As the sun rose over Los Angeles, more than 700 people gathered—sneakers pounding, spirits lifted—for WalkGood LA’s second annual People’s Pace. A run and walk designed to remind the Black community—and the city at large—that health, healing, and belonging can be found in every step.
Founded in 2020 by actor, activist, and entrepreneur Etienne Maurice, WalkGood LA has grown from a grassroots movement that sparked during a summer of racial reckoning into one of the city’s most vibrant community wellness organizations.
Maurice said the People’s Pace represents possibility and growth. “Walk Good really has changed my life and reminded me that it’s a movement, a place where people can belong. There are few spaces like this in L.A.” Walk Good really has changed my life and reminded me that it’s a movement, a place where people can belong. There are a few spaces like this in L.A.”
For Maurice, WalkGood LA isn’t just about fitness—it’s about legacy. The name itself comes from a Jamaican euphemism his grandmother repeated often: walk good, meaning “take care.” The phrase took on deeper meaning in 2020, when the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor left Black communities searching for ways to grieve, heal, and reclaim joy.
“I wanted to remind my community to walk well,” Maurice said. “During times of duress, during times of stress—you know that you can walk good when you’re out there into the world.”
That sense of resilience is rooted in family. Maurice built the organization alongside his sister Ivy and cousin Marley, emphasizing trust, love, and community. “Family is everything to me,” he said. “And so there’s nobody else that I would want to build this community with. We spread that mission of love and harmony through the roots and principles we were raised on.”
The “People’s Pace” event embodied that mission. Participants of all ages, from seasoned runners to first-time walkers, moved at their own rhythm—no pressure, no competition, just community. Among them was Maurice’s mother, Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who beamed with pride after crossing the finish line.
“I can hardly believe that I finished,” Ralph laughed. “But I finished first in my division, and I’m in shock! People always say they can’t find community in L.A. Well, then you need to come see WalkGood LA. Find your people, find your tribe, and put yourself first.”
Among them was participant Zuri Smith, who joined friends to complete her very first 5K in celebration of a birthday.
“Being a part of this event means to me just being a part of the community,” Smith said. “It’s nice that WalkGood and Etienne have brought a 5K this close to the inner city. I’m from L.A., and I haven’t known of too many put on by groups centered around people of color and accessibility. So it means a lot for me to be here and to support this event because they’re making a way for people.”
Her words reflect what WalkGood LA has become for so many: not just a run, but a rare space in Los Angeles where people of color can prioritize health, celebrate milestones, and move together.
For others, the People’s Pace carried even deeper personal meaning. John Gayden, another first-time participant, said the run became a way to honor his late mother.
“My mom passed away in July, and I wanted to really do something to honor her, so I picked up running,” Gayden shared. “This is actually my first race, and when I saw WalkGood was hosting it, I just really wanted to come out.”
His story, like so many others, underscored how WalkGood LA is more than a fitness event—it’s a space where healing, remembrance, and resilience can be carried one step at a time.
Ralph summed up the meaning of the day in her own words: “What I love is seeing everybody out here together, putting themselves first, putting their health first. It’s not how you start, it’s literally how you finish. The people’s pace means it’s your race, nobody else’s.”