Meet Deo, Team Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities Alumni Member
You might recognize Deo’s face as the winner of our 2026 Run More, Judge Less 5K photo contest; smiling and jumping with a victorious fist in the air alongside his Mentor Pacer and Mile in My Shoes Founder, Mishka. But Deo isn’t just posing for the camera; this is the kind of infectious joy and energy he brings to his team each day.
When Deo was released from incarceration in March, he returned to the Christ Recovery Center (CRC) at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. He had initially joined the program three years ago, and CRC remained in his corner throughout his time away.
"I got to CRC through a friend," he says. "They stood by me while I was incarcerated, and when I was released, I came back."
Not long after, another opportunity found him. Deo first heard about Mile in My Shoes through MiMS Alumni and Team Leader Chad, who is also a graduate of the CRC program.
"I wanted to get in shape," he says. "But I also heard about the community and the mentorship.” Deo also saw a connection between the recovery community at CRC and the community he found at MiMS. "A large part of recovery is engaging Alumni in the process," he says. "Seeing people who have been successful in their recovery encourages you to keep going. That's something MiMS does too, having Alumni come back as Mentors. It's really powerful."
His first few runs challenged both his body and his perspective.
"I was a little too ambitious for my first run and wanted to go further and faster than the first mile," Deo shared. "But the science of running is applicable to life. Slow down. Sustain. I’ve used running to find my pace in my own life and push for it."
Seeing the broader MiMS community at the Run More, Judge Less races, his first 5K, was another big moment for Deo. "You see how big MiMS really is and you realize we're not so isolated."
One of the first things all new Mentors learn about Deo is his love for soccer. He has played throughout his life (ask him about the world cup) and it is one of his greatest passions. He’s also found some parallels between soccer and running. “Running the 5k is one of the first times running felt really intentional and calculated to me. (Run Mentor) Mishka and I came up with a plan and stuck to it. In soccer, we do something called formations. Everybody has a role, everybody knows where they're supposed to be, and you trust the plan. That's what the race felt like. Mishka and I had our own formation."
Growing up, Deo spent much of his childhood in war torn Uganda. After fleeing the country with his mother and family, Deo spent time at various boarding schools, which recruited him due to his talents in mathematics and soccer. Boarding school often came with very early morning wake-ups, something he said wanted to avoid doing again. For the first month of runs, Deo would come running to join the circle at 6:01AM. But all that changed when his team members nominated him to be Team Captain. “When we first told Deo we wanted him to be the next Captain, he was hesitant, like he didn’t see himself as a leader - the way we all saw him. But Deo’s positive energy and commitment were obvious the minute I first met him, the day he came back to the CRC. He walked into that lobby and he just had this joyful quality about him - everyone there was thrilled to see him, and he them. I asked someone “Who is that guy? We need him for MiMS!” shared Run Mentor Mishka. As Team Captain, not only does Deo get himself out the door with time to spare before the 6am circle-up, he supports getting his teammates getting up and out there, too.
"I've become a morning person because of MiMS," he says. "It pushes me forward. I know I need to be there for others on my team, and it starts my day right." As captain, Deo has also helped with recruitment, encouraging several new Members to join.
Ask Deo what has meant the most to him at MiMS, and his answer comes quickly. "The people," he says. "Everyone is very encouraging. You receive love, even from other Members. That energy stays with you and helps establish your day. You're running with people, but they're giving you a piece of their day. It’s about running, but it is also much bigger than that."
Those relationships have helped fuel goals that extend well beyond running. Deo was previously introduced to electrical training through Ujamaa Place where he discovered a fascination with energy. "I love electricity," Deo says. "The relationship between positive and negative energy. Energy can't be created or destroyed, only transformed. That has been a metaphor for me and my own life.”
He's now developing a personal venture called Oryg-n, an idea he describes as a self-sustaining entity designed to help people manage factors of production. He's in the process of writing his first manuscript for this project. He also has plans to return to school to obtain a degree in electrical engineering. For running goals, Deo has begun training for a half marathon and plans to run Run Minnesota’s City of Lakes Half Marathon. He will be one of the first half marathoners from his Team UGMTC!
When asked what he's most proud of since joining MiMS, Deo's answer comes back to the habits he's built.
"My runs," he says. "Waking up and pushing through. Being part of something bigger." Showing up for himself, encouraging his teammates, and finding community week after week, has kept him coming back. "MiMS is a huge part of who I am becoming."