Alison Rootberg's guest appearances

Alison Rootberg

HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness

Two Fit Crazies and a Microphone

#WeGotGoals by aSweatLife

Anthony Vennare

Sadie Kurzban

Coss Marte

Judith Matz

Nadya Okamoto

Lesley Eccles

Hilaree Nelson

Joel Fuhrman

Anthony Wall

Nicole Lapin

Layne Norton

Samantha Boardman

Chris Pronger

Kathryn Budig

Elizabeth Stanley

OwlTail

Steve Feinberg

Wellness 4 Every 1 aims to increase awareness of the inequalities in the wellness industry and provide opportunities for diverse communities to have access to quality arts and wellness programming, as well as a space for social and emotional well-being. Their programs are currently in 100 public schools nationwide, with 150 classes weekly (new programs are added all the time) and impacting over 10,000 students! How do they know it's working? Among other things, "Every year the schools expand their programming!" states Alison Rootberg, Founder. "The initial frustration was we saw a huge need for improvement in Chicago public schools. But now we work with New York, New Jersey, and others. The school systems do not have funding for these programs! So students are not receiving art, music, dance theater . . . and physical education was the most underserved, least funded programming!" she states. The programs are very affordable for districts as well. $4 provides a 1 hour class to a child.  "We're particularly proud of the way we empower kids to love movement. It's not just about burning calories or getting moving, it's about inspiring them to continue to do it," echoes Steve Feinberg, Director of Partnerships and long time industry veteran.  Alison and Steve go on to discuss the challenges around fundraising and applying for grants, their plans for expansion (since there's clearly a lot of need!) onboarding instructors to maintain quality across the network, and more. The ideas here are so "simple," and easily implemented that host Pete Moore strongly urges, "Anyone who listens to this podcast should immediately listen to it again to get some ideas and make them happen!"   Wellness 4 Every 1 is quietly (but quickly!) making waves and affecting kids in so many positive ways. Reach out to them directly to get your school involved (or as a fitness professional to learn how you can participate.)  Click here to download transcript. 

<a href="https://www.wellness4every1.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wellness 4 Every 1</a> aims to increase awareness of the inequalities in the wellness industry and provide opportunities for diverse communities to have access to quality arts and wellness programming, as well as a space for social and emotional well-being. Their programs are currently in 100 public schools nationwide, with 150 classes weekly (new programs are added all the time) and impacting over 10,000 students! How do they know it's working? Among other things, "Every year the schools expand their programming!" states <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arootberg/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Alison Rootberg</a>, Founder. "The initial frustration was we saw a huge need for improvement in Chicago public schools. But now we work with New York, New Jersey, and others. The school systems do not have funding for these programs! So students are not receiving art, music, dance theater . . . and physical education was the most underserved, least funded programming!" she states. The programs are very affordable for districts as well. $4 provides a 1 hour class to a child.  "We're particularly proud of the way we empower kids to love movement. It's not just about burning calories or getting moving, it's about inspiring them to continue to do it," echoes <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-feinberg-63222121/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steve Feinberg</a>, Director of Partnerships and long time industry veteran.  Alison and Steve go on to discuss the challenges around fundraising and applying for grants, their plans for expansion (since there's clearly a lot of need!) onboarding instructors to maintain quality across the network, and more. The ideas here are so "simple," and easily implemented that host Pete Moore strongly urges, "Anyone who listens to this podcast should immediately listen to it again to get some ideas and make them happen!"   Wellness 4 Every 1 is quietly (but quickly!) making waves and affecting kids in so many positive ways. Reach out to them directly to get your school involved (or as a fitness professional to learn how you can participate.)  <a href="https://www.halotalks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Steve-Feinberg-Alison-Rootberg-transcription.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Click here to download transcript.</a>

Episode #337: Alison Rootberg & Steve Feinberg, Wellness 4 Every 1

In the spirit of our current "Contributing Generously" theme, we went back to a past podcast guest who's deeply involved in the intersection of Chicago's public schools and health and wellness. Meet Alison Rootberg, a long-time friend of aSweatLife and founder of Wellness4Every1, a Chicago wellness company building strategic partnerships to fund arts and physical education opportunities for Chicago students. As Rootberg started teaching dance classes around Chicago, she was shocked to find that many schools didn't have art, music, dance, or theater —and she realized there was an opportunity to help, funding Wellness4Every1 as a result. Eventually, that mission also evolved to expanding programming to build social and emotional skills through activities like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. And she does it all on a budget, too: Wellness4Every1's whole budget revolves around $4 per student per hour, she tells me in this interview. This year, Wellness4Every1 is focusing on physical education, which is the most underserved program in Chicago Public Schools. Even more significantly, they want to provide resources for every single Chicago Public School—all 600+ of them. That's what we in the start-up business call 10x-ing it, and it's NOT easy. Undaunted, Rootberg says, "my whole life, I always kind of had these big ideas, and people were like, 'I don't know that that's possible...,' and I'm like "Oh, well, watch! Here we go." Listen to this episode and try NOT to fall in love with Rootberg's optimism and genuine desire to help—we dare you. Highlights:  8m 40s: Rootberg discusses a big goal from her past: creating a new source of funding for Chicago Public Schools through Wellness4Every1. 12m: Rootberg discusses her big goal for next year: expanding Wellness4Every1 to working with all Chicago Public Schools (over 600 of them!) 14m: Rootberg explains why physical education is the most failed class in CPS high schools and offers a few thoughts on how we could modify PE curriculum. 17m 45s: Rootberg shares the origin of the monthly #Sweat4OurSchools workouts and how they were born out of a bit of failure. 21m 15s: We discuss how Wellness4Every1 has leveraged community to further their mission. 27m 30s: Rootberg's favorite success stories and warm, fuzzy feelings that make it all worth it. "It's those personal connections that were a huge foundation for us creating our programming." 29m 40s: We discuss Give Back Gifts, Wellness4Every1's December giving initiative with Maelle, Lifeway Kefir, Addison-Ashland Florist, and Imperfect Foods.  Resources mentioned:  These Four Chicagoans Are Using Fitness to Make a Big Difference in Their Communities—and You Can Help Them (live #WeGotGoals podcast recording) Wellness4Every1's website (including where you can find their #Sweat4OurSchools monthly events around Chicago) On Your Mark Training (check out their GORGEOUS West Side location) Allison in another piece on aSweatLife.com: In-School Programs Teaching Kids Confidence Through Movement SeaWheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver LiveBetter Co. More information about Give Back Gifts    If you love this episode as much as we do, subscribe to the #WeGotGoals podcast wherever you like to listen to podcasts, including on Apple and Spotify (and hey, leave us a rating while you’re at it!).

