Community 5K With a Purpose Beyond Running

The event was organized by Freedom In Me Business Showers, a nonprofit focused on helping entrepreneurs start, develop and sustain their businesses. Its work includes business education, mentorship, professional connections and access to resources that can help people overcome obstacles when building a company.

By bringing people together for a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run, the organization gave supporters an opportunity to participate in something active and enjoyable while learning more about its mission.

From what I observed, there were roughly 25 participants and 6 volunteers. The volunteers each played their part, and everything moved along smoothly. The crowd included people of different ages and backgrounds, giving the event a welcoming and inclusive feel.

Donja Williams and the People She's Brought Together

Throughout the morning, I heard a lot about Donja Williams. People shared how they'd met her and spoke positively about the relationships they'd built. Those conversations gave me a better understanding of the person behind the event.

Donja is the founder and executive director of Freedom In Me Business Showers. With more than 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, operations and business strategy, she's also the founder of Freedom In Me, a separate consulting business. Her professional background and community relationships help explain the work she's doing to support emerging entrepreneurs.

“Freedom means having the opportunity to discover what’s possible and the support to pursue it. That belief guides everything we do at Freedom In Me Business Showers—from helping entrepreneurs build their businesses to bringing our community together through events like the Run to Empower Entrepreneurs 5K. We want people to know that when we create opportunities and show up for one another, we help individuals, families, and communities move forward.”

Donja Williams Executive Director, Freedom In Me Business Showers

About Business Showers About Freedom In Me Business Showers on Facebook

Local Vendors Who Added to the Experience

Meeting the vendors was another enjoyable part of the event. I got to learn about their businesses, connect with the people representing them and experience one of the services firsthand.

Blessed Through Stretch offered assisted stretching, and I received a 5-minute stretch that felt great. I also connected with Xen Life Wellness and Ascend Athletics, two other businesses that were part of the day's activities.

Blessed Through Stretch

Assisted stretching and flexibility services focused on improving movement, mobility and overall physical well-being.

Visit Blessed Through Stretch on Instagram

Xen Life Wellness

Wellness-focused business with an emphasis on health, personal well-being and self-care.

Visit Xen Life Wellness on Instagram

Ascend Athletics

Fitness and athletics-focused business centered on physical activity, training and active lifestyles.

Visit Ascend Athletics on Instagram

Finish-Line Moments, Volunteers and Positive Vibes

Some of my favorite photographs came from the finish line. Runners completed the course, families shared the experience and people celebrated their accomplishments with smiles and hugs. Those moments captured the atmosphere better than any race statistic could.

The volunteers also deserve credit for keeping the event organized. From my perspective, everything went smoothly, and I appreciated getting to work alongside people who were happy to help.

What I Took Away From the Run to Empower Entrepreneurs 5K

I left the park with more than photographs. Hearing how Donja had connected with so many people showed me the impact that strong relationships can have on a community. I enjoyed the conversations, the chance to support the event and the opportunity to discover local businesses I hadn't known about before.

I'd love to participate again. With more awareness, there's potential for future events to attract more runners, volunteers and vendors. Seeing how well everyone worked together gave me plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what could come next.

That's why I wanted to share this experience through Charlotte Vibes. The Run to Empower Entrepreneurs 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run showed how people with different interests and backgrounds could come together around a worthwhile cause. It was a successful day filled with positive vibes, and I'm glad I got to be part of it.