A Faith Community GYM:
Guiding Youth Movement for Sustained, Healthy Futures

Project Overview

5th Funding Cycle Development Award
     Project Start Date: 7/1/2009
     Project End Date: 6/30/2010

Project Goal Statement: This partnership will increase fitness activities within a large, faith-based community in Milwaukee, while building capacity to reduce health risks by training youth, family and volunteers to embed and sustain running and fitness in their community.

Award Amount: $40,000

Community Partners:
Primary Community Partner: Judy Springer, PhD, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Additional community partner organization names: Greater New Birth Church

Academic Partners:
Primary Academic Partner: Jeff Morzinski, PhD, MSW, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Additional Academic Partners: Melissa Holmquist, MS, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Project Progress Summary Reports:
     Project Progress Report Summary 7/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
     Project Final Report Summary    

Affiliated Web Pages:
     Greater New Birth Church
     Milwaukee Area Technical College

Project Dissemination Efforts (as reported by project partners)

• Articles
  • Article in Badgerland Striders – Springer JB. Badgerland Striders youth running project takes shape. Badgerland Striders. December 2009.
  • Article in Badgerland Striders – Springer JB. Badgerland Striders youth running project hits full stride. Badgerland Striders. March 2010.
  • Article in Badgerland Striders – Springer JB. GYM purple shirts take it to the streets. Badgerland Striders. July 2010.
  • Article on Milwaukee Area Technical College Website – Gnadt G. ’GYM Project’ Teaches Youth from Greater New Birth Church to Live Healthier Lives. Milwaukee Area Technical College. July 2010.
• Posters
  • Poster presentation at MCW Department of Family and Community Medicine 19th Research Forum – DeNomie M, Morzinski JA, Springer JB, Davis W. GYM: Guiding Youth Movement for Sustained, Healthy Futures. Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Family and Community Medicine 19th Research Forum. Milwaukee, WI. May 2010.
  • Poster presentation at 2nd Annual University of Wisconsin-Madison Obesity Prevention Research Symposium - Springer JB, Morzinski JA, DeNomie M, Davis WJ. Facilitating Health Behavior Change in a Faith Community: The GYM Project. 2nd Annual University of Wisconsin-Madison Obesity Prevention Research Symposium: Linking Research, Community Action and Policy to Prevent Obesity. Madison, WI. June 2010.
  • Poster presentation at the 35th Annual National Wellness Conference – Springer JB, Morzinski JA, DeNomie M, Davis W. A Faith Community GYM: Guiding Youth Movement for Sustained, Healthy Futures – A Pilot Project. 35th Annual National Wellness Conference. Stevens Point, WI. July 2010.
  • Poster presentation at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Faculty Coordination Days – Springer JB. A Faith Community GYM: Guiding Youth Movement for Sustained, Healthy Futures -- A Pilot Project. Milwaukee Area Technical College, Faculty Coordination Days. Milwaukee, WI. August 2010.
• Presentations
  • Presentation at 43rd Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Spring Conference – Morzinski JA, Young S, and Wells A. Partnership with Churches to Promote and Sustain Community Health. 43rd Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Spring Conference. Vancouver, British Columbia. April 2010.
  • Oral presentation at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Curriculum and Learning Day – O’Connor P, Springer JB. Service-learning student possibilities. Milwaukee Area Technical College, Curriculum and Learning Day. Milwaukee, WI. April 2010.