I love to ask people, “What’s the best event you’ve ever attended? And why?”

• Was it your best friend’s wedding because you knew everyone there?  
• Was it a baby shower because everyone was there for the same reason - to help the new parents prepare for their next chapter? 
• Was it an amazing concert because the community had taken on a life of its own with costumes and bracelets and dancing? 

Most often, a person’s favorite event boils down to its community - a group of like-minded people coming together to celebrate or accomplish or support a common cause. Without a focus on building an authentic and inclusive community, our walks and runs and rides risk blending together and losing their distinctiveness.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Tracy Evans, Race Director of AIDS/LifeCycle, a fully-supported, seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, raising money for both the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. AIDS/LifeCycle was recognized as the 2023 Program of the Year at the last Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum conference.

Tracy shares insights into how they have cultivated one of the industry's largest event personalities. We’ll discover the behind-the-scenes efforts that make their cyclist community thrive not only during the event itself, but also throughout the year. Tracy also discusses intentional steps taken by AIDS/LifeCycle to foster inclusivity and the positive results they have achieved.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore:

• Finding and cultivating your event’s voice
• Tactics for creating a truly inclusive event
• The power of authentic communication in strengthening both participant and team communities

Mentioned Links

AIDS/LifeCycle

AIDS Life/Cycle - YouTube

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Connect with Tracy

Connect with Marcie

Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box