfectly, as fighting for Human Rights has always been in the forefront of my life. The change that comes about when empowering people and giving them a voice, is truly one of the biggest gifts you can give someone. The time for change is now, as technology is allowing us to have multiple eyes in order to share human rights abuses around the world and bring about the necessary justice for those that couldn’t otherwise prove these unfair events. I feel passionate about all the work WITNESS has done and is currently doing worldwide.

How are you preparing for the race?

Running has been part of my life since I can remember, but most especially since I moved to this country. For my family, running became a sort of coping mechanism when we moved to the U.S. so we do a lot of races together and we all run every day. However, I am trying to dedicate my longer runs to different struggles and causes around the world and using those documented runs as a means to inform people of the work WITNESS does in order to make people aware of these problems as well as help raise funds.

What keeps you motivated to train?

We live in a beautiful world, which is the world I like to share with my two small children, but behind the curtains the world is not so shiny. Growing up in Colombia, I got to see a lot of what goes on behind those curtains.  What I saw motivated me to not only become an immigration lawyer here in the U.S., but also a visual artist. Running allows me to digest the information about these abuses so that I can transform it into artwork.  Running in the streets of NY, which carry so much history, is also something very powerful for me.

My favorite run includes going across the Brooklyn Bridge. The history of the completion of the bridge is extremely inspiring to me. The chief engineer of the bridge fell sick and for 14 years, his wife, Emily Roebling took charge. She basically convinced the board to let her take charge, so she did and continued until it was done. On opening day, she was honored and the bridge was said to be a monument and testament to her capacity and her devotion to a higher education that she was not privy to. She was astounding. So essentially a woman without formal education, finished the Brooklyn Bridge.

Help Carolina pursue her passion for human rights and running by donating to her campaign for WITNESS!

“WITNESS is thrilled to be an official charity partner with the TCS New York City Marathon for the seventh time,” said Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, Executive Director. “The event provides a great platform for our dedicated runners to raise money and increase awareness for WITNESS and our mission to support people around the world using video for human rights change.”

Approximately 340 official charity partners will be part of the event.

WITNESS was founded nearly 25 years ago in New York, and is the leading innovator in the use of video for human rights. We work globally to provide training and guidance to activists using video to document human rights abuse and to advocate for change. The WITNESS team will be comprised of five runners, who will follow in the footsteps of past teams by raising a minimum of $15,000 for the organization. “We are incredibly grateful for their efforts and look forward to cheering them on,” said Ms. Alberdingk Thijm. To learn about how to join the WITNESS team, click here.

“We welcome WITNESS as an official charity partner of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon,” said Michael Rodgers, Vice President of Development and Philanthropy for New York Road Runners. “Our official charity partner program is one of the TCS New York City Marathon’s most meaningful elements, providing thousands of participants with the opportunity to run for causes significant to them, while raising critical funds for hundreds of inspiring non-profit organizations. We wish the best to all of these runners as they begin their extraordinary journey to the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.”

More details about the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon are available below.

About the TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and the largest marathon in the world. Over 1,000,000 people have finished the race since its first running in 1970 with just 127 entrants and 55 finishers running four laps around Central Park. The race expanded to all five boroughs in 1976 and is now in its 40th year as a five-borough affair. Held annually on the first Sunday of November, the race features 50,000 runners including the world’s top professional athletes and a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. Participants from over 125 countries tour the city, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and running through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx before ending in Manhattan. In 2015, the inaugural NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon gave young runners the opportunity to run 1.8 miles of the race course in Central Park, beginning near mile 24 and finishing at the famed TCS New York City Marathon finish line. More than one million spectators and thousands of volunteers line the city streets in support of the runners, while millions more watch the live television broadcast in the New York area on WABC-TV, Channel 7, nationally on ESPN2, and via various international broadcast partners around the world. The race is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which features the world’s top marathons—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—and crowns the top professional male and female marathoners each year. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 46th running of the TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 6, 2016. To learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.com.

