Sisters at the Center
There are 4 categories of different programs we are running for women of color in the community. Including walking club, kickboxing club, swimming club, weightlifting club, cooking classes, gardening and many other activities. Sign up for $10 and get access to all the programs. Also enjoy a discount for the annual connection conference.
The goal of the program
The goal of this program is to address barriers to health and wellness for women of color, in Iowa City and the surrounding community.
We want to provide common opportunities to women of color that often are taken for granted by others. We want to come together to learn more about the amenities that the City of Iowa City has to offer, such as, but not limited to, walking trails, parks and recreation opportunities. We plan to offer these options to show women how to not only utilize these moments, but to connect to the community and find new friends within our group. Overall, we have hope that by decreasing their isolation, we can potentially repair the harm from the varied years of exclusion. We want to bring the City of Iowa City to our constituents.
The main objective of the Sisters at the Center program is to address disparate access to affordable recreational facilities and health-related information. Lack of access to this information often serves as a barrier to general health and wellness for women of color in Iowa City and in the surrounding community. Additionally, the program endeavors to alleviate social isolation secondary to discriminatory behavior and exclusion from community resources that often promote feelings of disconnectedness. This program is designed to create community partnerships through a series of activities and events that will encourage usage of local facilities, while simultaneously fostering a sense of kinship for women of color.
The goal of the program
The goal of this program is to address barriers to health and wellness for women of color, in Iowa City and the surrounding community.
We want to provide common opportunities to women of color that often are taken for granted by others. We want to come together to learn more about the amenities that the City of Iowa City has to offer, such as, but not limited to, walking trails, parks and recreation opportunities. We plan to offer these options to show women how to not only utilize these moments, but to connect to the community and find new friends within our group. Overall, we have hope that by decreasing their isolation, we can potentially repair the harm from the varied years of exclusion. We want to bring the City of Iowa City to our constituents.
- Throughout the year, we will offer programming in various local facilities, to help accommodate those that want to participate, about health and wellness options for their entire families with City of Iowa City staff.
- We will offer food and nutrition classes at different local facilities to provide information and healthy alternative options for traditional meals. These options will represent most, if not all of our different cultural backgrounds.
- We plan to assist in bringing more women to our local farmer’s markets for the community social engagement, as well as exploration of more fruit and vegetable options.
- Once established, our long term goal is to create and care for a community plot to grow vegetables that women in our program can share free of charge.
The main objective of the Sisters at the Center program is to address disparate access to affordable recreational facilities and health-related information. Lack of access to this information often serves as a barrier to general health and wellness for women of color in Iowa City and in the surrounding community. Additionally, the program endeavors to alleviate social isolation secondary to discriminatory behavior and exclusion from community resources that often promote feelings of disconnectedness. This program is designed to create community partnerships through a series of activities and events that will encourage usage of local facilities, while simultaneously fostering a sense of kinship for women of color.
Our collaborative partners
As we continue to develop new ways to uphold our mission, we will continue to seek additional partnerships with other entities in our community to provide additional access to wellness opportunities. The partnerships that we do have are from connections we are currently using to increase wellness with members such as our kickboxing group. It is unfortunate that this has been limited due to cost and location for some of our members. The need and desire for our programming alone has set the tone moving forward. For some of our current activities, we have had members donate funds for other women of color in the community to attend.
Our current partners are:
As we continue to develop new ways to uphold our mission, we will continue to seek additional partnerships with other entities in our community to provide additional access to wellness opportunities. The partnerships that we do have are from connections we are currently using to increase wellness with members such as our kickboxing group. It is unfortunate that this has been limited due to cost and location for some of our members. The need and desire for our programming alone has set the tone moving forward. For some of our current activities, we have had members donate funds for other women of color in the community to attend.
Our current partners are:
- STRIKE Martial Arts (Iowa City) - Master Hamza Omar - Kickboxing and self defense classes for women who wish to participate.
- City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation - Chad Dyson - low cost use of space and increased participation in recreation center classes throughout the year.
- Hyvee (Waterfront) - Healthy food demonstrations and collaborations with dieticians.
- Field to Family - Michelle Kenyon –The farm stand program offers free fresh produce and food samples and works to reduce food insecurity and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed in general in our community.