Running for Change
by Friday Faraday
Charity walks and runs have increased in popularity and not only have been a great way to raise funds, but also a great way to build community over shared values and purpose. I had the privilege of talking with one such runner, Monika Robinson. She ran the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Team Rebuild and helped raise money for Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago (RTMC) in its first time as a charity partner in the race. The organization and its work means a great deal to Monika and aligns with her own values.
Volunteering with RTMC for 10 years with family and her students, Monika has enjoyed collaborating with team members like Lisa Miranda (Chief Operating Officer) and Aaron Johnson (Development Director). The values the organization shares with Monika both personally and professionally have kept her coming back. An Occupational Therapist (OT) for 38 years, it was not Monika’s original plan, but life in its twists and turns can reveal a lot. An experience with a person (later becoming a friend) with ALS showed her the importance of quality of life and the ability to continue engaging in meaningful activities, and set her on a new path.
“I saw how important it was for them to still have quality of life and be able to participate. And I questioned whether or not I would really enjoy my role as a physician in a physician's office and having whatever, ten minutes with somebody versus being able to interact with somebody and really figure out, you know, how they could do things,” — Monika said.
Monika enjoys community-based environments, even thinking back to her favorite clinical job in Home Health with a rolling happiness on her face. It gave her the ability to connect with people in their homes and communities, and she witnessed that same connectivity with RTMC during Home Previews that determine if a house fits with available programming.
“I really appreciated how Rebuilding Together really puts the person first and really enters the home with a lot of respect and acknowledges the idea that they're coming in as guests, and whether or not the person wants the service. You know, that they have control,” — Monika said.
The shared values of RTMC and Occupational Therapy motivated Monika to run, and it was clear to see that she lives within her values. When I asked Monika why she wanted to run the marathon, her answer was impactful, and a perfect ending to this meaningful meeting.
Running “did contribute something to me in terms of meaning and identity and how I see myself. OT is all about what you do and what's important to you and how that defines you. Whether that's in your routines or the choice of roles that you assume. Those are all made up of activities. Rebuilding Together in that sense allows people to do those things because it shapes how their environments are, whether it's within the home or outside in the neighborhood.”