In the spirit of our current "Contributing Generously" theme, we went back to a past podcast guest who's deeply involved in the intersection of Chicago's public schools and health and wellness. Meet Alison Rootberg, a long-time friend of aSweatLife and founder of <a href="https://www.wellness4every1.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wellness4Every1</a>, a Chicago wellness company building strategic partnerships to fund arts and physical education opportunities for Chicago students. As Rootberg started teaching dance classes around Chicago, she was shocked to find that many schools didn't have art, music, dance, or theater —and she realized there was an opportunity to help, funding Wellness4Every1 as a result. Eventually, that mission also evolved to expanding programming to build social and emotional skills through activities like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. And she does it all on a budget, too: Wellness4Every1's whole budget revolves around $4 per student per hour, she tells me in this interview. This year, Wellness4Every1 is focusing on physical education, which is the most underserved program in Chicago Public Schools. Even more significantly, they want to provide resources for every single Chicago Public School—all 600+ of them. That's what we in the start-up business call 10x-ing it, and it's NOT easy. Undaunted, Rootberg says, "my whole life, I always kind of had these big ideas, and people were like, 'I don't know that that's possible...,' and I'm like "Oh, well, watch! Here we go." Listen to this episode and try NOT to fall in love with Rootberg's optimism and genuine desire to help—we dare you. Highlights: <ul> <li>8m 40s: Rootberg discusses a big goal from her past: creating a new source of funding for Chicago Public Schools through Wellness4Every1.</li> <li>12m: Rootberg discusses her big goal for next year: expanding Wellness4Every1 to working with all Chicago Public Schools (over 600 of them!)</li> <li>14m: Rootberg explains why physical education is the most failed class in CPS high schools and offers a few thoughts on how we could modify PE curriculum.</li> <li>17m 45s: Rootberg shares the origin of the monthly #Sweat4OurSchools workouts and how they were born out of a bit of failure.</li> <li>21m 15s: We discuss how Wellness4Every1 has leveraged <a href="https://asweatlife.com/2019/05/wegotgoals-kelly-roberts/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">community</a> to further their mission.</li> <li>27m 30s: Rootberg's favorite success stories and warm, fuzzy feelings that make it all worth it. "It's those personal connections that were a huge foundation for us creating our programming."</li> <li>29m 40s: We discuss <a href="https://mailchi.mp/dfaf1176ce89/wellness4every1-give-back-gifts-1189669?e=3b34c498a9" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Give Back Gifts</a>, Wellness4Every1's December giving initiative with Maelle, Lifeway Kefir, Addison-Ashland Florist, and Imperfect Foods.</li> </ul> Resources mentioned: <ul> <li><a href="https://asweatlife.com/2019/02/these-four-chicagoans-are-using-fitness-to-make-a-big-difference-in-their-communities-and-you-can-help-them/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">These Four Chicagoans Are Using Fitness to Make a Big Difference in Their Communities—and You Can Help Them</a> (live #WeGotGoals podcast recording)</li> <li><a href="https://www.wellness4every1.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wellness4Every1's website</a> (including where you can find their <a href="https://www.wellness4every1.com/events" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">#Sweat4OurSchools monthly events around Chicago</a>)</li> <li><a href="http://oymtraining.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">On Your Mark Training</a> (check out their GORGEOUS West Side location)</li> <li>Allison in another piece on <a href="http://aSweatLife.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">aSweatLife.com</a>: <a href="https://asweatlife.com/2018/08/how-these-chicago-area-school-programs-are-teaching-kids-confidence-through-movement/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">In-School Programs Teaching Kids Confidence Through Movement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.seawheeze.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">SeaWheeze Half Marathon</a> in Vancouver</li> <li><a href="http://www.livebetterco.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">LiveBetter Co.</a></li> <li>More information about <a href="https://mailchi.mp/dfaf1176ce89/wellness4every1-give-back-gifts-1189669?e=3b34c498a9" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Give Back Gifts</a></li> </ul> If you love this episode as much as we do, subscribe to the #WeGotGoals podcast wherever you like to listen to podcasts, including on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wegotgoals/id1210945574?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/16z2ie90dGUbXE0oWKdp8k?si=_xRYS77rSsCGpxrLkDdziQ" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a> (and hey, leave us a rating while you’re at it!).

Wellness4Every1 Founder Alison Rootberg on How She'll Help 600+ Chicago Public Schools This Year