Strides Over Stigma
Breaking mental health stigma through community running, physical activity, and a custom TypeScript advocacy platform.
Strides Over Stigma is a community-driven initiative and full-stack digital platform that unites physical movement with mental health advocacy. By combining organized running events with a custom web application engineered to remove participation friction, the platform turns passive readers into active community participants.
Core Mission
Most nonprofit websites function as static digital brochures: they describe an organization and leave the actual work to fragmented email threads, DMs, and spreadsheets. When I founded Strides Over Stigma, I wanted our software to actively carry that operational load—providing direct event registration with real-time capacity management, curated crisis resources, and accessible community touchpoints.
Community & Platform Workflow
Direct web registration with live slot tracking and automated email confirmations; eliminates messy manual Google Forms and prevents overbooking.
A vetted directory of local support networks, crisis hotlines, and counseling services designed with low cognitive load typography.
Organized group runs that provide safe, non-judgmental physical spaces for students, educators, and working professionals to connect.
Collaborative outreach with local mental health professionals and educational institutions to dismantle stigma through honest dialogue.
Addressing Critical Friction Points
- Event Entry: Registration scattered across forms, Instagram DMs, or manual email inquiries.
- Resource Access: Unvetted links buried deep within static text pages.
- Engagement: Readers consume information passively and abandon the site without taking an action.
- Event Entry: Instant registration with real-time slot counters and immediate automated verification.
- Resource Access: High-contrast, perceptually uniform directory of emergency contacts and local tools.
- Engagement: Every page is structured around a concrete next step: show up, run, or talk.
Platform Design & Accessibility
Community Impact & Pillars
We are dedicated to dismantling the silence surrounding mental health through physical activity. Running serves both as a personal outlet for stress regulation and as a powerful public vehicle for social change.
Through structured runs, we build spaces where people can connect, share lived experiences, and support one another. The group welcomes participants across all running experience levels.
By coupling physical movement with open group conversations and educational resources, we normalize asking for help and cultivate lasting social support.
Every stride is a step toward a community where mental health is prioritized. Through our community events and local partnerships, we advocate for accessible wellness policies.
Follow the Initiative
Connect with the movement, see upcoming runs, and explore community stories:
- Live Web Platform: stridesoverstigma.com
- Instagram Community: @strides.over.stigma
- Companion Essay: Designing a Platform for Mental Health Advocacy →