In 2009, after learning that DC had the highest HIV rate in the country, a Georgetown varsity athlete decided to recruit and train his NCAA student-athlete peers to deliver sexual health education at area schools — and Grassroots Health was born. Since then, more than 2,500 athletes have provided more than 500,000 hours of free health education to over 14,000 DC teens. A three-year, sportsbased health education curriculum covering sexual, nutritional, and mental health serves middle school students in DC’s highest-need schools. Health communication workshops for parents and caregivers improve conversations about subjects many find difficult to discuss. Community health fairs also connect students with critical youth-friendly clinical and social services. The athletes who volunteer their time at no cost are people whom kids admire, trust, and listen to, making them especially effective messengers.
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