BluePrint Mini-Grants
Texas Cooperative Extension - Dallas County
Dallas, Texas
Project Title:
Wellness in the City: Increasing Physical Activity Among Minority
Older Adults in Two Urban Areas
Amount Funded: $24,562
About the Organization/Coalition:
The Dallas Wellness in the City coalition initiates programs that
support city residents' attaining their highest possible level of
wellness with a variety of health-related programs. The current
focus is the Walk Across Texas program, which has been implemented
primarily in rural Texas counties through the Texas Cooperative
Extension. The coalition has adapted the program for use in inner
city communities.
Walk Across Texas is an eight-week physical activity program that
helps participants establish the habit of physical activity with
peer support provided by fellow team members. Participants form
teams of eight, pooling their weekly mileage to determine which
team can first walk from the east Texas border to El Paso on the
west Texas border. A conversion chart helps participants convert
other activities, such as swimming and aerobic exercises to miles
for their team. Mileage is tallied on a web site, comparing the
progress of various teams.
Project Objectives:
The coalition will work with local community groups in Irving and
South Dallas. The target area in Irving is primarily Hispanic and
the area in South Dallas is primarily African American. Volunteer
leaders who currently engage in physical activity and live in the
target communities will be trained to lead and implement the program,
functioning as team captains or site managers. The program objectives
include:
- Motivate inner city older adults to begin and continue a physical activity program. The coalition will identify older adults who are physical active and others who would like to be to become members of a community planning committee. In addition, the coalition will modify the program for targeted groups in each community and plan program kick-off and recognition events. Events might include family "fun walks", community health fairs, meal preparation demonstrations, and health education activities focused on living with chronic health problems.
- Adapt the training process for site coordinators and team captains to make it appropriate for use with volunteers from target audiences.
- Implement the Walk Across Texas in target communities.
- Develop strategies to maintain the physical activity program and to promote replication at other Texas urban sites.
- Enhance the current Walk Across Texas web site to allow tracking of mileage after the eight weeks and provide feedback to participants and teams.
- Develop a Wellness in the City informational web site to include implementation and promotional information for other Dallas communities and other urban areas interested in improving physical activity levels for low-income, inner city residents age 50+.
Progress Report:
The Internet-based Walk Across Texas program was launched in September in Irving and South Dallas with 1,496 participants. During the eight-week period, the older adult participants logged in a total of 9,525.39 miles.
A logo, flyers, brochures, and a web page were created for the program. During the eight-week Walk Across Texas program, the Extension Office offered weekly educational health breaks related to chronic disease prevention and management through exercise.
The Walk Across Texas program ended with a Healthy Holiday Cooking School conducted at the Dallas Farmers Market. The Extension Office continues to meet monthly with program participants, offering programs on health and nutrition.
Contact Information:
Susan Richey
Texas Cooperative Extension - Dallas County
10056 Marsh Lane, Suite B-101
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 904-3050
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