PARTNERS & OUTREACH
Tallahassee Dept. Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs
In 2013, the faculty and students from the Center began working with Tallahassee PRNA on research focused on youth sports league participants and their parents/guardians. The multi-disciplinary project has investigated the social networks of parents/guardians, and employed cutting edge Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
This research was funded by the FSU College of Education Multidisciplinary Research grant, FSU CRC Multidisciplanry grant, and Fund AETNA Foundation.
Knight Creative Communities Institute
Over the past three years, members of the SHED have been actively involved with the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI). KCCI brings together a diverse group of community members to implement “sense of place” projects that help retain, attract, and harness creative talent in Tallahassee.
Members of the SHED played an integral role in a major KCCI project focused on assessing needs, advocating for resources, and fundraising for additional recreation amenities in Tallahassee’s Cascades Park.
Renaissance Community Center
Since 2013 SHED faculty and graduate students have been active engaged in a sports and recreation program at the Renaissance Community Center (RCC), an emergency services resources center for members of the Leon County Community experiencing homelessness.
The program includes a series of weekly basketball matches and a yoga class held at the RCC.
Goodwill of the Big Bend’s Prosperity Center
In partnership with FDOA, Goodwill of the Big Bend’s Prosperity Center offers inclusive sport and activity classes for persons with disabilities and low income. The center also includes a fitness center with adapted exercise equipment for the use of person with all abilities.
FSU SM students plan and facilitate weekly inclusive activity hours for patrons of the Prosperity Center. Students participate alongside community members in activities such as sit-volleyball, sit-tennis, and other inclusive sports.
Florida Disabled Outdoors Association (FDOA)
In the fall of 2014, FSU SM students began participating in FDOA’s Miracle Sport Leagues. The leagues are for adults and children with disabilities.
FSU SM students act as “buddies” for league participants during weekly games of baseball (fall) and flag football (spring). In addition, each spring FDOA hosts a Sportsability event (a mini Olympics for persons with disabilities) throughout Tallahassee with FSU SM students are also involved.