While 2016 the most challenging year for Urban Perform, it was also incredibly rewarding. Through the P.O.W.E.R. UP Youth Program and a partnership with Georgia State, UP served over 1470 school-aged kids at 8 different locations during 2016. By the end of 2016, however, UP had found itself in a position that our programs were growing faster than we could imagine, which created trouble in keeping up. In December 2016, our board voted to suspend our family program and close the Vine City gym location, focusing our efforts on our Youth Programs.
While the closing of the Vine City gym space has been unbelievably difficult, our neighbors and community members responded beautifully. They formed action groups, wrote letters, and did everything in their power to help us, demonstrating how instrumental fitness had become in their lives. Upon hearing of the gym closure, one of our members remarked, “that’s okay, but I’ve come too far to stop just because the building’s closing, I’m gonna find another way.” We are committed to Westside Atlanta and will continue to think creatively on how to make exercise and nutrition accessible and affordable to our neighbors. While we do not know what the future holds for Urban Perform, we are thankful for the past 5 years. We care deeply about our members and this community. We hope to find new ways for exercise to be part of their lives.