Removing Barriers to Fitness Programming, Education and Jobs For Homeless Youth - Bootcamps for Change [Podcast Series]

• [:56] Dr. Bantham introduces her guest, Katie Heggtveit

  • Katie Heggtveit is the Founder of Bootcamps for Change (#SweatierForTheBetter).

• [1:23]  Encouraging systems-wide solutions for chronic disease and physical inactivity

  • “But at Bootcamps for Change, we really do view poverty as a cause and consequence of ill health. So we address the alarming prevalence of A) ill health as well as B) unemployment within the homeless youth population.”

• [5:03]  Empowering homeless youth to become physically active

  • “So we provide critical education and employment training and opportunities, as well as accessible fitness programming helps them to develop these life skills. And this launches them on a positive path towards independence and self sufficiency as contributing members of society.”

• [6:23]  Prioritizing funding for physical activity

  • “I believe we really need to hone in on measuring the success of our programs, of these physical activity programs.  So that includes not only the health impacts for youth, but also like the return on investment from a preventative standpoint.”

• [8:11]  Meeting basic needs

  • “And you touched on something in my field or in my work that we like to call the emergency response side of homelessness.  So those are things you touched on like shelter, food and clothing. How can I think about implementing healthy dietary changes when I don't even know where my next meal is coming from?”

• [11:21] The beginning of the Bootcamps for Change journey

  • “I taught weekly for a year. And then in August of 2018 is when Bootcamps for changes was born since I couldn't continue that time commitment. So I didn't want the program to end. And then since then, we've mobilized over 250 fitness professionals to work with this population, and we've put six kids through our scholarship program.” 

• [13:12] Advice for young social entrepreneurs

  • “But then, in terms of actual advice for young social entrepreneurs, I'd say be in love with the problem. So you said that right. Identify a problem, not your solution. So I never imagined that Bootcamps for Change would be what it is today. But I was open to pivoting and changing along the way.”

• [15:05]  Physical activity as part of the social determinants of health conversation

  • “So in addition to really honing in on that return on investment, I think we really have to look at what physical activity does either than just making you feel good.  There has been a lot of really great research on drug addiction and health issues related to homeless activities. And how physical activity can actually alleviate some of these problems.” 

• [17:22] Tapping into the fitness community to make physical activity accessible

  • “And by cultivating relationships between the fitness professional and the youth experiencing homelessness, this creates, it almost ignites a passion in the fitness professionals that we work with, especially fitness professionals that have friends that have friends that have experienced homelessness or mental health issues, or maybe even they experienced some sort of poverty growing up, that really resonates with them.”

• [20:27] The importance of mentoring

  • “So mentoring, which I would characterize as sustained support, guidance, concern and encouragement of a youth also promotes that healthy relationships, resiliency and positive social development.  So self advocacy and resilience, like you mentioned, are really themes of our work.” 

• [22:04] Fitness as a stepping stone

  • “So I wouldn't say that every single youth that is going to go through our program will be a career fitness professional, remain in the fitness industry until they retire, but I really do think fitness can act as a great stepping stone. Whether It's fitness as their calling or now they have enough income that they have the ability to find their calling, or to work on gaining that skill or pursuing that education.” 

• [23:56] Stopping youth from falling through the cracks

  • “I don't have the exact stat in front of me, but Canada is higher percentage wise in terms of youth poverty compared to like 25 other developed nations, I believe we're at 13%. And to me, that's, that's unacceptable. There's always going to be inequality and inequities but to have youth fall through the cracks, is signifying that they weren't adequately supported in the beginning.”

• [25:34] Removing the stigma of homelessness

  • “If they let us and we're able to propel their stories and show that youth experiencing homelessness do want to work and they do want to overcome the challenges that they're experiencing, this will help debunk those harmful stereotypes that actually perpetrate that self stigmatization in the population that we serve.”

• [28:43] The impact of COVID-19

  • “The changes have kind of allowed us to be really creative and just take a look at our whole mentorship and employment program specifically, and accept the fact that in the future youth may only be hired by us. Who knows with the economy with the gyms, the studio gyms we are working with, they may not be able to get hired there.”