In CHAARG!
Photo by Melissa Olson
Madison Jordan ’16 (Columbus, Ohio), a nutrition major and fitness enthusiast, introduces the energetic new organization she’s in charge of at Kent State:
What it is: CHAARG (Changing Health, Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls) is a health and fitness organization for college-age girls, but it’s also a huge supportive community. It started at Ohio State University in 2012 and now has about 2,500 members at 18 universities, including a virtual chapter.
How I got involved: I heard about it from friends at other universities and through social media. I saw how fun it was, so when they advertised for five new ambassadors, I applied and was chosen to open a chapter at Kent State this fall. I went through training in the summer, and before school even started, my exec team and I had recruited over 100 members—and now we’re up to almost 300. We’re growing fast.
Who it’s for: It’s for any college girl, no matter her size, shape or fitness level. We want to empower every CHAARG girl to become her happiest, healthiest self.
What we do: We have two sessions of workouts every Monday night from
8 to 10 p.m., and small groups meet for an hour once a week. Our motto is “to liberate girls from the elliptical” and show them fitness can be fun. We partner with volunteer instructors from local studios to expose members to a whole range of exercises. So far, we’ve done Zumba, CrossFit, self-defense karate, muscle conditioning and Bokwa, a cardio dance workout.
How it helps: The other weekend when I woke up I wasn’t in the mood for a workout. But I went on Instagram, I saw photos of other CHAARG girls running—and then I ran five miles. This community is really motivating!