Baltimore Community Fellowships
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© Open Society Institute
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Baltimore, Maryland
2008
A fitness and wellness guru, Jon Kaplan used his fellowship to create the Baltimore Fitness Academy (BMoreFit) to train and mentor marginalized young people, ages 18 to 24, in a fitness and nutritional educational program. In partnership with YO! Baltimore, the trainees had the opportunity to get certified and find good jobs in the growing industry of fitness and hospitality.
One of Kaplan’s early lessons is that working with at-risk populations is incredibly involved – and sometimes frustrating. One example: Of 10 young people who initially signed up for the program, only six remained at the end, for various reasons. Some Kaplan had to ask to leave the program; one went to jail.
“I really feel for a lot of the kids in my program. They didn’t have role models, and they didn’t have parents raising them,” Kaplan says. “They need a lot of support and a lot of services.”
But with patience, understanding and bonding over barbells and healthy foods, Kaplan was able to achieve success with the six who stuck with him. All achieved certification in fitness and nutrition. One student lost 55 pounds. Still another learned that he was a valuable member of his community with something to offer.
“I thought that everybody would give up on me,” the student said. “I’ve been given up on a lot in my life. Jon is one person who didn’t give up on me.”
Kaplan is proud of his success, but like many other fellows, he would do some things differently, if he were starting the project now. Kaplan had to learn when and how to say ‘no’ to taking on too much. He had to practice being flexible, especially when obstacles appeared. And he had to learn to be honest with himself about his own strengths and weaknesses. “When moving ahead on a project, you need to focus on your strengths and try to recruit others to help you where you’re weak,” he says.
That’s where partnerships came in.
Kaplan developed partnerships with the Meadow Mill Athletic Club and the YMCA of Central Maryland, both of which have now hired some of BMoreFit’s trainees. He also joined with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, YO! Baltimore and other local health clubs. “In dealing with social change, partners are critical to help you achieve success,” he says.
In fact, Kaplan says his advice to any new fellow would be: Plan early and network as much as possible. Network, network, network.”
Kaplan so enjoyed his project, he has now turned BMoreFit into its own non-profit.
“Without OSI’s help and support, BMoreFit would not have happened,” he says. “Through the fellowship, I was forced to take an idea and make it a reality. I have forged wonderful partners who will work with me to help sustain the work of BMoreFit and continue to transform the lives of urban youth.”
