March 27, 2025–– New York, NY – Game Changers, a groundbreaking initiative by VCPM, Inc., has launched its first-ever New York City cohort in partnership with New York Road Runners (NYRR), the New York City-based nonprofit that produces 60 adult and youth races annually, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Through this collaboration, New York Road Runners will continue to increase access to running and coaching in New York City by supporting a group of aspiring coaches and community leaders who represent the communities they serve across the five boroughs, with a focus on the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Meet the NYC Game Changers Cohort
The inaugural NYC cohort consists of six dedicated coaches, each bringing unique experiences and expertise to the program. The cohort is dedicated to serving a wide range of running communities, including women returning to the sport after injury, runners in communities of color across New York City, and those looking to bridge language barriers with Spanish-speaking communities. Several participants are actively involved in leading running groups with a focus on making running more inclusive and accessible for all fitness levels.
● Amy Ortiz, from the Bronx, is dedicated to serving and empowering Black, Brown and Women of Color in her community by providing inclusive, affordable coaching and creating training that fits their unique lives.
● Anna Garcia, based in Washington Heights, Upper Manhattan, aims to coach and serve communities of color, primarily Hispanic, in New York City and Miami, FL, pairing her expertise in running with her background in nutrition science to offer bilingual coaching and events.
● Dawn Papacena, a native New Yorker from Brooklyn, plans to coach and support women/femmes of color who are new to running, returning from injury, or seeking to regain their running confidence, helping those who don’t see themselves as runners.
● Natasha Ward, a native New Yorker raised in Queens currently in the Bronx, aims to bring her expertise to her run group and the Bronx running community, focusing on encouraging and supporting “mature” (40+) Women of Color.
● Nilam Patel, a local Manhattan crew leader, is committed to serving athletes interested in running and strength training, with a focus on culturally and physiologically responsive coaching for women and all busy professionals.
● Teresita Gonzalez from Astoria, plans to serve her Latinx community by sharing NYRR’s offerings, leveraging her 5+ years in the running community to explain in both English and Spanish how they can secure entry into the NYC Marathon.
Building Knowledgeable Coaches to Inspire More Runners
Over the next six months, the NYC Game Changers will:
● Earn RRCA Coaching Certification (February)
● Develop business strategy skills with guidance from strategist Nailah Blades (March)
● Receive mentorship from Tiffany Copeland and other Game Changers leaders (April)
● Complete a paid apprenticeship with NYRR, coaching in the nonprofit’s Group Training program that offers coached workout sessions for runners of all levels in parks across the five boroughs. (May)
● Celebrate their accomplishments at the Closing Ceremony (July)
“This is the first cohort where each Game Changer is from the same state,” said Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell, Founder of VCPM, Inc. and the Game Changers program. “Knowing the impact the Game Changers nationwide program is having on communities across the nation, it will be inspiring to see the footprints this cohort will leave specifically in New York City neighborhoods and beyond.”
New Game Changer, Teresita Gonzalez, shared her motivation: “As a bilingual Latina coach, I want to support my Latinx community and help more people experience the life-changing power of running. This program provides me with the opportunity to build connections, grow as a leader, and learn from experienced women in the field.”
“We are honored to welcome the inaugural cohort of New York City Game Changers coaches to the New York Road Runners team, as they exemplify our vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “As our city continues to experience a running boom, we are excited to partner with Game Changers to provide more opportunities for diversity, accessibility, and representation in the running and coaching community.”
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for key program milestones, including certification, mentorship, and hands-on coaching experiences. Follow the journey on Instagram @vcpmitchell using the hashtag
#GameChangers⚡ to see how this cohort makes an impact in NYC.
For more information about the Game Changers program, please visit https://vcpm.com/game-changers and follow us on Instagram @vcpmitchell using the hashtag #GameChangers⚡