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What is Sumter County Active Lifestyles?

Sumter County Active Lifestyles (SCAL) is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) public charity organization in Sumter, South Carolina, working to make it easier to be physically active in Sumter County. Our membership is composed of concerned citizens and representatives from city and county government agencies, local businesses, health care & fitness, the arts, law enforcement, the military, schools, other nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations.

Mission Statement

Promote health and quality of life in Sumter County by advocating for a community environment that supports physically active lifestyles for all citizens.

Overall Goal

Increase physical activity or exercise among Sumter County residents by creating a supportive environment through policy and environmentally-focused strategies.

Priorities

  • Promote a bicycle-friendly community
  • Promote a pedestrian-friendly community
  • Promote an overall active community environment
  • Expand outreach to underserved areas to address disparities in supports for physical activity
  • Maintain community education activities and general advocacy efforts
  • Achieve sustainability of the coalition to promote active community environments

Background Information

In September 1999, SCAL was organized for the purpose of serving as the community advisory board for the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center’s (USC PRC) community-based participatory research core project, "Environmental and Policy Changes to Promote Physical Activity." We still serve as the community advisory board but over the years have grown to become Sumter County’s leading community-based organization related to promoting healthy and active lifestyles through policy and environmental supports for physical activity.

Early in SCAL's research collaboration with the USC PRC, we conducted numerous community audits, key informant interviews, surveys and assessments to obtain residents' opinions on the status of environmental and policy supports for physical activity and suggestions on how to promote physically active lifestyles. With this information, we set our goals and began forming various partnerships to address the community's needs and desires relative to physical activity. More than 45 groups have partnered with us over the past 12 years; many of these partnerships remain intact. We continue to periodically assess the status of environmental and policy supports for physical activity in Sumter County and develop partnerships with additional groups in the community to provide safe and enjoyable places to exercise and to develop community programs.

SCAL's long-standing research partnership with the USC PRC continues. In September 2009, SCAL and the USC PRC began two new, five-year, community-based participatory research projects in Sumter County. One of the projects is the creation and implementation of a community advocacy and leadership program (CALP) designed to develop and enhance the skills of grassroots community leaders in underserved communities who are interested in and committed to improving the health and physical activity opportunities in their local communities. Within the five-year project timeline, CALP will be offered to communities across South Carolina. Information about the first and second rounds of CALP is found in the News section of our website.

Our other research project, called Sumter County On The Move! (SCOTM), is a walking intervention for all adult residents of SCAL’s partner communities in Sumter County. It will include support for formation of walking teams, leadership training for team leaders, informational materials on walking resources and tips for increasing physical activity, follow-up communication to support the teams, and recognition of team accomplishments. Its specific goal is to increase residents’ physical activity levels. Its broader goal is to investigate whether strategies for mobilizing, supporting and reinforcing existing social networks are effective for increasing residents’ physical activity levels. Read about what's happening with SCOTM in our News section.

SCAL has three committees:

  • Accessibility and Outreach focuses on assisting communities with limited resources in implementing strategies to improve and increase physical activity opportunities for their residents.
  • Bike-Walk implements activities to make Sumter County's physical environment easier for people to be physically active by walking and bicycling (examples: more and improved sidewalks, bike lanes, parks and trails).
  • Fund Development assists SCAL with raising funds that help support our mission as a nonprofit organization.

If you would like more information or want to join
Sumter County Active Lifestyles, please contact:
Linda Pekuri at (803) 774-3861 or lpekuri@sumtercountysc.org
OR
Catherine Blumberg at (803) 774-3860 or cblumberg@sumtercountysc.org

Members as of August 2011

Executive Director: Linda Pekuri
Sumter County Active Lifestyles

President- O.J. Papucci
Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Government

Vice President- John Howard, Sr.
Broad Street Enhancement Association

Secretary & Assistant Executive Director- Catherine Blumberg
Sumter County Recreation & Parks Dept.

Treasurer- Jacquelyn Session
Salterstown Community Center

Member-at-Large- Leona Green
Cherryvale Community Oriented Police

Alvin Alston
Sumter County Sheriff's Department

Wayne Argabright
Bicycling Advocate

Cristian Badiu
Sumter Family YMCA

Heather Blazier
Tuomey Regional Healthcare System

Juanita Britton
Rembert Area Community Coalition

Laurie Campbell
Community Advocate

Latrelle Chambers
Sumter County Recreation & Parks Dept.

Booth Chilcutt
Sumter County Cultural Commission

Penny Cook
Shaw Air Force Base

Joan Davis
Broad Street Enhancement Association

Evelina Farmer
Broad Street Community Faith Warriors

Rose Ford
Sumter County Recreation & Parks Dept.

Tammy Hodge
SC Department of Transportation-Sumter Co.

Charlie Holmes
Sumter City-County Planning Department

Annette Howard
Broad Street Enhancement Association

Cheryl Jackson
Safe Kids Sumter County

Esther Judon
Broad Street Community Faith Warriors

Vickie Knight                                Shaw Air Force Base

Sheryl Love
American Heart Association - Mid-Atlantic Affiliate

Suzette McClellan
SC Department of Health & Environmental Control-Region 4

Karen McMeekin
Community Advocate

Maria Newton-Ta'Bon
Wilder Elementary School

Margie Sharif
Community Advocate

Lottie Spencer
Broad St. Community Faith Warriors & Rembert Area Community Coalition

Judy Tyl
Community Advocate

Juanita Williams
SC Department of Health & Environmental Control-Region 4

Josephine Young
Community Advocate




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