By Andre Anderson 

Writer/Reporter 

For many Minnesotans navigating homelessness, recovery, or reentry after incarceration, the hardest part is not finding housing or employment. It is finding belonging. It is rebuilding identity in a world that often sees only a record, a label, or a past. It is learning how to move again; physically, emotionally, and socially after years of being stuck. 

Mile in My Shoes, or MiMS, a Twin Cities nonprofit founded in 2014, believes movement can be the bridge back to the community. The organization builds running teams at shelters, reentry centers, and recovery programs, pairing resident members with volunteer run mentors who show up, run side by side, and build trust mile after mile. The model is simple, but its impact is profound. 

The mission is grounded in a belief that running together can transform individuals and communities. “We run together to transform ourselves, one another, and our community” is more than a slogan; it is a practice. MiMS centers people who have historically been excluded from wellness spaces and creates teams where vulnerability is met with support, not judgment. 

Each member receives high‑quality running gear, training support, and the consistency of a team that shows up multiple times a week. Since its founding, more than 1,000 people experiencing homelessness or other barriers have run their first mile with MiMS. More than 600 have completed a 5K. Dozens have gone on to finish half‑marathons and marathons. Surveys show that every member reports seeing themselves differently after joining, and 85% feel more connected to their community. 

For people returning from incarceration, that connection can be life‑changing. One member, newly released, joined MiMS within 100 hours of walking out of prison. He described the team as the first place where he felt seen as a person rather than a case file. The structure, the routine, and the relationships gave him a sense of stability that traditional reentry systems rarely provide. 

MiMS has grown steadily over the past decade, partnering with organizations such as Volunteers of America, YouthLink, Sarah’s, Union Gospel Mission, and Every Third Saturday. The nonprofit has launched its own 5K race, become an official charity partner for major events, and opened The Motion Center, a shared space that strengthens collaboration with other movement‑based organizations. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, MiMS adapted by launching a virtual alumni program that kept nearly 100 members connected during a time of extreme isolation. Today, alumni serve as staff and team leaders, demonstrating the long‑term impact of the model. 

The organization operates with a community‑driven structure supported by staff, a volunteer board, and a large network of run mentors. Resident members, alumni, and volunteers all contribute to a team culture, creating a grassroots model that prioritizes safety, inclusion, and belonging. 

Supporting one member costs approximately $200 for a full gear kit and $500 for a full season of participation. MiMS relies on individual donors, FundRacers, foundations, and community partners to sustain its work. FundRacing allows runners to raise money while training for races such as Grandma’s Marathon or the Twin Cities Marathon, connecting personal goals to community impact. 

A Community Event Rooted in Belonging 

The impact of Mile in My Shoes will be on full display next week at the organization’s signature event, the Run More, Judge Less 5K, held on Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Formerly known as the Downtown Run Around, the race has been reimagined with a new name and a new location, but the purpose remains the same; creating a space where people of all backgrounds can move together without judgment. 

The event now includes both a 5K and a 1‑mile distance, offered in partnership with Midsummer Mile to create more accessible entry points into movement and community. MiMS emphasizes that the race is less about competition and more about connection. It is a gathering rooted in belonging, especially for people who have been historically excluded from traditional running spaces. 

Participants can join in person for the run and post‑race celebration, which includes custom cookie medals, Johnny Pops, fruit, a finisher photo area, and a free one‑third‑mile kids run. A virtual option is also available for those who want to support MiMS from anywhere. 

For MiMS, the race is not just an event. It is a living expression of the organization’s mission: no pressure, no labels, just people moving together. 

The Bigger Picture 

For people navigating homelessness, recovery, or reentry, MiMS offers more than running. It offers identity. It offers community. It offers a place to belong. 

And for Minnesota, it offers a reminder that transformation often begins with something simple; showing up, taking a step, and believing that movement, literal and metaphorical, can change a life.