Running Tour of We Are the Culture with Arionne Nettles

Join Read & Run Chicago and Black Girls Read Book Club for a a live trivia experience with journalist, educator, and author Arionne Nettles to celebrate her book, , followed by a 3-mile running tour with guide Cynthia Okechukwu.

As we move through key Loop landmarks that pulse with cultural history, you'll hear stories of Black entrepreneurs, artists, and more who have shaped Chicago—and the world.

Expect a fun, joyful, and thought-provoking experience that blends movement, storytelling, and friendly trivia inspired on the book. Whether you're a Chicago native, a culture lover, or just want to move your body with community, this event is for you.

No prior reading required; books will be available for purchase at the event.

Not planning to run? Cyclists welcome (take care of your own safety, please!) and ticket option to attend only the lecture portion.

TRIVIA: Doors open at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel's () Stagg Ballroom on Sunday, June 22 at 4:30pm.

Between 4:30pm-5:00pm, you'll have the chance to purchase Arionne's book, write postcards, buy merch, and mingle with other readers & runners.

Trivia will begin promptly at 5:00pm and end at 6:00pm.

RUNNING TOUR: Immediately following the trivia at 6:00pm, we'll run an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), 3-mile route with several stops. Readers & runners/movers are able to leave items at the hotel during the run.

END: After the running tour, all are invited to stick around for a drink (not included in cost of ticket) and keep hanging out!

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold a modified version of the event at the venue starting at 5:00pm. You will be notified via email no later than 4pm on Sunday, June 22 if there are any changes to the event.

All ticket holders will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

About Cynthia Okechukwu: Cynthia (she/her) is the founder and organizer of Black Girls Read Book Club. A lawyer by day, history buff, and Uptown transplant, Cynthia enjoys reading and learning more about this city that she has called home for nearly a decade.

Arionne Nettles: Arionne Nettles (she/her) is a university lecturer, culture reporter, and audio aficionado. Her stories often look into Chicago history, culture, gun violence, policing, and race & class disparities, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Opinion, Chicago Reader, The Trace, Chicago PBS station WTTW, and NPR affiliate WBEZ. She is a lecturer and the director of audio journalism programming at Northwestern University’s Medill School as well as host of the HBCU history podcast Bragging Rights and Is That True? A Kids Podcast About Facts. Her book, We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, will be published by Chicago Review Press in 2024.

Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, LLC, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 100 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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