Rez Dogg, Health and Wellness Ambassador
In an effort to reach young Native youth with the message of health and nutrition, ITS expanded the responsibilities of our mascot, Rez Dogg, by adding the role of Health and Wellness Ambassador to his duties. This transformation began in February when Rez Dogg took on the challenge of running a 5K race. As his role was expanded, the idea of Rez Dogg’s Refreshments began to take shape. This was an endeavor to utilize ours’ and our partners’ events, where fast food trucks and junk food had become the norm, to project a message of wellness and healthy living in an age-appropriate and fun way. This was to mark a turning point where ITS chose to lead by example and become part of the solution to the health epidemics plaguing our service population.
Rez Dogg’s Refreshments launched in the summer as a pilot program with the goal of providing healthy food options and educational outreach for Native youth and families. In 2013, it has been estimated that over 1,500 individuals have been impacted by the efforts, whether it be grabbing a healthy and nutritious snack during our events or taking home a kid-friendly healthy treat recipe card to share in his or her household. He hopes to continue to bring sports nutrition to our youth and communities because he believes that sharing this information about healthy foods is vital to keep his friends healthy.
