The Grassroot Project is a sports-based HIV/AIDS prevention program facilitated by college athletes in Washington DC. It uses a grassroots education model where athletes first receive training and then implement 8-week interventions in schools. It started at 3 sites in 2009 and has since expanded to 25 sites in 2011 reaching 250 volunteers from 3 universities. Pilot results found improvements in HIV knowledge and attitudes. The program aims to reach 3,600 students per year through 720 student athlete educators from 5 Division I athletic programs in the DC area. Key lessons learned are using fun to engage students in tough issues, helping students see their impact, and understanding volunteer motivations. Challenges include the need for partnerships to support the youth-run program's

1. The Grassroot Project
A Sports-Based HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Facilitated by
College Athletes in Washington DC
CDC National HIV Prevention Conference
“Bringing HIV Prevention to the Campus: Recent
Interventions for and by College Students”
Presenter: Tyler Spencer

2. Intro Clip

3. Adult HIV/AIDS Prevalence for Selected Countries
Congo 3.5
Nigeria 3.1
District of Columbia 3
Rwanda 2.8
Ethiopia 2.1
Angola 2.1
Ghana 1.9
Senegal 1
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

4. NCAA Athletes
There are over
380,000 student
athletes, and
most of us go pro
in something
other than
sports.

5. Grassroots Education Model
Step 1: Athletes2Coaches Course (Training of Trainers)
Step 2: 8-week Grassroot Interventions (Programme Roll-Out)

6. Athletes as role models.

7. Games as learning metaphor.

8. Sports as hook.

9. Growth
• 2009; 3 sites, 40 volunteers (1 university)
• 2010; 9 sites, 90 volunteers (2 universities)
• 2011; 25 sites, 250 volunteers (3 universities)

10. Pilot Results
• “Athletes are cooler than my parents, not as
judgmental as my peers.”
• Significant improvements in HIV-related
knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs.
• Planning a Cluster RCT in (hope to launch in
January 2012).

11. Future Growth
• 3,600 students per year in 60 (of 77) schools
that enroll 7th grade students
• 720 student athlete HIV/AIDS educator
“Grassroot Coaches” from 5 Division I athletic
programs in DC Metro Area
• Proven efficacy by CDC PRS criteria for Best-
Evidence Interventions

12. Lessons Learned
1. Make being engaged in tough issues like
HIV/AIDS, stigma reduction, sexual health fun.
2. Make college (and middle school!) students
understand that they can have a unique impact on
an important issue.
3. Understand what makes your volunteers tick.
– Athletes = competition, challenge, hard work
rewarded
– Kids = nontraditional sex ed, fun, trusting relationships

13. Challenges
• As a program run completely by young people
under the age of 25,we have learned that
partnerships and capacity building support have
been essential in scaling up our interventions.
MTV Staying Alive
Our African partner
DC Department of Health
DoSomething.org
Our Universities

14. Questions?