As  published in the San Jose Mercury News Posted: 10/28/2010 05:54:40 PM PDT 

Job Corps hits mark

The San Jose Job Corps and its students have achieved a milestone as part of a new program to encourage more active lifestyles through physical fitness, nutrition and wellness.

The Job Corps students have walked 120.8 million steps — the equivalent of twenty separate walks from San Jose to Washington, D.C. — since June. It was part of a “Walk to the White House” competition inspired by first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” Initiative.

More on WalkStyles ICount™ Healthy Lifestyles Program

Students and Job Corps staff developed a comprehensive wellness program to provide resources to promote nutrition, diet and wellness coaching and fitness activities. Through the support of partners such as Career Systems Development Corporation (CSD), the Owl Foundation, the WalkStyles ICount™ Healthy Lifestyles Program, UnitedHealthcare, Oakley, Toshiba and the US Department of Labor, students were provided unique resources to help achieve their goals. The program encouraged the use of creative, fun and innovative approaches to promote health and wellness among students, including team competitions, events, the use of pedometers and a Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) machine.