What part do fitness professionals play in grassroots movements?

Community fitness Ambassador Erin Trent is spearheading a grassroots movement. Called uGO: A Community Wellness Venture, its mission is to "eliminate the social, physical and economic injustice that is crippling our Philadelphia communities". She has identified the problem: "Families in West Philadelphia are passively dying from preventable diseases, and a lack of exercise and healthy diet is the foremost cause"; and she has developed a four-pronged approach to solve the problem.

1. Provide "food options that are affordable and nutritious
2. Make accessible "exercise and play space that is safe and convenient
3. Provide "networks that are supportive" and
4. Provide fitness and nutrition education that is accurate and relevant.

As far as I know, though Erin is an avid exerciser, I don't think she is a trained fitness professional. She has been trained, though, to facilitate exercises within her community through Bodyworks. Which brings me to the point of this article. I am a trained fitness professional with years of teaching multiple group fitness classes daily and as my only source of income. I don't do that anymore, because of burnout, but you group fitness instructors can calculate how many classes I've taught over the years.

What happens when a community replaces highly experienced, certified, professional fitness instructors/trainers with community fitness leaders with limited experience leading or teaching fitness formats? We're about to see.

Right now, I'm a community fitness writer at Examiner.com and Livestrong.com, and though I strive to write in as professional manner as possible, I can't claim the expertise. So, just like community fitness leaders, I am encroaching into territory owned by professional writers with years of writing experience. Bloggers vs journalists, bloggers win. Examiners vs journalists, Examiners gaining ground.

I'll tell you this, the more I write the better I get. Reminds me when I was into body sculpting; the complete transformation as my body blossomed organically with consistent practice.

As a fitness professional I applaud and support everyone who has taken on the mantle of a TAP-Thought and Action Partner- like Erin and a Community Fitness Ambassador, Facilitator, Leader and hopefully someday Professional. She'll let us know how we can help her. Hopefully, we will answer the call.