If you’ve walked by the Community Centers or Walt Whitman Middle School on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, you’ve probably noticed a lot more activity than normal.
“Girls on the Run, so much fun! – Girls on the Run, so much fun! – GIRLS ON THE RUN, SO MUCH FUN!”
The chanting comes from dozens of young girls, sprinting around the neighborhoods of Creekside and Sacramento and around the grounds of Walt Whitman Middle School.
The girls come from a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Some are as young as 9-years old, while others are in middle-school. Many of them did not know each other very well before. But all of them are thoroughly enjoying themselves, now!
These are just a few of United Community’s clients participating in “Girls on the Run” -- a nationwide program that inspires girls to recognize their inner strength through physical activity, dynamic discussions, and team-building.
“Girls on the Run, so much fun! – Girls on the Run, so much fun! – GIRLS ON THE RUN, SO MUCH FUN!”
The chanting comes from dozens of young girls, sprinting around the neighborhoods of Creekside and Sacramento and around the grounds of Walt Whitman Middle School.
The girls come from a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Some are as young as 9-years old, while others are in middle-school. Many of them did not know each other very well before. But all of them are thoroughly enjoying themselves, now!
These are just a few of United Community’s clients participating in “Girls on the Run” -- a nationwide program that inspires girls to recognize their inner strength through physical activity, dynamic discussions, and team-building.
Building Relationships through Coaching at Sacramento
“Come on, Girls! You can do it,” Coach Cat calls.
Cat is one of a few coaches working with girls at the Sacramento Neighborhood Center. An Ohio-born Navy service-member, Cat wanted to find a way to get involved in her new community after she was stationed in the area. The new Girls on the Run program at the Sacramento Center was the perfect avenue.
“I remember doing Girls on the Run as a little kid, growing up in Ohio,” Cat recalls. “It’s been great to work with these girls and not only encourage them to be active, but also help them learn valuable life lessons.”
The 10-week program focuses on activities and exercises that help girls learn and develop “the five C’s – Confidence, Character, Care, Connections, Physical, Social and Emotional Competence, and Contributions to the Community.
Cat is one of a few coaches working with girls at the Sacramento Neighborhood Center. An Ohio-born Navy service-member, Cat wanted to find a way to get involved in her new community after she was stationed in the area. The new Girls on the Run program at the Sacramento Center was the perfect avenue.
“I remember doing Girls on the Run as a little kid, growing up in Ohio,” Cat recalls. “It’s been great to work with these girls and not only encourage them to be active, but also help them learn valuable life lessons.”
The 10-week program focuses on activities and exercises that help girls learn and develop “the five C’s – Confidence, Character, Care, Connections, Physical, Social and Emotional Competence, and Contributions to the Community.
Community Coordinators Michael Marmol and Chanel Moore lead some of the Sacramento Neighborhood Kids in a mini-fitness program.
“Our girls absolutely love the Girls on the Run program and their coaches,” Sacramento Center Coordinator Chanel Moore added. “We had to start our own separate mini-fitness program, so the other kids wouldn’t feel left out.”
“It’s been such a special experience to watch these girls grow,” Cat added. “After the program is done, I want to keep volunteering at the center so I can help them continue their progress.”
“It’s been such a special experience to watch these girls grow,” Cat added. “After the program is done, I want to keep volunteering at the center so I can help them continue their progress.”
Learning to Be Yourself in Middle School
Walt Whitman student Sarah did not expect to enjoy Girls on the Run when she first started running. Sarah had recently left her mother to move to the United States from Africa with her father and brother. Without her mother, life at home was hard for Sarah, which carried over into her new life as a student at Walt Whitman Middle School. Sarah rarely smiled, hated school, and suffered a number of meltdowns with staff. That is, until a mentor convinced her to sign up for the new Girls on the Run program.
“Sarah has blossomed since starting the Girls on the Run program,” her mentor shared. “By her third session, she was smiling, participating and accepting hugs from everyone!”
“Sarah has blossomed since starting the Girls on the Run program,” her mentor shared. “By her third session, she was smiling, participating and accepting hugs from everyone!”
Sarah’s not the only one who’s made considerable progress. During an activity, another girl with behavior issues shared her simple daily victories for that week.
“I almost hit a girl today, but I didn’t,” she shares, smiling.
“Girls on the Run gives girls an opportunity to be themselves,” explained Delia Montecinos, Community Schools Coordinator at Walt Whitman. “It gives them a safe space where they can articulate their feelings, build each other up, and work through any challenges they face.”
“I almost hit a girl today, but I didn’t,” she shares, smiling.
“Girls on the Run gives girls an opportunity to be themselves,” explained Delia Montecinos, Community Schools Coordinator at Walt Whitman. “It gives them a safe space where they can articulate their feelings, build each other up, and work through any challenges they face.”
"Finishing Strong" at Creekside
While Girls on the Run is a new program for the Sacramento Center and Walt Whitman MS, the kids at Creekside Community Center are seasoned veterans of the program. This year was Creekside’s fifth year participating in Girls on the Run.
“We are so grateful for this partnership with Girls on the Run,” Creekside Community Center Manager Rasidata (Rasie) Njai shares. “The coaches are specially trained to engage with the girls to help them build confidence and friendship; it really adds a whole new depth to our program.”
Unlike the Sacramento and Whitman programs, a lot of these girls have been running together for several seasons.
“It’s a lot of fun,” one girl shares. “I’m not a fast runner, but I like running with my friends.”
Unlike the Sacramento and Whitman programs, a lot of these girls have been running together for several seasons.
“It’s a lot of fun,” one girl shares. “I’m not a fast runner, but I like running with my friends.”
That’s an ideal that 4-year returning Coach Ariel says is the whole focus of the Creekside Girls on the Run program.
“Our mantra is finish strong,” Ariel says. “It doesn’t matter how fast they run or how long it takes; as long as they finish strong.”
“Our mantra is finish strong,” Ariel says. “It doesn’t matter how fast they run or how long it takes; as long as they finish strong.”
This past weekend girls from all three programs participated in a 5K at the Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA to celebrate their progress. It was the first time that program participants from Creekside, Sacramento, and Walt Whitman got to run together.
“I loved running with the other girls,” one runner shares. “I made a lot of great friends! I’ll definitely do this again next year!”
“I loved running with the other girls,” one runner shares. “I made a lot of great friends! I’ll definitely do this again next year!”
