100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future
WINNER: Popular Choice Award
“100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future” reflects what our collaborative group, City of San Fernando Partnership for Healthy Families believes; ending childhood obesity within a generation begins at home with the family. We have to work with the adults, the parents and grandparents to establish a healthier lifestyle so they can teach their children how to be physically active and eat healthier. Our children can’t do it on their own. There is no better way to have our adults understand than by being involved and feel the difference it makes in their lives. They become the role models. We do this through free physical activity programming and culturally appropriate nutrition demonstrations. It has worked. The 100 Citizens program, a fitness workout in the city’s public park, has run continuously since June 2011 with exercise stations staffed by Kinesiology student volunteers educated in the delivery and benefits of physical activity. The program now includes Zumba, body sculpting, seniors, and cycle spinning which the parks charge a small fee to help program expansion. HOWEVER, the basic fitness class always will be a popular free option. The Partnership resonates with the citizens because they understand the city cares to bring education and outside resources to help them live healthier lives and transmit this to their children. The public park is free and the activity is visible which is the best marketing … people moving, the class costs nothing and most importantly, the kids see adults having fun being active. 100 Citizens is contagious. 24 Hour Fitness donated 40 spinning bikes because they recognize the value being offered and wanted to make their contribution. 100 Citizens is replicable having spawned 4 more free 100 Citizens programs serving as role models for the future. They’re teaching their kids!
177 comments
Merril Simon • almost 14 years ago
As Dr. Loy shared with his students and those he encouraged to view the 100 Citizen video, it is important to help make our world get bigger. With this win, Dr. Loy and guest will go to Washington, D.C. and share more about KIN be done if you believe in grassroots organizing and college students.
Congrats to the participants in the 100 Citizen program in San Fernando as well. Your commitment to the program has hopefully started a tsunami of a reaction across the nation.
I'm so happy and proud for all of you.
Steven Loy • almost 14 years ago
A very sincere thank you to all of our supporters who tenaciously recorded their votes and encouraged their friends and family, day after day ... and wasn't that a LOONG 35 days?!?! The lessons I learned from our participation were many and significant and in conversations with my students, they expressed the same.
A few important things we learned ... if you want something, you have to work with energy and diligence and even if you do work to the best of your ability, the outcome may not be what you anticipate or wanted. Reinforced were those lessons learned when we were younger ... if you stumble or if you're passed, you continue to work and finish the job you started. You simply don't quit!
You treat everyone with respect and you speak, write, and act accordingly because everyone is not going to agree with you ... you use the disagreement to pause and reflect and assess if there is merit in the difference in opinion. After taking the time to assure yourself that you are doing what you feel is right, you move forward and you do so with confidence. Related, you always do the right thing and act ethically because your reputation and self respect is what you have at the end of the day.
We also learned to be passionate about a cause and understand that those around you might not share your passion ... which doesn't mean you don't continue to try and educate ... you still try and hope! You forge ahead and use as many strategies as you can think of ... and that was the beauty of the 35 days ... we learned to think out of that proverbial box and tap into resources one normally might not consider. It was that energy of creativity brought by about a dozen students that helped us get votes. If not for 35 days, their talents may not have been tapped into and they wouldn't have learned their capacity.
We also made contact with organizations that we might not have without this challenge and have advanced our Kinesiology outreach well beyond where we'd be without this opportunity. On May 11, we had all gained so many benefits that regardless of the outcome, we were better for the participation. We are grateful to Let's Move! and the First Lady for creating the challenge because we will move forward in our efforts to increase physical activity and reduce obesity in our children and their role modeling adults with new strategies and ideas discovered from our participation.
I believe that many more people now know what Kinesiology is and that WE KNOW Physical Activity ... how to create programs for people and how to help them advance. We believe this is the gap between everyone telling people to get healthy and exercise and eat right and people doing it .... there's a HUGE GAP and this is what the Kinesiology educated student and professional fills, the program creation, development and education of our communities. In fact, I received communications from others in the competition who hoped 100 Citizens would come to their community and if we have our way .... we will be there to outreach and help them be active and healthy through other Kinesiology programs.
Thank you all for your support of 100 Citizens ... because of you we are one step closer to getting our message out to the nation ... Kinesiology students and professionals can make a difference and we get to deliver this message to the White House and Let's Move! .... a GIANT step! For all we have learned, thank you to all those associated with the Challenge.
Thank you to the citizens of the City of San Fernando. For the past 3 years you have opened your hearts to us and we will continue to develop and improve YOUR 100 Citizens program. Because of you, we have a model to present to the country.
And one more very significant thanks to all of my students who have worked with me to bring 100 Citizens to fruition ... without you, we aren't here today. You each know who you are and what you did. Be proud of our accomplishment. It's because of you. Wear your VOTE 100 Citizens shirts with pride. KIN CAN DO IT! KIN DID IT!
Steven Loy