Accomplished Runner Angela Davis Pushing SoCal Youth To Reach Their Full Potential

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — As an accomplished runner, Angela Davis has endured every nervous emotion: Expectation. Pressure. Uncertainty.

But after years of focusing on the finish line, the five-time All-American is using her mental and physical prowess to inspire others, including inner-city youth, and teach them about healthy foods.

"It's like the urban desert. There's not a lot of fresh options. There's not a lot of fresh produce, and we need it, and we are really struggling because we don't have it in those communities," she told CBS2's Stephanie Simmons.

Davis works closely with a group called Urban Fitness 911, where she pushes less-fortunate kids to their highest potential.

"It is a state of emergency. These are kids from lower-income schools that are not excelling, and they're being left behind," she explained. "Just to be able to look at these kids in the eye and say that 'You are worth it. You are worthy of your best life. You have a right to your best life.' A lot of these kids haven't heard that."

And the retired runner-turned-motivational speaker has been using spiritually inspired tips to motivate both the public and children.

"When it's easy, are we really growing? It's about the challenge. The challenge will bring about the change," she said.