Identifying Local Needs, Resources and Potential Partners

By Mike Dove and Susan Love, JUST RUN for Running USA Youth Programs Workshop 

1.  Understand the demographics of your targeted schools and youth organizations.

2.  Resources for leader participation to build and promote your program

CONTACTS

  •      Superintendents/ Principals (letters and brochures, phone calls, e-mails)
  •      Existing running event (such as Big Sur 5K) School Coordinators
  •      County/district offices of education staff
  •      School PTA, educational and school nurses organizations
  •      Retired school administrators for school contacts
  •      After-school coordinators
  •      Home-school coordinators

COMMUNITY CONTACTS

  •      Local running clubs, elite runners, race directors
  •      Brochures in race packets  
  •      Health fairs 
  •      Back-to-School community events 
  •      Newspaper publicity and media acknowledgement                             

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

  •      Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles (HELP) - organization of local growers of fruits and vegetables
  •      Monterey County Health Department
  •      School Wellness Policy group, other wellness groups  
  •      Steps to a Healthier Salinas Consortium
  •      Youth organizations (Boys' and Girls' Clubs, YMCA, Scouts, etc.)
  •      California State University Monterey Bay
  •      Private companies and service organizations
  •      Local companies for printing, manufacturing, etc.

WEBSITE LINKS

  •      Development of effective website presentation and instructions
  •      Active.com Fundraising
  •      Partnerships with other fitness related websites

See justrun.org for more tips.