A new program spearheaded by faculty member Dr. Jamey Lister (Associate Professor and New Jersey Director & Co-Director for HHS Region 2, Northeast & Caribbean Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center) and staff member Alyssa Juntilla (Project Coordinator) is bringing together Rutgers School of Social Work colleagues seeking wellness and connection through movement.
The first ScarletFit event took place on February 26 at The Yard, providing participants options to stretch (through a routine on the Jumbotron) or go for a walk/run along a 1.25-mile loop on the College Avenue Campus. The initiative is made possible through the Wellness at Work Connection Grant and the partnership between ScarletWell and the Rutgers-New Brunswick Center for Faculty Success. ScarletWell is a Chancellor-led initiative created to improve wellness-related programming as part of the University’s Academic Master Plan.
“Our first ScarletFit event was a great success,” said Dr. Lister. “We had faculty and staff from across the School of Social Work come out to engage and connect. Attendees mentioned they liked how easy it was to meet up at The Yard and walk around campus together. One staff member mentioned they already made new connections, and both faculty and staff told us they were thankful for having a space organized for wellness.”
ScarletFit welcomes faculty and staff across Rutgers–New Brunswick (including graduate assistants, research assistants, and student workers) to come together for community and wellness. Each event is designed to foster wellness within the workday while minimizing impact on professional responsibilities. ScarletFit organizers have scheduled additional events on March 12 and April 16 and hope to sustain the program beyond this semester to create lasting opportunities for wellness. Visit socialwork.rutgers.edu/events to stay informed and have a chance to win health swag.
