Black Girls as Transformative Leaders in Physical Activity Programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Community Health

Background:

• Black American adolescent girls are often overlooked in leadership and empowerment discussions.
• School-based physical activity programs frequently adopt deficit-based approaches, neglecting the potential of Black girls as leaders.
• There is a gap in positioning Black girls as leaders in physical activity initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of empowering Black girls to lead physical activity programs.
• To investigate the effectiveness of peer leadership in a group fitness setting for adolescent girls.
• To understand the experiences of Black girls leading physical activity initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach using general inductive narrative analysis.
• Data collected through group interviews, observations, reflection notes, and faculty testimonials.
• An 8-week after-school physical activity pilot program featuring trained peer leaders (BLinG-Health™).

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated community, collaboration, and increased confidence.
• Peer leadership in group fitness was effective, though varied among individuals.
• Adolescent girls recognized both the benefits and challenges of the program while enjoying the experience.

Conclusions:

• Black girls can effectively lead physical activity initiatives when provided the opportunity and supportive community.
• Empowering Black girls as leaders in physical activity programs can enhance community building and health outcomes.
• Researchers, schools, and community activists should prioritize empowering Black girls to lead health programs.