Tom Martinek

Greensboro, University of North Carolina , United States of America
Title : Fostering Personal and Social Responsibility through Values-based Physical Activity and Sport

Abstract

Enhancing the social and personal capacity of youth is something that we all want to see. Sport and physical activity have been shown to have the potential to foster both of these qualities (Holt, 2016).  This is especially true when working with underserved populations. This presentation will describe two interconnected after-school programs, called Project Effort and the Youth Leader Corps, that focuses on enhancing personal and social responsible in underserved adolescent youth. Don Hellison's Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model has been the centerpiece of these programs.  The programs have been operating for 27 years at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has included various community partners such as recreation centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and schools. First, will be a description of the genesis of Project Effort and how it has evolved over its 27 years of operation. This evolvement has created the Youth Leader Corps that captures the strengths and commitment of veteran Project Effort participants to provide TPSR programs to kids in the community.  Included in this description is the establishment of an alternative high school for at-risk youth.  Research that has been conducted in Project Effort/Youth Leader Corps will follow. The conclusion will provide various ideas for programming in schools and how community building can be advanced through responsibility-based programs.

Biography

Tom Martinek is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During his 44-year tenure at UNCG Tom’s research has focused on the social and psychological dynamics of teaching and youth development programming. For the past 27 years, Tom has directed and taught in Project Effort and Youth Leader Corps programs which consist of values-based after-school sport and leadership experiences for underserved children and youth. Most recently, he has established an alternative high school (called a middle college) for at risk students on UNCG’s campus. The school is integral part of his “wrap around” approach to develop the assets of each individual youth. He has published four books and over 120 articles. Recognition for his work with youth has been acknowledged by receiving the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Youth Development Award, the University Bullard Award for Service, North Carolina Alliance for Heath, Physical Education, and Recreation Presidential Citation Award, and the Community-Engaged Scholar Award given by the School of Health and Human Science. His most recent recognition was being nominated for the prestigious Max Gardner Award—the highest award given in the UNC system.