November 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 38

to boot-camp fitness at zero to low
cost for participants. The Coca-Cola
Foundation's support is enabling participating veterans to develop their
fitness programs while providing
community members with affordable

opportunities to improve their health.
Additionally, these 12 communities
are contributing to the development of
a guide that will serve as a model for
other communities to replicate similar
initiatives in the future.

To learn more about the program, visit www.nrpa.org and search
" troops. "
Jimmy O'Connor is NRPA's Senior Manager of
Grants and Partnerships (joconnor@nrpa.org).

Interview with Laura Ortiz, Veteran Recruited by
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces
How did you become involved with
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and
Open Spaces?
I became involved with Miami-Dade
through a recreational therapist by
the name of Jody Cox; she works in
the disability services department
at Goulds Community Center. Jody
thought I would be an ideal candidate for the Troops for Fitness initiative, considering my line of work
at the local YMCA over the past two
years as a fitness instructor to the active older adults, certified personal
trainer and spinning instructor. So I
acted upon her advice, and the rest is
history, as the saying goes.
What is your connection to the
multiple dimensions of Coca-Cola
Troops for Fitness?
My connection varies since, after all, I
am a veteran, a Latina woman, an amputee, a Paralympic athlete, and a certified personal trainer, fitness instructor and spinning instructor. I value my
contribution to helping develop and
sustain programs that enrich the lives
of all moved by this initiative, particularly those who need it the most.
What is your role with the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program in
Miami-Dade?
I will be collaborating on the development of the fitness programs so

Parks & Recreation

that they are structured to be successful and sustainable. The end result is that by sharing our expertise
as fitness instructors and creating an
exercise regimen that incorporates
our fitness zones, we can recognize
ability, level of conditioning and
modifications needed. We then have
a baseline to prescribe a routine that
focuses on strengthening weak areas of the body and building endurance, which leads to losing weight
and improving postural alignment,
breathing, balance, coordination and
agility. My hope is that our community members will embrace these
resources and want to change their
level of awareness while being empowered to make healthier choices,
which I believe will be part of the
solution to lowering the statistics on
obesity on a nationwide level.
What are your thoughts on Coca
Cola-Troops for Fitness as it relates
to an individual's health and opportunities for veterans?
It will have a positive outcome on our
youth, our active older adults and
veterans as long as we continue to
individually and collectively have a
social responsibility to our communities, and tackle the obesity problem
head-on. We can no longer pretend it
is not affecting us, as we relate to the
inflation of healthcare costs.

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Laura Ortiz

I believe when we focus our work
in three key areas - nurturing the
potential of kids, helping people
live healthier and supporting our
neighbors - we all succeed. As
far as my participation as a veteran
goes, I agree it is crucial to integrate
us in a proactive way. It signals a
positive message to our communities that although we have endured
lots at a time of uncertainty, we remain optimistic when developing
ourselves and our relationships. We
are investing in our future, which
makes the possibilities endless for
change and growth.

November 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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