Our Future Olympians
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>View discussions about this entry Country: United States
Organization: Stockton Saints Track and Field Club
Sport - Running
Year the initative began (yyyy) - 2007
Project URL: http://eteamz.active.com/stocktonsaints
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? - With great sportsmanship and healthy competition, students can believe in themselves to fulfill their dreams and build the foundations to live a healthy lifestyle.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? - Stockton Saints Track and Field Club mentors children from all financial backgrounds to be better athletes and leaders by encouraging them through fitness and nutritional education, and positive sports and life coaches to make better choices. With daily encouragement we build confidence and the benefits of going the extra mile. We have volunteer coaches available five days a week, experienced in all levels of track and field events, to provide our children with the proper and safe techniques necessary to get to the next level of competition. All of our athletes are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA or above and are required to sign a conduct commitment as part of our team. We express that this is just not about “winning, but to get into the game.” We are committed to help keep as many kids as possible from being another statistic of obesity or gang violence by redirecting their focus on health and fitness in a fun environment.
What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? - With the rising statistics of obesity and diabetes in Stockton and focusing on kids that are unable to participate in programs due to lack of finances and latch-key families. We are obligated to break this cycle and provide a positive way out for these kids by providing a safe environment for them to learn life skills of health, fitness and nutrition.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? - SSTC has enrolls kids from ages 5 to 18 from all walks of life. We practice 5 days a week on different elements of track and field, nutrition for the growing athlete, and strength building. All our competitive runs are on the weekends from March through July. Athletes are encouraged go the extra mile in training to see what their potentials are. They are all contracted to maintain a 2.5 GPA or better and sign a conduct code commitment. All our athletes become a part of the USA Track and Field Club and have running gear as a team to use. Their entrance to all the meets are paid and rides to and from the meets are provided. All athletes have the same opportunities to improve and compete in higher level of competitions as the season progresses. Parents are encourage to support their athletes by volunteering and providing the proper nutrition for them.
How do you plan to grow your innovation? - Through extended advertising and word of mouth we have expanded our track program to another underserved part of Stockton. In the future we would like to have two practice sites, north and south to facilitate more athletes. Eventually we would like to open our own facility with our own outdoor track and facility to expand to more sports. We believe that keeping the children physically fit, keeps them mentally fit and out of trouble.
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. - SSTC would like to break the cycle and build strong future leaders of Stockton with a continued focus on health, fitness and fun.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? - We have trained 53 athletes in the 2007 season. So far this year we have enrolled 46 athletes and hope to have more that 100 athletes enrolled by March 1st 2008. We have about a 70/30 mix of females to males and about 80% are coming from low income families. We are targeting children from ages 5-18. Stockton has a very high teenage crime rate between the hours of 3pm to 7pm due to the lack of activity and adult supervision.
We do see this program as a benefit to all. To the teens who will have a positive outlet, to the youth who will learn and participate at a young age to stay positive and do great things and to the adults who will see wonderful results in their children and less vandalism in their neighborhoods.
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? - Our athletes from last year have seen significant weight loss, and an immeasurable rise in self-esteem. Some have ventured out into other sports. Some have made significant grade improvements and others have shared their talents to other young athletes. They have not only learned the sport of track and field, they have learned about winning, loosing and staying in the game. Their families have learned how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their kids.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? - ? Funding a sports activity like track and field is very difficult and expensive. We need to be able to pay for the kids to attend meets, have healthy meals and transportation to the meats. Once parents start to see results it is really a matter of being able to have the funds to maintain the kid in the sport.
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? - Currently SSTC is financed through a grant from the Stockton Community Council of Stockton. We are getting some assistance from other organizations, but primarily through donations of in-kind goods. We are currently enlisting donations from local sources and are applying for grant funding. We are a non-profit organization.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization. - Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff. Our budget approximately $35,000. This budget is for all of our athletes to attend their meets, they membership to the usatf and their team gear. We are a non-profit organization, thus no fund are generated by the program. All our coaches, mentors and anyone involved is strictly on a volunteer basis. No one in the organization receives any compensation.
Board of Directors: What is the potential demand for your innovation? - The potential demand for our program is enormous. We are providing a unique opportunity to athletes who would normally not be able to participate due to financial issues or transportation or just lack of opportunity. They will not only learn the sport of track and field, they will learn about winning, loosing and staying in the game. Their families will also learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their kids
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? - Funding in general is hard to come by, and funding for a not so well known sport program is even harder. We are competing with other sports programs that are more recognized, but we know and believe that track and field holds the foundation form many successful athletes in many other sports and will be recognized.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. - The SSTC was started in 2006 by myself and a BOD, who maintain their love for the sport and their desire to mentor young kids. The club’s main purpose is to motivate the youth athlete to aspire to achieve leadership, discipline, sportsmanship and integrity through the sport of track & field. Today, SSTC is represented by a group of young athletes ranging in ages from 5 – 18 from various economic and social backgrounds.
We are concerned about the growing number of children in Stockton, CA being plagued by obesity and diabetes. Physical activity plays an essential role in the overall development of young people into healthy, confident adults. Yet across the globe, young people – particularly those excluded because of poverty, race, religion or other social and economic factors – simply don’t have access to good, safe, enriching physical activity. It is an issue with massive personal and cultural consequences. • According to the Stockton Police Department, the highest time for crime is between 3pm and 7pm when our teenagers are out of school with nothing positive to do. • Teen pregnancy and drug use is also on the rise. We’ve understand that there are key ingredients for young people to improve their lives through physical activity. We are committed to helping increase participation of young people in physical activity, with a focus on the lifelong benefits it brings, through our club. • Access to a track that are safe, affordable and accessible to all Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. - Alicia Kirton-Loung, Director and founder of SSTC. I have worked with less fortunate youth for over 10 years and currently work as the Data Analyst at a major hospital. I have witnessed first hand the rise in obesity and diabetes in our youth and having 3 kids myself, have made a conscience effort to break the cycle. Forming the SSTC is not only for the kids, but for the parents who will learn healthy eating habits also.
Contact Information:
Alicia Kirton-Loung
Director Stockton Saints Track and Field Club (Sports Program) Discussions about this entry |
Dear Alicia
Congratulations on an innovative programme. I read the description with great interest. I would like to echo Steve that it is great that so many girls are involved and also say it is good to see that you are designing your programme with a clear understanding of community needs.
I would love to hear more about two things in your entry:
- you say that you ask the parents to support their kids by providing proper nutrition. How do you help them achieve this? How do the parents learn about healthy nutrition and how in a multicultural community like Stockton do you manage discussions around food and food preparation in a respectful and inclusive way?
- second, I love the idea that you have a parents programme with walking. Can you give some more details about that?
All the best from Berlin
Heather Cameron
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
In fewer than two years of operation, Alicia, you, your board, and the SSTC have accomplished a great deal. If I understand correctly, you've launched a program that helps fight obesity and diabetes among kids, emphasizes their staying in school and doing well, and encourages them to keep busy and away from peers who engage in crime. That's actually quite a bit to be proud of. Further, it's impressive that approximately 70% of your young athletes are girls.
One other feature that you've put into place but don't mention till the end of your entry is the health benefit of all of this for the kids' parents. As you say, we adults have to learn about a healthy diet and adopt good eating habits, too.
Steve Byars
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California