Thursday, October 1, 2026
Lakeview residents got their bodies moving at the NAACP Youth Council’s Fun Fitness Fundraiser, hosted by Romélo and Andrea Fitness.
Dozens gathered at the Lakeview Public Library Aug. 19 for an energized boot camp designed to promote health, wellness and community among residents. Participants of all fitness levels were welcome to attend and break a sweat for a local cause, with no equipment required.
“It’s very important to have classes that center around physical health,” Stuart Oates, the council’s main adviser, said. “It was very fun.”
Organized by co-adviser Andrea Tillman, mother of the council’s treasurer, the fundraiser was intended not only to benefit the council, but also to get Lakeview moving. A physical education and health teacher and certified community fitness instructor, Tillman has taught fitness classes at the library for about six years.
“I try to do my best to run a class where anybody, any level, can join and not feel intimidated,” Tillman said. “Young or old, you can do movement anywhere, and you don’t need equipment.”
Residents got moving with a 45-minute class that cost $7 per person. The fundraiser, renamed to include the word “fun,” was aimed at creating a welcoming atmosphere rather than putting pressure on participants.
Tillman provided a safe and active environment for participants and watched as they put forth their best efforts. “They were working hard and putting their all into it,” she said.
As the council’s first fitness fundraiser, organizers hope to host similar events again. “It’s very important to have classes that center around physical health,” Oates said. “We’ve done a lot of mental health workshops, we’ve done a lot of check-ins and I feel like one of the best things that you can do is to take care of yourself as much as you can.”
Through her involvement in the community, Tillman tries to incorporate movement whenever she can. “Anything that I’m involved with, I always try to incorporate some type of health and fitness because it’s essential,” she said. “We can’t leave it out.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser go to the youth council, helping support field trips, new-member sponsorships, organizational dues, materials and other programming needs. The Youth Council is part of the NAACP’s broader network of youth and college chapters focused on civil rights advocacy and community involvement.
“All that money goes directly towards the youth council budget,” Oates said. “To be able to have the funds for the kids that are in the NAACP to explore any more fields, particularly as they pertain to and as they benefit Black youth… that’s the goal.”
