Monday, August 27, 2012
An Interview with Urban Perform”s Exec Director, Laura Pritchard!
A few months ago, an amazing gym, Urban Perform, opened in the community! Urban Perform”s (UP) goal is to “create a safe place that promotes physical health, contributing to the emotional, economical and spiritual health of the neighborhood” and they are off to a GREAT start! In effort to help spread the word about Urban Perform, we”ve asked their Executive Director, Laura Pritchard, to answer a few questions for us.
Drew Henley: Where did this amazing idea come from? How did the dream of a gym begin to become more a reality?
This idea came from residents in English Avenue. The men in our neighborhood spoke of their desire to have a safe place to exercise for themselves as well as their kids and families. Pastor Tim of New Life Covenant Church approached me about leading this project. Since completing Mission Year and graduate school in Exercise Physiology I had dreamed of opening a gym in our neighborhood that offered quality services to all no matter race, age, sex, or socio-economic class. With the voices of our neighbors longing for a gym, it felt like the perfect time to start one. The Lord so graciously made this a reality by connecting us with donors, grant writers, foundations, and an extremely supportive network!
DH: What services and classes are currently being offered at Urban Perform? How does someone get signed up and involved in these classes/services?
We currently offer the following classes to the public:
Zumba: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 2:00pm
Bootcamp Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00am
Bootcamp Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00am
Starting in September we will also add these classes:
September 17th – Indoor Cycling Classes: Mondays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 9:00am
(Classes are free the entire month of September!)
September 10th – Bootcamp Classes: Mondays at 8:30pm and Thursdays at 8:30pm