About Us
We’re building a world where every woman can move safely, confidently and freely.
And we’re building it through research, education, and a community of allies that has your back.
Our Why
Free To Move was created for Alyssa, and it was created for you.
Nothing we say could be adequate enough to describe our sister and friend, Dr. Alyssa Dawn Lokits. She was remarkable, in every sense. PhD graduate, multilingual world traveler, home renovator and outdoor enthusiast– she was brilliant, brave and strong. She loved fiercely, and was fiercely loved by everyone fortunate enough to know her.
On October 14, 2024, Alyssa was exercising midday on a well-populated trail in Nashville, TN, when a man attacked her. Despite screaming and fighting back, her assailant shot and killed her.
Alyssa was well trained in self defense. She was always prepared, always vigilant. She was exercising during the day, on a well-populated trail. She was only steps away from the trailhead parking lot.
She did everything “right”, and it still wasn’t enough.
Her murder devastated our family, and shocked the Nashville community and beyond. But in the midst of our grief and heartbreak, we knew something must be done. Alyssa was too remarkable, too extraordinary– she was an endless inspiration to the countless lives she touched. We couldn’t let her life be remembered only by the brutal circumstances of her death.
It was never a question of if we should do something, but what?
And then your stories came flooding in.
As we shared Alyssa’s story, we began hearing from hundreds of women who had experiences of harassment and assault. Families who related to our pain and heartbreak, parents who worried about their own daughters, and women who were so fearful they avoided exercising alone outdoors.
We realized that Alyssa’s story, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident. It is not the first horrific act of violence against women, and sadly, it will not be the last. But rather than accept this fact with hopelessness and defeat, we decided that the best way to honor Alyssa would be to protect future generations of women through her legacy.
And that is how Free to Move was born.
We will never move on from the immeasurable loss of Alyssa, but we choose to move forward. We choose to create purpose out of our pain, and hope through our heartbreak. We choose community over division, and empowerment over fear. And we hope that through our work at Free to Move, you can choose that too.
For Alyssa, for all womankind.
Our Core Beliefs
Join us on our mission to make outdoor movement safe, accessible, and fearless for every woman everywhere.
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Women’s safety IS women’s wellness. Period.
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Awareness without action isn't enough.
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Every person deserves access to the tools and knowledge to move confidently.
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Change happens hand in hand, through research, education, and moments of connection.
Welcome– we are so glad you’re here.
There is no “one-size fits all” approach to safety.
(And anyone who tells you differently is trying to sell you something!)
What you choose to do for your safety is deeply personal.
It should never be dictated by someone else, nor should there be a single "right" way to move through the world. Our role at Free to Move isn't to tell women what they should do. Our role is to ensure that every woman has access to the information, education, and resources she needs to make informed decisions for herself.
Knowledge is power, but having access to that knowledge creates true freedom of choice.
Free to Move is built on the belief that all women– regardless of background, identity, or circumstance– deserve access to the information and resources needed for safer outdoor movement.
In order to systemically approach safety, we must look at every factor. We must consider that every woman in every region brings a very personal history to her movement; one that cannot be reduced to generalities.
What is safe for me in the mountains of Colorado looks very different than what was safe for Alyssa in Nashville, Tennessee, my friend Kim in Seattle, Washington, my mother in rural Missouri, or our board member, Jill, along the Florida coast.
This understanding allows us to see women’s safety for what it truly is: a multifaceted issue with the need for a multifaceted set of solutions.
Alyssa’s story is not unique– violence against women is a systemic, worldwide issue. But what if we stopped placing the sole responsibility of a woman’s safety on her shoulders, and looked at the bigger picture? Yes, women deserve better access to the information, education, and resources that help them make informed decisions about their safety– that is undeniable.
But, what if municipalities and state governments consistently prioritized safety and security when designing and maintaining parks, trails, and greenways?
What if the fitness and outdoor industries committed to long-term investments in safety education, research, and community programming?
What if safety education expanded beyond individual precautions to include bystander intervention, shared responsibility, and community accountability?
That’s why we are here.
We know meaningful change will not come from one organization alone. It will come through research, education, advocacy, partnership, and countless people who believe that women deserve the freedom to move without fear.
Free to Move began as a way for Alyssa’s loved ones to funnel the unimaginable grief and trauma we were living with into something meaningful. It was a way for us to create some semblance of sense out of a senseless atrocity. But it became so much more than a personal grief journey.
It became bigger than ourselves.
After experiencing the very worst of humanity, Free to Move has been a way for Alyssa’s loved ones to experience the overwhelming good in this world. And for that, we are deeply grateful.
Thank you for being here: loved ones near and far; those we have known for a lifetime and those we have never had the privilege of meeting. You are all part of our journey, and part of something that makes the world a little better and brighter.
Executive Director
OUR IMPACT
The tragedy of Alyssa’s death reminds the world that women need safer spaces.
We are here to fight for change.
Here's what we have built together so far:
Launched our six-part "We Are Free To…" Safety Video Miniseries.
Hosted our inaugural Run for Alyssa 5K with 700+ participants.
Collectively traversed more than 107 miles of Nashville greenways during the Greenway Jogathon .
Conducted in-person safety and accessibility research through the Greenway Walk Audit series in partnership with Metro Parks, Metropolitan Council and Greenways for Nashville.
Partnered with state legislators to testify in support of the Alyssa Lokits Safety Act at the Tennessee State Capitol.
Launched National Women’s Safety Survey to identify barriers in outdoor spaces through women’s lived experiences.
Developed Self-Defense Education Resource focusing on reactive safety tools.
And we’re just getting started.