As graduation approaches, Syracuse University senior Valentino King is focused on much more than job opportunities or grad school applications. His center of attention is on organizing the “You Otto Run” 5K, a charity run that will benefit the North Side Learning Center and Inter Faith Works. Both organizations work with refugees living in the city of Syracuse.

The second “You Otto Run” 5K will begin Saturday at noon in front of Schine Student Center. There’s a $10 registration fee. King was inspired to organize last year’s inaugural run after his work at the North Side Learning Center.

King first became involved with the organization as part of a requirement for the Citizenship and Civic Engagement program at SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Much of the work coordinating the event fell onto King — but with help from organizations such as Student Association and the North Side Learning Center, the inaugural run turned into a success.

“Everything turned out well,” King said. “People were really shocked that it turned out as formally as it did.”

The funds raised by “You Otto Run” predominantly went toward classroom supplies, but for the North Side Learning Center, the benefit of the run was felt in more than just its additional funds.

“It was also an event that we brought many to participate in,” said Mark Cass, executive director of the North Side Learning Center. “They really enjoy being on campus and running among SU students, and so we saw a benefit even beyond the dollars.”

In the second year of the race, King does see the need for improvement, with an increase in volunteers as the race’s biggest challenges. He added that the event is also working on changes to the infrastructure of the race, such as having people at water stations along the course or passing out food and shirts.

“We have expanded the prospects of funds we’re open to receive,” King said. “Instead of just giving them money freely, we’re actually verifying the use of these funds we’re giving the organizations this year.”

With this being King’s last year at SU, he said the future of the race isn’t guaranteed. King plans to work at Miami-Dade County Public Schools in their legal department, adding he hopes that will increase his legal knowledge for law school. His dream, he said, is to attend the University of Florida.

“You Otto Run,” on the other hand, is planning on staying in Syracuse, happening every single spring for years to come. King has a couple of plans for the 5K, and with the race not being an organization, he said there are many possibilities for its future developments.

“I’ve been thinking about that deeply,” said King, regarding the future of “You Otto Run.” He said one potential change is having the benefit run absorbed into Oxfam, an organization aimed at “creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice,” per its website. Oxfam is helping King this year by providing volunteers to help with the 5K.

“I’ve also been talking to other kids who may potentially help us deploy it into another organization or help run it,” he said, “but we’re seriously working with Oxfam to avoid going through the bureaucracy of making it an official organization and just incorporating it into their official model.”

Everything about this race, for King, comes back to helping the refugees that inspired him to organized “You Otto Run” in the first place.

“We are raising awareness and we are taking them one step closer to normality,” King said.

Published on April 17, 2019 at 10:30 pm

Contact Mateo: mtestlin@syr.edu