Working from the premise that health and wellness is an employability skill, H. H. Humphrey Job Corps initiated a center-wide campaign in April 2004 to promote fitness among its student body. In efforts to counter the growing trend of young people today becoming overweight and obese, the center piloted a 10-week program of physical activities held before, during, and after the training day. Staff volunteered to be coaches, while students earned incentives as they accumulated "healthy heart hours". Activities included walking clubs, weightlifting, softball, balanced living and nutrition classes, belly dancing, and more.
Follow-up evaluation of the program proved that it was exceptionally popular with the students, who felt that staff involvement and encouragement made all the difference in motivating them to participate. Currently, a center Healthy Hearts committee is working to develop a permanent program that will bring PE back into the training day. The students made it clear that this is what they want.
