Joabe Barbosa, a native of Brazil and former resident of the United Kingdom, has completed his mission to run every block in Chicago. On Sunday, he finished his journey with a two-mile victory lap down a blocked-off Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street Beach to Buckingham Fountain.

A Year of Running and Community

Barbosa’s journey began over a year ago, when he started running through every Chicago street and neighborhood. He documented his runs on social media, often wearing a Chicago flag as a cape and talking about his experiences seeing every corner of the city. His announcement of his changing immigration status, which was set to expire, caused an outpouring of support from the community, including hundreds of green card marriage proposals.

Barbosa’s run was not just about personal achievement, but also about exploring the city and meeting new people. He ran through neighborhoods that are often overlooked, such as West Garfield Park and Woodlawn’s Parkway Gardens. By running to different neighborhoods and posting about them, Barbosa supported the work of organizations like My Block My Hood My City, which aims to shift perception of the city and highlight the residents of different communities trying to improve them.

A Community Comes Together

Sunday’s completion of the running challenge was a celebration of community, with nearly 1,000 fellow runners and well-wishers joining Barbosa for the final stretch. He distributed over 500 Chicago flags, which were claimed by the crowd, and his parents and brother flew in from England to watch. The event saw Chicagoans show their appreciation for Barbosa’s willingness to showcase the city and inspire others to explore and get involved in their communities.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.