We Are the City Spotlight: Ultimate Impact

By Rocky Beach, Executive Director and Founder of Ultimate Impact

During COVID-19, Ultimate Impact program partners and parents voiced concerns about the number of hours youth were spending in front of computers during school, primarily sedentary, for long periods of time. To address this challenge, Ultimate Impact developed a virtual physical activity and movement curriculum that offered age-appropriate, challenging workouts and physical fitness to youth in a fun and exciting way. We pivoted our work to focus on creating positive virtual spaces where youth could exercise together, build healthy habits, and increase activity. We led workouts that included a variety of exercises such as stretching, yoga, jumping jacks, squats, air jump rope, and running in place. We encouraged engagement and participation by mentoring the youth to lead portions of the workouts and share positive feedback about their classmates through virtual “shoutouts.” We brought the framework, activities, music, and excitement.

As Ultimate Impact coaches elevated the workouts, youth rose to the challenge, excited, and asking for more opportunities to exercise. We supported more than 300 students each week, teaching high energy movement and challenging workouts through a virtual platform.

While the pivot to online curriculum was important during a very challenging period in the lives of our youth, we were very thankful to be coaching back in person this summer. Seeing our youth run, laugh, and have fun together was a powerful reminder of how important community is to each and every one of us. We rely on each other during both the joyful and challenging times in our lives. Stepping back on the field (and blacktop) together has been great but we are thankful that we could be a positive and consistent part of the lives of youth over the past two years.

Last year was a tough one for many reasons, but COVID-19 has changed how we do things on such a massive level. We’ve experienced challenges because of the pandemic, but we’ve also had many successes that have pushed our organization to new heights. In reflection, we asked ourselves “How has COVID made us stronger, and what are we taking back with us as we return to in-person play?” Here is what our team said:

Coach Nicole: “The start of the pandemic made us pause and rethink what’s at the core of what we do to meet the needs of families and youth in our programs. Through that process it emphasized the importance of putting relationships at the center of what we do. Over the last year we’ve seen how incredibly significant those relationships are.”

Coach JJ: “Through this pandemic we were really able to shift through and focus on the things that mattered and through that, we were able to support our youth at a higher level noting that connection, fun, and physical exercise were some of the most important things we could provide them.”

Coach Loveen: “COVID forced us to take time to slow down, be present, and take care of youth, families, and our team in a new way. We also learned how to create a warm, connected environment virtually.”

Coach Rocky: “I think COVID challenged us to be creative and encouraged us to learn from each other and improved our systems for sharing best practices.”

San Francisco has always been a special place that either draws people here or encourages them to stay. We have amazing and resilient youth and have a lot of services that focus on supporting our community. It feels like a small town that is actually a big city. San Franciscans seem to have a special connection to each other. Ultimate Impact works hard to bring youth together to strengthen those connections with structured learning through sports and play.

There has been a lot of discussion about learning loss, but the real impact of the pandemic on youth, in my opinion, has been the loss of how to work together and socialize. Youth are facing increased challenges of how to get along. The City should continue focusing on events and programs that bring people together (in a safe way) to strengthen our communities.

Please share a song that comes to mind when you think of everything that has transpired for you or your programs during the pandemic.

Better When I’m Dancin’ by Meghan Trainor was a regular on Coach JJ’s playlist over the past year and a youth favorite.