Giving Back: Molly Alawode of HealthCorps
CAUSE: HealthCorps, a non-profit started by Dr. Mehmet Oz, is using peer mentoring and community activism to stop child obesity. The organization places recent college graduates in high-need public high schools across the nation as in-school coordinators, and they work for two years to develop curriculums in nutrition, fitness, and mental strength. Omolade "Molly" Alawode, 23, is an in-school coordinator in Wilmington, DE.
EFFECT: Studies on the benefits of specific HealthCorps programs have shown decreases in soda consumption and increases in physical activity and consumption of healthy foods in high school students.
GET INVOLVED: Apply to be a HealthCorps coordinator or support the organization through making a donation.
Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell1/6"HealthCorps is a nationwide non-profit that teaches kids about nutrition, mental resiliency, and fitness. We teach at the high school level, and we're currently present in 54 schools across the country. I teach ten classes per week about how to live life in the healthiest way possible. I also have an after-school cooking club called Teen Battle Chef, where my students compete to cook recipes. We cook dishes that are international so that I can get the students to try new foods. We're now preparing for our regional battle; the East Coast Health Corps coordinators get together and have one big competition with six of our schools."
2/6This recent college graduate teaches students about nutrition and fitness as part of a national public health program to fight teen obesity.
Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell3/6"I definitely believe HealthCorps is important in schools because it isn't a part of the regular curriculum. Yes, there are health and P.E. classes, but I think it's important that students get these health messages in other classes and forums as well. The lessons that we teach in HealthCorps are very unique and hands-on; we do a lot of out-of-the-box activities to communicate these lessons. Also, it helps that all HealthCorps coordinators are recent college graduates. We're not that far removed from high school, so it's pretty easy for us to remember what's cool and what's not."
"It's also important that we teach these lessons because childhood obesity is on the rise. Currently, around two-thirds of children are either obese or overweight, and it's really critical that we take action at the high school level because that's when students start making their own decisions about their lives, and it's important that they make healthy decisions that will positively impact their lives."
Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell4/6"I emphasize the importance of getting fit without a gym. I recognize that a lot of students cannot afford gym memberships, which is fine because you can definitely get a full workout without being in a gym. I'm a Hoopnotica certified instructor. It's an aerobic ercise with a hula-hoop! Hula-hoops are really inexpensive, and I teach students how to do squats and tone their triceps and biceps with it."
Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell5/6"Education impacts behavior. Instead of saying, 'eat your vegetables,' I examine why it's important and teach a lesson about the various vitamins and minerals that impact different parts of the body. I'm not a big believer of saying, 'oh, carbs and fats are bad for you!' Those statements aren't particularly meaningful. I try and teach students what a carbohydrate is, and then describe to them which elements are the healthiest. We talk about eating unsaturated fats, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates, and then come up with meals that can get all three of those macronutrients in balance."
Photo courtesy of Jason Mitchell6/6"For students that want to get involved in health, I would say to take as many classes as you can until you determine what aspect of health really interests you. For me, it was public health. I actually started out as pre-med in college, and I hated it. Health promotion, behavior, and education drew me to this job. Also, volunteer as much as you can. When you do volunteer work, you meet people who are involved in several different organizations. You can learn more about which non-profit field fits your strengths."
