Spreading the Power of Women to Boston's Underserved Communities

In the Healthworks community, no one gets left out of the empowerment, joy and health that come from movement. From membership fees to the cost of transportation, we know access to high-quality fitness opportunities, health education and well-being services don’t come without barriers. Since its founding in 1998, Healthworks Community Fitness has been our way of breaking them down in Boston’s historically underserved communities.

Healthworks Community Fitness is our 501c3 public charity dedicated to helping to achieve health equity by providing high quality fitness and wellness education to women and children in Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury to prevent and manage chronic disease, improve health and promote well-being and empowerment. Working directly with community-based health resources to expand the scope of care for its patients, Healthworks Community Fitness aims to operate a thriving community fitness center that provides the highest quality holistic nutrition, fitness, and well-being services.

This November, we have a goal of raising $30,000 for Healthworks Community Fitness and are asking for your help and support. Donating is easy and no amount is too small to fund memberships for women who don’t otherwise have access. DONATE HERE

We know movement has a powerful impact on our physical, mental and emotional well being and, therefore, can play a role in closing the health disparities that persist in our communities:

The rate of people without health insurance in Dorchester is 6.8% compared to Boston’s 4.7%. There are also striking disparities among adults who can’t afford a doctor, with 16% of Latino residents and 13% of Black residents falling into that category, compared to 5% of White residents. (PBHC report)
Black, Latino and lower income residents experience higher rates of hypertension, obesity and diabetes and heart disease hospitalizations than white and higher income residents. (PBHC report)
Black and Latino communities continue to be disproportionately burdened by COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In the 20-49 age range, the mortality rate was nearly three times higher among Latino residents and 2.5 times higher among Black residents than White residents. (BU School of Public Health/The Boston Globe report)
The demographics of U.S. gym goers are 66% White, 13% Latino and 12% Black. Households with an income level of $75,000 and above also make up the majority of gym members. (IHRSA statistics)

A membership at a nonprofit fitness center alone can’t stand up to the systemic racism that has led to these health disparities, but it can provide deserving women with the opportunity to build healthy habits in communities that don’t have the same access to fitness as wealthier neighborhoods in Boston.

Building health equity takes a lot of hands, but your contribution makes this work possible. A 3 month gift of $90 will start a woman in our community on a fitness and nutrition program. A 12 month gift of $360 can change her life.