Don’t believe us? Check out this highlight reel from last year’s event. We challenge you not to get a little misty eyed.

WITNESS is proud to be an official charity partner in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon for the seventh consecutive year. On Sunday, November 6, five dedicated runners will represent Team WITNESS and run for human rights change– and you can be one of them!

WITNESS welcomes runners of all levels and backgrounds, from dedicated multi-marathon champions to first time runners. Cumulatively, our past teams have raised close to $100,000 in support of human rights defenders everywhere. They have empowered thousands of activists and average citizens to fight for change on some of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time – from war crimes in Syria to police brutality in the United States to sexual and gender-based violence around the world. And they did this while running the race of their lives…sometimes multiple years in a row!

We hope you will follow in their footsteps and join Team WITNESS in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.

Why WITNESS?

As images of refugees, police violence, and attacks on civilians flood our social media feeds and shape our reaction to current events, it is impossible to deny the power of visual imagery for human rights. That’s why WITNESS supports people using video for human rights all over the world. With millions of people empowered to film injustice by the cell phones in their pockets, we make sure that more videos lead to more rights. By joining team WITNESS, you are empowering brave individuals to tell their stories and achieve justice.

How It Works:

• Register with Team WITNESS. Registration for charity partners opens after the official lottery drawing on March 8, and closes on September 15. Note that spots are limited and will go quickly – so the sooner you reach out, the better!
• Meet your fundraising minimum by November 30, 2016 – with help from our amazing fundraising team. Each runner commits to raising $3,000 in support of WITNESS’ programs. But you don’t have to do this alone! You’ll have the full-support of our in-house fundraising team, who will help you out with strategies, tips, and additional assistance.
• Run your heart out in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon!

As a member of Team WITNESS, you will receive:

• A guaranteed spot on the starting line on November 6;
• A personalized witness jersey;
• A complimentary NYRR training program to help with your training (with options for 20, 16, and 12-week training schedules);
• Invitations to special WITNESS events;
• Fundraising tips and strategies to help you meet your goals;
• An amazing team of human rights defenders to train and share your journey with.

 Interested in joining the team? Contact natalie@witness.org to learn more and secure your spot today.

Cumulatively, our team has raised nearly $11,000 (and counting) in support of human rights defenders worldwide. We certainly think that’s something to celebrate…and that’s before you add in the countless hours of training and hard work they’ve put in to get to this day.

So if you live in New York City keep an eye out for these bright orange jerseys, and give an extra cheer for our runners as they pass through your neighborhood!

Who are our fabulous runners?

Keith Paine and Grace Shon show off their muscles on their Crowdrise fundraising page.

The dedicated folks at Nimble Fitness are back for an incredible fifth year as part of Team WITNESS, repped by co-founder Keith Paine and studio manager Grace Shon. Past runners from Nimble Fitness – including Keith and Grace – have raised more than $18,000 for WITNESS, and we’re proud to partner with them again this year.

Another WITNESS veteran is Julie Ebenstein, who returns to Team WITNESS for the second consecutive year. With an astonishing 15 marathons already under her belt, Julie fights for justice every day as a staff attorney at the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project.

As for newcomer Paul Strauch, he’s certainly no slouch! (In the spirit of Marathon Day, we’re busting out the rhymes early). Paul studies human rights law at Yale University, and was drawn to WITNESS’ work on Video as Evidence. Check out Paul’s motivation for running his first ever marathon and learn how he trained for the race here.

 These runners are helping WITNESS amplify the voices of human rights defenders around the world. On Sunday, let’s make sure they hear our voices loud and clear!

Check out the course map here, plus this list of NYRR’s suggested cheering spots where you can get a good look at our runners! And, if you’re feeling ambitious, use this app to track each runner’s progress, so that you can time your celebrations accordingly.

WITNESS is proud to be an Official Charity Partner in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, and to be part of this exciting day. Support our runners and learn more about WITNESS’ participation here.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons.