This fellowship is 9 months of conversation, reflection, project exploration, construction-deconstruction, challenges, history, identities, Blackness. African-ness.
Presentation dates:
June 6, 2020
5:00-7:00pm PST
Register at: afrourbansociety.com/events
Topic: Exercise & Physical Health
Location: Allen Temple Baptist Church Oakland CA
Date & Time: Thursday, February 7 10:30-11:30 am
Presenter: Uzo Nwankpa MSN, RN
You are invited to attend the Samuel Merritt University Community Learning Forum at Allen Temple Baptist Church Oakland CA.
The Community Learning Forum (CLF) is an annual series of health education seminars that were developed by Richard Rocco & Christina Lewis Phd in 2011. The series is offered monthly to residents of the Oakland community and is intended to enhance public awareness of primary health matters.
I (Uzo) have been in Africa for the past few months traveling through cities and countries surveying the region for possible social and economic development opportunities. While in Enugu visiting my parents, every morning, I jog around the infamous Okpara Square in Independence Layout.
To my pleasant surprise, there is a large number of people who come out to exercise. The park is closed to the public however, the people have been resilient through police raids, arrests, tear gas pollution and other attempts to remove them from public property. The motivated locals set up as early as 6am daily on side walks to conduct their fitness business.
Rad Jogging club that uses live instruments as a “pod piper” to draw people in to jog with them
They even use gravel filled recycled water bottles for weights and prayer mats for floor work. I approached Emeka, one of the fitness coaches and asked if he would be willing to share his group with me. I explained that I have numerous years of group fitness experience and would love to volunteer my time supporting motivated people in my hometown. He agreed to test it out. It has been 6 weeks now and the participants are enjoying themselves.
Fitness Coach Emeka
One participant stated “I was attracted to this group because I have not yet seen a female coach around here”. This was exciting for me to see and observe her feedback. She was right. There were many independent groups (mostly women participants) led by men who they call sports coach but no female instructor in sight.
The amazing team ” Rockstars” that allowed me to crash their training session
We meet daily at 6:30am for an hour using AFAA standards. The format that I use is as follows
The participants are also connected via the app “Whatsaap” to remind their friends to attend or to update the team on their progress.
This positive experience with Enugutians has inspired me to move forward with my dream of expanding the Uzo Method Project into Africa.
I have been thinking about this for a while and I have decided to move forward with this burning desire.
The Uzo Method Project Nigeria
Vision
To promote wellness and prevent illness from a human ecology perspective.
Mission
To create the opportunity for education using the appropriate knowledge and skills necessary to stay healthy in the mind, body and spirit.
This project in the Nigerian region will focus on wellbeing using fitness, nutrition, the arts, indigenous practices and economic sustainability practices. We need to work at wellbeing at the individual, family, community and societal level. It takes the individual to spark the change needed but the environment has to be conducive and supportive to thrive.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this process, please contact Uzo at nwankpa@gmail.com for more details.
Kids Fit Life Fall Program- HAPPY organization
This is the after math of the wonderful experince I had with the HAPPY organization. What a blast. We danced, we laughed, we told stories and moved. I love working with these young people. Their energy was inspiring and I am honored to have had that moment. Enjoy.
Uzo
I am super excited to work with these amazing youth. I cannot wait. If you are interested in having your children participate, please visit http://www.thehappyorg.org/
We will move to inspire
We will move to motivate and we will move to live
Uzo
Photo taken from:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=595588507170941&set=pb.201744069888722.-2207520000.1382664983.&type=3&theater
The Kids Fit Life Fall Program has invited The Uzo Method Project to facilitate some dance movements with the youth at the YWCA on October 26th 2013.
“The HAPPY organization’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of Arizona youth and families through education, outreach, and advocacy about proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. And, while we work to improve health and fitness conditions for all children, we have a particular concern for under-served, at-risk, and obese youths”.
This is an honor to be able to work with Haile Thomas founder of the HAPPY organization a dedicated and passionate health advocate for her peers. Haile is a popular motivational speaker; she has spoken at several major events including, the Songs For a Healthier America Album launch event, at Deepak Chopra’s 2013 Sages & Scientists Symposium, the 2013 Clinton Foundations Health Matters Conference, the 2011 Partnership for a Healthier America Summit, and at the YWCA’s 25th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Haile has also done two TEDx Talks, one in Tucson and in Vancouver, Canada.
The Uzo Method Project- A Public Health Solution 