2018 ‘Let’s Move Jacksonville’ a huge success

“I’m A Star Foundation” raised big bucks before the Christmas holidays, to make futures bright for many young individuals.  Hundreds of kids braved wet weather to attend the 2018 I’m A Star Foundation’s Let’s Move Jacksonville, sponsored by Farah and Farah today.  The 8th annual healthy food and fitness festival was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Henry J. Klutho Park, located at 204 W. 3rd St, in Springfield.

I’m A Star servant leaders, ages 13-18, designed the event for the entire family.  People of all ages participated in line dancing, kickball, flag football, a cheerleading camp, soccer, golf, karate, frisbee, basketball, bounce houses and more.  The event offered free healthy snacks and groceries for attendees to take home.  Communities in Schools of Jacksonville won a $1,000 prize for bringing the largest group to the event.

I’m A Star Foundation aims to make Jacksonville the healthiest city in the nation. The non-profit organization partnered with City of Jacksonville’s JaxParks to encourage families to get out and enjoy the 300+ parks in our community. Jacksonville has the largest park system in North America.

In 2010, I’m A Star servant leaders learned from a Youth Behavioral Study that teenagers in Generation Z, or the “iGen”, born between 1995 and 2012, may not outlive their parents because of childhood obesity.  In response, I’m A Star servant leaders hosted Let’s Move Jacksonville, an offshoot of former first lady Michelle Obama’s national “Let’s Move” campaign.

ABOUT I’M A STAR FOUNDATION I’m A Star Foundation is a volunteer program that transforms middle and high school students into the next generation of servant leaders.  An acronym for “Smart, Talented And Resilient” students, the Foundation draws kids ages 13-18 from schools across Duval County.  Students meet on weekends to creatively co-work on solutions to problems affecting their peers.  Since its establishment in 2010, the organization has maintained a 100% graduation rate. Founder and Executive Director Betty Seabrook Burney is a former Duval Co. School Board Chairwoman. I’m A Star Foundation students have been featured in various press outlets, including: “Around Town With Ms. “V”, Florida Times-Union, ABC7Chicago and The Huffington Post.  For more information, please visit the I’m A Star Foundation website.

'I'm A Star' Teens host 8th annual ‘Let’s Move Jacksonville’

8th Annual Field Day offers FREE healthy food and a chance to win $1,000.  The community is invited to I’m A Star Foundation’s Let’s Move Jacksonville, sponsored by Farah and Farah.  This festival will be held Saturday, December 1, 2018 at Henry J. Klutho Park, located at 204 W. 3rd St, in Springfield.  The event is free and open to the public.

I’m A Star servant leaders, ages 13-18, design the event for the entire family.  Everyone is invited, from ages 1 to 100.  Activities include: kickball, flag football, a cheerleading camp, double-dutch, face painting, line dances, soccer, golf, and more.  There will be free, healthy food and lots of vendors.  I’m A Star Foundation aims to make Jacksonville the healthiest city in the nation.  The non-profit organization is partnering with City of Jacksonville’s JaxParks to encourage families to get out and enjoy the 300+ parks in our community. Jacksonville has the largest park system in North America.

Let’s Move Jacksonville features Klutho Park, a sprawling outdoor space which was once the home of the city’s first zoo in 1914. 100+ years later, I’m A Star Foundation hopes their mission will draw residents from all corners of the city to these central majestic grounds.  Attendees are invited to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, yoga mats, bicycles or roller blades to enjoy the park.

Families, groups or churches who bring the most attendees will win $1000.  In 2010, I’m A Star servant leaders learned from a Youth Behavioral Study that teenagers in Generation Z, or the “iGen”, born between 1995 and 2012, may not outlive their parents because of childhood obesity.  In response, I’m A Star servant leaders hosted Let’s Move Jacksonville, an offshoot of former first lady Michelle Obama’s national “Let’s Move” campaign.  Similar to truth or dare, I’m A Star teens are challenging you to go into “Beast Mode”, and perform a fitness activity, or “Feast Mode”, and eat something healthy on social media.  Tag a friend and use hashtags #BeastModeFeastMode and #LetsMoveJacksonville to join the fun!

ABOUT I’M A STAR FOUNDATION I’m A Star Foundation is a volunteer program that transforms middle and high school students into the next generation of servant leaders.  An acronym for “Smart, Talented And Resilient” students, the Foundation draws kids ages 13-18 from schools across Duval County.  Students meet on weekends to creatively co-work on solutions to problems affecting their peers.  Since its establishment in 2010, the organization has maintained a 100% graduation rate. Founder and Executive Director Betty Seabrook Burney is a former Duval Co. School Board Chairwoman. I’m A Star Foundation students have been featured in various press outlets, including: “Around Town With Ms. “V”, Florida Times-Union, ABC7Chicago and The Huffington Post.  For more information, please visit the I’m A Star Foundation website.

I’m A Star Foundation’s “Let’s Move JAX”
    8th Annual Field Day

DATE: Saturday, December 1, 2018
TIME: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LOCATION: Henry J. Klutho Park
      204 W. 3rd St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32206

'I'm A Star' Teens host 7th annual ‘Let’s Move JAX’

Healthy Food and Fitness Festival, organized by the I'm AStar Foundation youth which is the largest group to win $1000 at the 7th annual “Let's Move Jacksonville”, will hold a healthy food and fitness festival on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Henry J. Klutho Park, located in Springfield at 204 W 3rd St, Jacksonville, FL 32206.  3rd street will be closed to allow for parking.

