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Redemption Run: Joycelyn Francis Conquers the 2025 NYC Marathon

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — After watching last year’s race as a spectator cheering her friends on, she was inspired by seeing disabled athletes overcome immense challenges, realizing that their motivation went far beyond physical ability. She knew it was about spirit, resilience, and purpose. She had already overcome so much in her life before up to this moment, this should be cake walk.

Published

10 months ago

November 11, 2025

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By Mell P
New York Carib News

At 17 years, Joycelyn Francis, a NASM Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach from New Jersey, discovered running as a lifeline against depression and anxiety.

In a recent interview with Carib News, she shared: “God gave me running as a tool,” she says.

Since then, she’s embraced running, hiking, and biking, using movement and the outdoors to maintain mental balance and clarity.

Whilst the NYC Marathon was not an immediate goal of hers, she shared that felt the pull years later after vowing never to tackle a full marathon.

Francis began her marathon running journey in 2020, during the pandemic. It was a self-supported virtual marathon after the New Jersey marathon was canceled after the shutdown. In September 2022, two years later, she would travel to Germany to run the Berlin marathon.

Committing to the 9+1 program for guaranteed entry to the 2024 New York City Marathon, she felt ready to chase her dream and get another world major under her belt.

But life had other plans. In August 2024, after months of physical therapy and an MRI for persistent knee pain, her doctor informed her that she needed surgery, and her orthopedic surgeon warned she might never run again. Three months from the NYC Marathon, Francis felt the ground vanish beneath her. She spiraled mentally, questioning her faith and grappling with the potential loss of something that had become central to her life. The sense of grief was real.

Despite the setback, she deferred her 2024 entry, spent Christmas healing from surgery, and committed to her road to recovery.

After watching last year’s race as a spectator cheering her friends on, she was inspired by seeing disabled athletes overcome immense challenges, realizing that their motivation went far beyond physical ability. She knew it was about spirit, resilience, and purpose. She had already overcome so much in her life before up to this moment, this should be cake walk.

One year later, as she stood at the starting line in Staten Island, the weight of the journey hit her. The 26.2-mile race wasn’t just about the miles, it was a testament to perseverance, faith, and the unshakable spirit that refuses to quit.

Her journey resonates universally. Everyone faces moments of struggle, where life seems to push back harder than expected. The challenge tests patience, strength, and faith. But for those who keep their spirit alive, there is a profound victory at the end, a reminder that endurance and hope can carry us through the darkest chapters.

The night before the marathon, she cried. She knew the physical struggle that awaited her, but more importantly, she recognized the mental marathon she had already overcome. In that moment, she realized she had already won. “I was stronger, wiser, closer to God, and more determined than ever,” she reflected.

Francis describes the NYC Marathon 2025 not as just another race, but as redemption.

“Setbacks don’t define us; comebacks do.” On her blog, she wrote, “This is my comeback. This is my New York. This is my moment. This is for the island girl from the northern countryside, across the river, and up the mountain in lower, Santa Cruz, Trinidad.”

Crossing the finish line, Francis felt a victory deeper than any timing chip could measure. Every stretch, every slow jog, every tear shed along the road back reminded her why she started. This marathon was about gratitude, about trusting God, and celebrating every pain-free stride, every sunrise run, and every mile that once felt impossible.

She said, “A marathon will show you who you are before you cross the finish line.” And that it did. Now that NYC is out of the way, her next goal is an ultramarathon, a 50-miler perhaps, pushing the boundaries of her endurance, testing her mental and physical limits, and continuing this journey of resilience, faith, and self-discovery that running has always inspired in her.

We can only imagine the trails she’ll conquer next, and we hope to see her on the course, inspiring others with every step.

Joy Francis, a NASM-Certified Fitness Coach living in North, NJ and originally from the beautiful twin island of Trinidad and Tobago.

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

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The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.