Starting next Fall, PE class will not only be a place for Griffin Middle School girls to strengthen their physical fitness, they will also learn how to become change-agents. Thanks to the new Girls Empowering Movement Program (GEM) sponsored by HealthMPowers, Boys and Girls Clubs of Georgia, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and Wolf Wellness Lab at the University of West Georgia, Griffin Middle will serve as one of the 120 Georgia sites selected to increase physical activity and fitness levels of Georgia’s middle school girls and develop leaders at the same time.
“Unfortunately, there can be many barriers for female students to participate in physical activity. The Girls Empowering Movement grant gives Griffin Middle School students another opportunity to have a place to learn about the benefits of physical activity and exercise along with promoting leadership skills,” said Coach Adam Mullis, Griffin Middle school.
With $4.1M grant support from The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, GEM is a five-year, $5.8M statewide initiative aimed at improving middle school girls’ physical activity and fitness levels. The program directly addresses the challenge of providing girls with access and opportunities for regular physical activity while empowering them to become change-agents in their schools and communities.
“We believe that ALL students should have opportunities to be physically active in ways that they enjoy,” Coach Mullis added. “At Griffin, we want ALL students to understand that the best version of themselves is a healthy version! I am lucky to work at a school with such amazing students, staff, and community.”
The collaborative effort was driven in response to Georgia FitnessGram® data showing an alarming trend around aerobic capacity in girls, a key metric used to determine heart health. Only 51% of girls have healthy aerobic capacity in 5th grade and by 12th grade, the number drops to 31%.
"Since the beginning of this project, we have maintained our commitment to forging an innovative girl-led initiative that encompasses broad diversity among the girls, partners and program sites,” said Jennifer L. Owens, President, HealthMPowers. “With the announcement of the GEM program sites, we continue our commitment to building a true statewide initiative. The geographic diversity of the program sites is yet another intentional component. We're thrilled that the GEM program will be available across Georgia and cannot wait to see the ripple effect it has in communities across this great state."
GEM will provide leadership training to approximately 7,000 girls at 120 selected sites, spanning 52 Georgia counties. Girls will gain skills in leadership, fitness, advocacy, and social emotional learning - and lead the creation of physical activity programming specific to each site based on their own preferences, motivators, and goals. As GEM Ambassadors, girls will develop new physical activity programs and leadership opportunities for their peers – reaching a total of approximately 18,000 girls across the state.
Griffin Middle takes the whole child approach to learning very seriously, which made the school a perfect fit to help kick off the physical activity program designed by girls, for girls.
“We are committed to helping children become the best version of themselves, including health and wellness,” praised Coach Mullis “All teachers, guidance counselors, and leadership promote physical activity, health, and wellness outside of Health and Physical Education with clubs, brain breaks, and weekly lessons related to social-emotional learning. We were able to receive the Girls Empowering Movement Grant because we understand that a critical part of learning is increasing students' health and wellness.”