Families, groups or churches that bring the most people to I'm A Star Foundation's 7th Annual Let’s Move Jacksonville festival this Saturday will take home $1000.  The I’m A Star Teens design the event for the whole family, ages 1 to 100.  It’s free and open to the public.  Youth in the I'm A Star Foundation will give away free fruits and vegetables to all attendees.

Activities include: Free food – Free Farmer’s Market giving away local produce – DJ/Music by 93.3 The Beat Jamz – Line Dancing – Bounce Houses – Flag Football – Kickball – Cheerleading Camp – Hula Hooping – Hopscotch – Basketball – Double Dutch – Skateboarding – Bike Paths – Nature Trails – Face Painting – Arts – Crafts – Space for Picnic Blankets –  oga & Relay Races.

Since learning in a CDC Youth Risk Behavioral Study in 2010 that "this generation may not outlive their parents", youth in the I’m A Star Foundation plan this event annually to engage their peer group and combat childhood obesity.  City and community leaders of all kinds typically support the event, which has attracted upwards of 3000+ people.  Each year, I'm A Star Foundation awards the group who brings the most attendees with $1000.  Last year, Communities in Schools took home the prize.

About I’m A Star Foundation – Established in 2010, I'm A Star Foundation is a non-profit organization comprised of students (ages 12-18) who develop solutions to improve their communities.  An acronym for “Smart, Talented And Resilient” students, the Foundation draws 35 volunteer student servant leaders from middle and high schools across Duval County each year.

I’m A Star students host 6th Let’s Move Jax

In an ongoing mission to make Jacksonville the healthiest city in the nation, students in the I’m A Star Foundation are hosting their 6th annual “Let’s Move Jacksonville” event.  The FREE festival, which mirrors First Lady Michelle Obama’s movement to end Childhood Obesity, will be held Saturday, Dec.10th, at the Baseball Grounds (home of the new Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp), at 301 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida; from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Everyone is welcome, from ages 1 to 100. Activities include relay races, football, soccer, dance contests, healthy food demonstrations, health screenings and more.  Entry is FREE!  Food is FREE!  Parking will be $5 in Lots P, M, & N.  Please, register HERE for Let’s Move Jacksonville.  $1000 will be awarded to the organization that brings the largest crowd.

“We are excited to partner with I’m a Star Foundation and host Let’s Move Jacksonville at the ballpark,” said Jumbo Shrimp General Manager Harold Craw. “We are proud to support an event and organization focused on community wellness and youth empowerment.”

Students in the I’m A Star Foundation have been at the forefront of combatting childhood obesity since 2009. The first Let’s Move Jacksonville event was held in 2010 at a parking lot at Edward Waters College, and has evolved to attract 3,000+ people.  In 2015, Let’s Move Jacksonville recorded 3000+ attendees. Since last year, Jacksonville has moved from #37 to #34 on a list of healthy cities.

#LetsMoveMonday: Get ready for the event by participating in the #LetsMoveMonday challenge on social media. Every Monday, share a photo or video to Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, showing us how you get active.  Please tag I’m A Star Foundation and use hashtag #LetsMoveMonday.

About I’m A Star Foundation:
#FitOverFatUSA, a national social media movement empowering teens to post about healthy eating and fitness. In 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General visited Jacksonville to show support for the initiative, calling it a “model for the nation.” Students on ABC7 Chicago

Rosa Parks Produce Market, a student-run farmers’ market located at Rosa Parks Transit Station in Jacksonville, FL, provides a solution to food deserts. In partnership with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, the market offers fresh fruits and vegetables for sale to 11,000 riders daily.

Jacksonville HELPS (Homeless Students Empowered through Leadership, Partnership & Service), a student-led initiative which has raised $57,000 for homeless students in Duval County via two celebrity basketball games.  To learn more, visit the “I’m a Star Foundation”.

Surgeon General declares JAX teen challenge a model for the nation

Originally posted on Examiner: May 27, 2016
In December 2015, they visited Washington, D.C. and met with current U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to pitch their call-to-action plan. Impressed with the proposal, Dr. Murthy visited Jacksonville to help the students introduce #FitOverFatUSA to the community.  Dr. Murthy says Jacksonville can be a model of health for the nation.  He adds, “It depends on how everyone pulls together, including students and parents and elected leaders and business leaders to help do their part to make sure we are creating an environment that promotes health.”

About “I’m A Star Foundation”: The foundation provides an outlet for students (ages 11-18) to develop solutions and strategies to help their peers (and their families) overcome negative statistics and barriers and unleash their inner greatness.  “I’m A Star Foundation” Executive Director Betty Seabrook Burney is a former Duval County School Board member who joined the Duval County School Board in November 2004 and held the distinction of serving as a two-time Board Chairman (2006 and 2011) and a two-time Vice Chairman (2005 and 2010). At the end of her term as School Board Chairman, Duval County achieved the distinction of having all chronically low performing schools exit the state of Florida’s intervene list.  (Take a look at the video above, and see for yourself).

Burney serves as a consultant for the Center for Reform of School Systems where she works with School Boards and Superintendents to provide technical assistance on governance strategies and practices designed to impact student achievement and to narrow the academic achievement gap.  Her expertise has been shared with the following school districts:
Houston Independent School District
Corsicana Independent School District (Corsicana, TX)
Tyler Independent School District (Tyler, TX)
Prince Georges County School District (Prince Georges, MD)
Richmond School District (Richmond, VA)
Syracuse County School District (Syracuse, NY)
Memphis School District (Memphis, TN)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District (Charlotte, NC)
New Orleans Parish School District (New Orleans, LA)