Imagine being homeless, hopeless, and having someone say: “Here’s a pair of sneakers. Take an early morning run with me. You might just turn the corner to a better life.”

Sounds crazy, right? Well, you can virtually watch someone do just that, as they run along the streets of LA’s Skid Row with a supportive group of funders, volunteers, and staff from Back on My Feet.

Los Angeles has the nation’s second largest population of homeless people. It’s also home to one of 12 chapters of Back on My Feet, a national nonprofit working to transform society’s approach to homelessness — using running as the hook to restore confidence, strength, and self-esteem in the lives of homeless people.

Back on My Feet has strong data to prove that its unique approach — which also includes counseling, job training, housing placement, and other services — has made a strong and positive economic, health, and social impact in communities.

Have you got a unique take on addressing tough problems faced by many American communities – like homelessness? Join changemakers from across the country November 14-16 at Upswell LA and imagine the possibilities when dreamers and doers find common ground and make change happen.

More about Back on My Feet: Feeling the Virtual Life-changing Power of Running

Debra Rainey is manager of communications at Independent Sector.