Busboys and Poets Books Presents RUNNING AGAINST THE ODDS
Date and Time
May 1, 2022 6:00 pm
Location
Takoma
235 Carroll St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20012
May 1, 2022 6:00 pm
Takoma
Desmond “Coach Dez” Dunham started his journey with a turbulent childhood. Through his determination, he overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and went on to have a prolific coaching career in high school cross-country and track & field. In his book RUNNING AGAINST THE ODDS, he vividly shares his coming of age story. He tells us how he channeled his love for running into an entry to Howard University, and engages readers with the trials and triumphs he faced grappling with being a young Black man in America. In this inspirational journey, Dunham comes out on top. He leads readers through an action-packed journey through his most prolific and history-making moment as a coach, leaving readers hanging onto the edge of their seats to the finish.
Dunham brings his passion for running to the Busboys stage and shares with us his experience coaching young runners, paying it forward full circle. As a greatly revered coach, he boasts national All-Americans, national championships, and international titles from the short sprints up to the distance events, including cross-country. RUNNING AGAINST THE ODDS is a book for runners, non-runners, and any person looking for affirmation that their trials were meant to make them stronger and better. Reynolds is accompanied by C. Brian Williams, founder of Step Afrika!.
Our program begins at 6:00 pm, with an introduction from a member of our Busboys and Poets team, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Signed copies of HOW TO BE AN AMAZING VOLUNTEER OVERSEAS will be available for purchase before, during and after the event. Copies may be purchased through Eventbrite. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books. Proof of RSVP may be requested on arrival if capacity is reached.
Desmond Dunham is a life-long educator and nationally renowned cross-country and track & field coach. He is the founder of Kids Elite Sports, a youth sports development organization that operates summer camps and specialized sports training.He has successfully coached youth athletes and teams in cross-country, track & field, basketball, soccer, baseball, and flag football. Beyond his remarkable accolades in track and field, Dunham has a wealth of experience coaching and managing youth programs and teams across a variety of sports. Dunham earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Howard University and earned a Master of Teaching in Secondary Science Education from Trinity University. He resides in Northwest DC with his wife (Jami) and two children (Niles and Nia)
C. Brian Williams is a native of Houston, Texas, and graduate of Howard University. He first learned to step as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Beta Chapter, in the Spring of 1989. While living in Southern Africa, he began to research the percussive dance tradition of stepping, exploring the many sides of this exciting, yet under-recognized American art form and founded Step Afrika! in 1994. Williams has performed, lectured and taught in Europe, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. He is the founder of the monumental Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.
