Power of Wellness (PoW!)

THE NEED:

New Mexico self-reporting data for high school students have shown a steady increase in obesity rates. Recent national surveys using direct measurements indicate that 17% of adolescents aged 16-19 are overweight. Overweight young people are more likely to grow up to be overweight as adults, to exhibit chronic disease risk factors and to suffer discrimination from their peers.

OUR GOAL:

PoW! is a free after-school wellness program, developed in collaboration with the Oregon Research Institute and the Albuquerque Public Schools Student Health Advisory Council, that empowers high school girls, age 14-19, to take care of their bodies. PoW! combines nutrition education with fun, nontraditional fitness activities.

Girls will meet twice per week for eight weeks. During the first session of the week, girls will work through the Project Health curriculum, an intervention that has been shown to prevent eating disorders and obesity. During the second session, girls will participate in activities such as hiking, mountain biking, yoga, rock climbing, and hula dance. Girls who complete the program will be invited to attend PoW! camp where they will spend a week exploring and preparing their own healthy meals and snacks.

THANK YOU:

This program is supported in part by our community partners - REI, Starfire Hoops, High Desert Yoga, Isshin-Ryu Karate Club, Maple Street Dance Space, Trips for Kids Rio Grande, and Stone Age Climbing Gym. PoW! is supported by a grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation and by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Healthy Kids, Healthy Families Grant.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Families is a three-year initiative designed to improve the health and wellness of New Mexico's children through community investments. Healthy Kids, Healthy Families invests in nonprofit organizations that encourage health education, promote physical activity, prevent and manage disease, or support safe environments for children.

YWCA's PoW! program, addressing nutrition and physical activity, helps to provide disadvantaged youth with the knowledge, encouragement and confidence they need to make healthy changes to their lifestyles.

Check out our pictures and videos on our facebook page!

Power of Wellness (PoW!)

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