Racial Justice, Anti-Racism and Equality in the Health & Fitness Industry - TRILLFIT® [Podcast Series]
[:56] Dr. Bantham introduces her guest, Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas
Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas is Cardio Dance instructor and Community Engagement Manager at TRILLFIT®.
She is also Cultural Resilience Program Director at Enterprise Community Partners.
[1:23] Start in the health & fitness industry
“And the first time that I actually experienced another person looking like me, as well as an instructor that looked like me, was in a TRILLFIT® class. And as I continued being a client there, I found out that also the owner was a Black woman. And so asTRILLFIT® began to expand, I was asked to try out to be an instructor. And that kind of started me on this journey as being not just a client, but part of a community and a really a shaper of what fitness and wellness could look like for all folks.”
[2:46] Creating a culture of belonging and accessibility
“How important is it for fitness and wellness organizations and businesses to really have a culture of belonging and accessibility, I think, is critically important. And so to think about what that looks like for your organization, I think, speaks volumes, but also creates greater impact from your organization.”
[4:11] Finding a community
“When I found TRILLFIT®, I was like, Oh, this is different, you know, so it wasn't…. And then it wasn't even a choice to be made anymore, because I saw and I felt completely different when there was a community where I felt like I belonged, and I kind of just let the other places go. And so I think you deal with what you have. But when you find something that actually meets all of your needs, it's just a completely different experience.”
[5:34] Stepping in to lead in a community
“I really stepped in because it felt like a community that I could participate in and that I really wanted to give my skills and assets to as well.”
[6:18] Creating access and collaboration
“And so our mission at TRILLFIT® is really about how do you create access? What does that look like to create access? How do you create collaboration? What does it look like to collaborate in your community, to be a part of your community as a community member and stakeholder?”
[7:32] TRILLFIT® pledge
“And so one thing that we did, in August of last year was we launched a pledge for racial justice, anti-racism and equality in the wellness industry. Because we recognize that in this $4.2 trillion industry, we have a lot of power. And right now that power is not being leveraged towards equity, and change in equity.”
[10:16] Diversity, equity, inclusion training
“But we're also drafting or crafting a DEI program right now, to think about how not only we train ourselves a little bit more prescriptively around diversity, equity, inclusion, but also how we support other organizations and really thinking about what equity diversity inclusion might look like for them as part of the roadmap for how we think about how the pledge, where the pledge can take you.”
[11:12] Connecting to and serving community
“And we are at the same time asking other industry leaders to think about what does community work look like for you? What communities do you sit in? And how are you touching them? How are you reaching out? How are you investing and growing in trying to address health disparities?”
[13:08] Industry sign on
“Yeah, I mean, I think we've got a ton of studios, but we've also gotten bigger brands like mindbody to sign on, like ClassPass. So there are some really big industry leaders who are interested in this type of work and trying to figure out how they do that, as well as smaller studios.”
[13:59] Member sign on
“And so at every angle, or every part of life, we're really trying to look at how we support our clients, and how we're thinking about health equity in those different experiences. And so I think our clients also love us because we're constantly thinking about all the areas and aspects of life where we need wellness.”
[15:37] Accessible language
“And so how then do we create the type of space where we make it accessible for everyone to be able to stand up and say that I am well or trying to get well. And while I'm in the process, I can still stand up in here and bring other people along with me. And so that, that messaging is really important for us. And I think it should be really important for everybody if we actually are talking about reaching everyone, right?, being completely accessible.”
[18:44] Opening doors
“But also that there are so many barriers to even showing up in the space and feeling comfortable for a lot of people that, you know, how do we start to create the type of culture where people really feel like the doors are open and this is a place where you can get well, even if you don’t feel well already.”
[21:00] Diverse representation among instructors
“If you really want people of all types and styles and looks and ages and demographics and ability levels, then you have to be open to figuring out how can these folks be instructors, right?”
[23:38] Diverse class offerings
“If what we're seeing is the only people that can teach this class look this way, then maybe we need a different kind of class offering where other people can teach that look this way, or like that way, or whatever it is, like how are we being creative about what our offerings are, that actually can meet people where they are who want to be a part of the community.”
[25:06] Health & fitness as essential during COVID
“I think that was because people needed this destressor. People needed this community that they knew. They needed to see these faces of folks who were showing up and being with you every day in this like time of crisis. And a place where you felt like you belong, like being able to come into your home.”
[27:54] Health & fitness for every body
“And like just making more people feel and know that that health and wellness is for every body, every type of body, every age of body, every mobility of body. And it's, I think, a real opportunity at the intersection of equity and health, to really be lifting up that more and more.”
