The STRONG Challenge
This free six-week community health and wellness challenge concept originated from the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati in July of 2020, and has been customized by Ys across the country to serve the needs of local communities. The YMCA of Central Florida launched its first STRONG Challenge in October, and plans to iterate throughout 2021.
Challengers were presented with six weekly themes each covering aspects of feeling healthier in spirit, mind, and body (Setting Goals, Adding Play, Connecting and Reconnecting, Prioritizing Rest, Serving Others, and Finding Balance). Participants were encouraged to support one another and share successes in a private Facebook group and track their personal progress with an Activity Tracker. Weekly emails included activity options for all age groups and skill levels.
Locally, this initiative has primarily been executed through a strong social media presence and a series of email communications. Social media posts were coordinated with email graphics. Due to budget challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, no marketing budget was available for paid media.
