Upower opens doors to active and healthy living for underserved youth who have few if any, opportunities to play team sports, work out, learn about nutrition, or enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of regular exercise. We understand that sports and play, as well as a healthy lifestyle, enhance a teen’s life in very significant ways. Our approach to fitness and wellness education is positive and sensitively aware. In addition to raising heartbeats and promoting healthy eating habits, Upower classes help teens:
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- Build confidence;
- Develop trust, pro-social connections, and social skills;
- Gain situational awareness and regulation of emotions;
- Cultivate leadership skills that help them prepare for the future.
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King County Statistics That Drive Us:
- 22% of boys and 16% of girls meet the CDC’s recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity daily. (Nationally, 35% of boys and 18% of girls meet this recommendation.)
- 11% of youth who don’t speak English at home meet the CDC’s physical activity guidelines.
- 75% of youth from lower-income households have participated in organized sports vs. 95% of their more affluent peers.
- Youth of color are less likely than white youth to participate in organized sports.
- Youth who do meet the CDC’s recommendations spend less screen time and have better mental health.
*State of Play: Seattle-King County, a 2019 analysis of youth participation in sport, physical activity, and outdoor recreation in King County.*
Our Impact
Fitness minutes delivered
Upower Sites
Students served
Upower was awarded the 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) Community Leadership Award.
Health.gov 2024 Community Leadership Awardees
Upower in the Journal of Correctional Health Care: The Effect of a Group Physical Activity Program on Behavior of Incarcerated Youth.
Journal of Correctional Health Care
Upower published a research manuscript with Seattle Children’s Center and Highline School District for our work during the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing kits to PE classes at Glacier Middle School.
Click below if you would like to read more about it!
