So, I want to tell you, dearest, that you couldn’t possibly come too soon! I need you more than you know or can imagine, I’m sure.
Rachel Carson, in a letter to Dorothy Freeman, March 20, 1955
On 3/20 in 1955, Rachel Carson’s letter to Dorothy Freeman began with a characteristic statement of longing. As the women planned the next time they would see each other in person, Rachel urged that it “couldn’t possibly come too soon!” Rachel expressed, as she did over and over throughout the women’s twelve-year correspondence, a “need” for Dorothy.
On 3/20 in 2019, Osaze Osagie was shot and killed by a white State College police officer. Osagie, only 29 years old when we was killed, was a Black man with “autism and a history of schizophrenia.” He was killed during “a mental health call.”
The 3/20 Coalition was formed in response.
The 3-20 Coalition is an action-oriented alliance between a diverse group of people and organizations committed to working collectively toward social and racial justice in the State College community. The alliance was created in the wake of the brutal police shooting of Osaze Osagie, to advocate on his behalf and on the behalf of his family. The continuous mission is to seek justice and change the local, state, and national structures that contributed to his death, in alignment with the broader movements for Black lives and for equity in mental health and neurodiversity understanding and support
Mission and Goals, 3-20 Coalition
Today, on 3/20 in 2022, the 3-20 Coalition held a series of community events that included “A Run to Remember,” “to honor Osaze’s memory.”
My family and some of our friends participated in the event. In this picture from The Daily Collegian, my kiddo is the one sitting in the jog stroller, holding an umbrella.
Afterwards, I also did a hike with a friend on Tussey Mountain, still in my “I am 3/20 ” t-shirt from the run.
| M, 3/14 | Walked 2 miles on the treadmill |
| Tu, 3/15 | Biked 6.5 miles Strength training for ankle |
| W, 3/16 | Ran 4 miles on sidewalks |
| Th, 3/17 | Walked 1.7 miles |
| F, 3/18 | Ran 4 miles on a mix of sidewalks & trails |
| Su, 3/20 | Ran/walked 3.2 miles pushing jog stroller as part of Run to Remember Hiked 5.6 miles (700 ft ascent) Strength training for ankle |
| 20.5 | Total weekly mileage on foot |
Walking with Rachel Carson's Letters 