For Marillac Saint Vincent alumna Jalesa Haggard, the Chicago Marathon became a journey of self-belief, connection, and discovering just how far the encouragement of a community can carry us.
At mile 15 of the Chicago Marathon, Jalesa Haggard wasn’t sure she could take another step.
Her body ached. She was exhausted. And with more than 11 miles still ahead, the finish line felt impossibly far away.
Then, just when she needed it most, someone showed up.
A friend met her along the course with water, an energy drink, and words of encouragement. A little farther along, she spotted her mother and sisters cheering her on. Then came familiar faces from the neighborhood and a crowd of fellow Peace Runners waiting to lift her spirits.
Each familiar face reminded her that she wasn’t running alone.
And somehow, step by step, she kept going.
When Jalesa finally crossed the finish line, she had accomplished something she once couldn’t imagine doing.
“I can do hard things,” she reflected.
It was a lesson that reached far beyond the marathon. Sometimes believing in yourself begins with knowing that others believe in you, too.
A Journey Rooted in Community
Jalesa’s running journey began not with a personal fitness goal, but with a desire to support a friend.
She and Jackie Hoffman, founder of Peace Runners 773, share a connection that goes back to childhood. Both grew up participating in programs at Marillac House in East Garfield Park, which became part of today’s Marillac Saint Vincent following a merger more than two decades ago.
When Jackie organized his first Black Is Beautiful 5K in partnership with MSV, Jalesa wanted to be there.
She had played basketball growing up, but running for the sake of running had never appealed to her. Still, she showed up. And something unexpected happened.
She enjoyed it.
Even more meaningful was the encouragement she felt from the people around her. It didn’t matter how fast she ran or where she finished. People were cheering for one another, celebrating every effort, and making sure no one felt left behind.
That first race led to Saturday community runs, the Shamrock Shuffle, and eventually training for a half marathon.
Through Community Leadership Fellows (CLF), a leadership development initiative supporting emerging leaders from Chicago’s West Side, Jalesa learned of an opportunity to participate in the Chicago Marathon through an equity-based entry program.
Within her first year of running, she was preparing to complete 26.2 miles.
But there was another reason this journey mattered so much.
In 2025, Jalesa lost her grandmother to heart failure. Her grandmother had deep roots in East Garfield Park, and the loss strengthened Jalesa’s commitment to caring for her own health and encouraging others to do the same.
Running became a way to honor that love, care for herself, and embrace the possibility of a healthier future.
The Power of Showing Up
Training for a marathon wasn’t easy.
There were early mornings when most of the city was still asleep, long runs that tested her endurance, and moments when she wondered whether she had taken on more than she could handle.
But she kept showing up.
And along the way, something beautiful happened. Her commitment began encouraging others. Two of her aunts started walking with her, taking steps toward their own wellness goals.
What began as Jalesa’s personal challenge was becoming something she could share.
That same spirit carries into her professional life. As a program director with Coach Across America, Jalesa helps prepare coaches across Chicago to become positive mentors and role models for young people.
She understands that showing up for others begins, in part, with taking care of ourselves.
“When I show for myself, I know I can be the best version of myself to show up for the youth that I work with and the coaches that I mentor and work with as well,” she shared.
Her journey is a reminder that believing in ourselves isn’t simply about what we can accomplish. It’s also about what we can give to others when we recognize our own strength.
The Connections That Bring Us Together
For Jalesa and Jackie, their connection to Marillac House is part of a shared history that stretches back decades. Their friendship and commitment to their community have continued to grow in ways that reflect their individual passions and the relationships they’ve maintained over time.
Through Peace Runners 773, Jackie brings neighbors together around physical activity, wellness, and neighborhood pride. Jalesa contributes through her work with young people and her growing commitment to encouraging healthier lifestyles.
Their stories reflect the lasting value of relationships rooted in community, relationships that can continue to inspire new opportunities long after childhood.
That same spirit of connection is part of the promise of Marillac Saint Vincent’s relatively new Alumni Group. While the group did not bring Jalesa and Jackie together, it creates another opportunity for people with shared experiences at MSV to reconnect, celebrate one another’s accomplishments, and explore ways to contribute their talents and perspectives.
For Jalesa, seeing people walking and running together through East Garfield Park means something special. These are familiar streets, filled with memories, relationships, and people who care deeply about their neighborhood.
“We’re showing people that we can activate our neighborhood,” she said.
There is pride in those words, and possibility, too.
Stronger Together
Jalesa’s journey is also a beautiful example of what can happen when people and organizations across Chicago’s West Side come together.
Her experiences with Peace Runners 773 and Community Leadership Fellows show how different relationships and opportunities can build upon one another, opening doors that might otherwise have remained closed.
For Marillac Saint Vincent, there is something important to learn from that.
Our work has always been rooted in relationships, in listening to our neighbors, recognizing their strengths, and walking alongside families and communities as they pursue their hopes for the future.
As we look ahead, there is tremendous opportunity to deepen our connections with other West Side organizations, learn from one another, and bring our collective strengths together in ways that reach more people and create lasting impact.
No single organization can do this work alone. Nor should it have to.
Our mission of fostering thriving families and sustainable communities, and our vision of disrupting the generational cycle of poverty, call us to work together, building on the leadership, wisdom, and determination already present in our neighborhoods.
Jalesa’s story reminds us why those connections matter. Behind every program, partnership, and shared effort are people whose lives, dreams, and possibilities are worth investing in.
One Step Can Change Everything
When Jalesa thinks about what she would tell someone who is hesitant to try something new, her advice is simple.
“Just don’t be afraid to bet on yourself.”
Start with a walk. Show up for a community event. Take a chance on something that feels a little beyond your reach.
You never know where that first step might lead.
For Jalesa, it led from a neighborhood 5K to the finish line of the Chicago Marathon, surrounded by the love and encouragement of people who helped her believe she could get there.
And despite promising herself during training that she would never run another marathon, she’s already thinking about the next one.
Perhaps that’s what makes her story so meaningful.
It isn’t just about finishing 26.2 miles. It’s about discovering what’s possible, carrying the love and encouragement of others with you, and finding ways to pass that encouragement along.
For Jalesa, crossing the finish line wasn’t the end of the journey. It was another beginning.
And for all of us at Marillac Saint Vincent, her story offers a simple reminder:
When we show up for ourselves and for one another, we can go farther than we ever imagined.
Written by Tamara Reed Tran
Chief Advancement Officer, Marillac Saint Vincent