How Barry Clark’s RITUALS Help Build a Community

“That Tuesday night run became more than exercise—it became a ritual of connection.”

When Barry Clark stands in front of a crowd, it’s usually to yell directions and encouragement, but on this sunny Friday morning in The Garage, the local multi-hyphenate creative and entrepreneur stood in front of our chapter’s largest crowd speaking into a mic to share how RITUALS, big and small, became the cornerstones of his life and unexpectedly set the pace for a new community to emerge.

Growing up in nearby Suffolk, Barry always felt a calling to Virginia Beach, but he could’ve never predicted that one day the city’s mayor would proclaim an official day for the community he has led since 2016, nor that he would be recognized with WTKR’s “People Taking Action Award.”

Before dashing to his standing as a beloved community leader, Barry was immersed in a variety of creative pursuits – from serving as Creative Director for the Virginia-based apparel brand Born Primitive and having a brief stint as a woodworker to lending his graphic design skills to a variety of business to DJ’ing across venues in Virginia Beach for more than a decade.

Running was not yet on Barry’s multifaceted portfolio, but a desire to start a healthy habit and get outside led him to sprint into a newfound passion. His wellness ritual would soon become a community movement in itself. The goal was “to exercise a healthy body and mind while exploring our city.” Today, Barry has run two full marathons, served as an ambassador for various athletic brands and North End Run Club, which began in 2016, with just a handful of people joining Barry on an outdoor run, now brings together more than 250-500 runners weekly.

At North End Run Club’s weekly runs, people of all ages, genders and backgrounds reach the finish line at their own pace but always, always, celebrate together, waiting until the very last runner comes in, inclusivity a tenet of Barry’s philosophy. Also guiding his approach to North End Run Club’s inspiring growth is the simple act of showing up. “Just one hour spent in community has the power to turn the day around,” Barry shares, acknowledging the impact of accountability.

“I thrive when I bring people together, he adds. And has he ever! To date, North End Run Club has organized food drives to stock up local pantries, donated hundreds of hygiene kits and clothes to the unhoused, supported local businesses through ongoing partnerships and been the single largest private donor of toys for CHKD’s annual holiday toy drive.

With the Mayor of Virginia Beach having proclaimed April 16 “North End Run Club Day,” what began as a personal wellness ritual has cemented a legacy of health, connection and community. It’s not lost on Barry that this simple ritual, once a small one at that, has sparked a community in itself and made him a community leader, a role he says is one of his proudest achievements.

Drawing from his experience of having transformed a small ritual into a community movement, Barry encouraged the audience to incorporate rituals into our everyday life: begin with intention, follow your why, explain and set expectations, invite people to join you, and acknowledge those who participate. The notion, Barry says, is quite simple: rituals provide us with a sense of belonging and connection, and even the smallest ones have the power to transform us.

Closing out our gathering, Barry left us with some words that I’ve no doubt many of us quickly jotted down in our journals and will be reflecting on for many weeks to come:

“Rituals—no matter how small or simple—hold the power to transform both individuals and communities. It’s not just about the act itself but about the intention behind it, the consistency with which we commit to it and the connections we build along the way. Whether you’re starting a new ritual or joining an existing one, remember that showing up is half the battle. The other half is what you bring to it—your energy, your passion and your willingness to grow with others.”

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2024 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Simplicity, Pride and Treasure. September’s theme is REFLECTION, and our speaker will be Ed Obermeyer.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.