Biola faculty and students from the kinesiology department will launch the free exercise program 100 Citizens on Oct. 10 in partnership with the La Mirada Regional Park to provide free exercise sessions for residents of La Mirada and surrounding communities. The program, which is part of the 3 Wins Fitness initiative, is designed to help residents meet or even exceed current exercise recommendations for adults set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

“We have seen through numerous research studies that exercise is one of the best solutions to many of the health ailments that Americans face,” said Biola professor Jacob Gardner who will oversee the program in La Mirada. “If Americans met just the very minimum recommendations for exercise of 30 minutes per day for 5 days a week of moderate intensity activity, we could easily cut the risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes in half.”

100 Citizens was founded because researchers discovered that many citizens do not feel equipped to maintain a training program, may not financially be able to pay for a gym membership or a personal trainer, or desire to exercise with others as accountability partners. The program is designed to use college students from kinesiology programs to start and sustain the exercise program for the benefit of local community members. Biola students are leading the new program in the La Mirada community.

The program mission is to be a “new movement dedicated to empowering individuals to improve their quality of life by building healthier minds, bodies, and communities,” according to the organization’s website.

Gardner is excited to work with Biola students to promote a program that equips community members with opportunities and skills to care for their health.

This program was developed by kinesiologists from California State University Northridge (CSUN), and the concept is proven to be sustainable and replicable. The program developed by CSUN has proven positive for the local parks, students, and community members. Biola kinesiology students have worked closely with CSUN students to adopt a similar program in La Mirada for the benefit of the community.

100 Citizens is a free exercise program for any member of the community 18 and older. The exercise sessions will take place every week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 6:30 a.m. till 7:30 a.m. at the La Mirada Regional Park. The program will completely be led by kinesiology college students. This leadership opportunity gives these students experiences similar to needed internship hours in community health and offers community members access to high quality exercise training from students who are knowledgeable in health and exercise. 100 Citizens will be partnering with La Mirada Regional Park to provide a location for the exercise sessions. This partnership also gives the parks great exposure and could encourage more people to be active outdoors.

Two Biola kinesiology students Scott Flowers and Christina Wiese along with alumna Rachael Wong worked together to establish the program. They have actively worked to connect with the parks department in La Mirada and establish a dedicated team of fellow students for conducting the exercise sessions while working closely with CSUN students to make the program enjoyable for community members. These students will help to conduct each exercise session under the leadership and direction of Gardner.

“Despite this program being extremely beneficial for student volunteers, from the practical knowledge they gain to being excellent resume material, it is also a way to serve our community and give back,” said Wiese, who will be the exercise director of the program. “We hope that we will be able to help many individuals in La Mirada and the surrounding cities to meet their personal health and fitness goals.”

“In [the program’s] infancy we really don't know what to expect as far as community member interest, but we are very excited to see where God will take us,” said Gardner.

To learn more about participating in the La Mirada 100 Citizens program, please email 100citizens@biola.edu.

Written by Erin Wilson, public relations intern. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.