AUSTIN, Minn. – Austin Public Schools’ (APS) More Than Pink program has been honored by the Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA).
A regional program award will be presented to the school district by the MCEA at the Austin School Board meeting in December.
“More Than Pink has been an inspiring program in Austin for many years and has impacted hundreds of young women in our community,” says Jen Lawhead, Director of Community Education. “Our Community Education Coordinator, Teri Wermager, brought the program to Austin and was not only its creator, but its biggest champion. We are also grateful to the many amazing women in the Austin community who have volunteered their time and talent as guest speakers and fitness leaders for this program.
More Than Pink is a 6-week summer program designed for girls who have completed third through sixth grade. APS says it “innovatively weaves 5K race training with lessons that empower girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, and embrace their gifts.” A More Than Pink day includes 60 minutes of physical activity, a Topic Talk lesson and group time. Topics include self-esteem, body image, nutrition, puberty, peer pressure, and more. Strong female role models from our community lead our topical discussions.
The goals of More Than Pink are: to help girls grow and develop mentally, physically and socially with the support of the community, to empower them to be true to themselves and to develop healthy habits fitness training that will benefit them throughout their lives.
