Welcome to the United in Stride Ambassador Program
United in Stride needs volunteers to help us exponentially grow our number of engaged low vision and blind fitness enthusiasts and volunteer sighted guides. Each blind/low vision – guide connection is a transformed life. With your help, we can have a larger impact, and you can directly make a difference in the community where you live! United in Stride is dedicated to offering a free tool that unites walkers and runners of all levels with guides, ensuring equal opportunity and access to sport and recreational activities. Our vision is to build a community where no one is left behind because of a disability.
Mission of the Ambassador Program
To empower and expand the United in Stride community by engaging dedicated volunteers who facilitate connections, provide mentorship, and promote inclusive fitness opportunities for blind and low vision individuals.
Vision of the Ambassador Program
To create a thriving network of ambassadors who actively support and grow the United in Stride community, fostering a culture of inclusivity, empowerment, and active living for all members, regardless of visual ability.
While United in Stride does allow our members to independently network using our “Find a Partner” function, we have discovered since our founding in 2015 that our members also greatly benefit from mentorship and community. It is all about members helping members, and our members oftentimes need encouragement and instruction on how to best connect with potential partners. This is where you come in!
Roles of an Ambassador
- Member Engagement and Support
- Encourage local members to make connections and facilitate introductions between members.
- Periodically check for new members in your area and encourage them to connect with local members.
- Serve as a point of contact for members in your area when United in Stride receives an inquiry about local information.
- Optional: Train someone new in your area and encourage them to update their profile to reflect their updated experience level.
- Community Outreach and Growth
- Help grow the low vision and guide members in your area by reaching out to blindness organizations, other adaptive fitness programs, running groups, etc.
- Share United in Stride content with your local fitness community.
- Optional: Coordinate a local meet-up with regional low vision members and guides, such as a local race or unofficial run, walk, or training opportunity.
- Optional: Ask Race Directors to include information about United in Stride in their participant newsletter and make Raceday announcements.
- Administrative and Promotional Support
- Help keep the regional database up to date to improve member responsiveness and engagement.
- Encourage local members to share testimonials, photos, and other content with United in Stride for social media, newsletter, and website use.
- Help educate local members about new United in Stride tools and resources as they are created and updated.
What United in Stride Can Do for You
- Provide you with timely administrative support as you assist our members by phone or email.
- Provide you with United in Stride swag such as shirts, hats, tethers, postcards, tablecloth, etc. for target events in your area.
- Administrative support in reaching members who are not responsive to messages from members in your area, including contact list exports, database management, and feedback on language and messaging.
- Assistance with broader marketing efforts in your region to promote United in Stride, such as targeted newsletters content, member emails, and press releases.
- Mentoring support for United in Stride events you want to host in your area, including communication, planning and coordination support.
- Ambassadors will receive a United in Stride fitted running jacket.