Our Founder

 “Why I Started Fit to the Core” – A Note from Our Founder 

Growing up, I didn’t love exercise. To be honest, it felt more like punishment than anything positive. But that view started to shift when I watched my mother—living in our under-resourced community in East Oakland—look for ways to stay active. There were no gyms nearby, no structured classes for someone like her. So she did what she could: walked with friends, moved in community, and made wellness work with what little we had.

That planted a seed in me.

Over time, I became fascinated with the science behind movement—how exercise isn’t just about looks or weight, but about how we function, feel, and live. I studied. I asked questions. I earned my master’s degree in Exercise Science at 40, specializing in functional aging and fall prevention. And what I found was powerful: many of the chronic conditions we accept as “just aging” are actually linked to lifestyle, not age. In wealthier areas, people have access to this information—and to trainers, nutritionists, fitness programs. But in our communities? Not so much.

So I started Fit to the Core.

I wanted to bring real, science-backed wellness to the people who’ve been left out of the conversation. Our seniors. Our neighbors. The aunties and uncles who gave everything to their families but never had a safe space to move their bodies or learn how to care for them.

I believe everyone deserves the chance to feel strong, capable, and connected—no matter their zip code, age, or income. It doesn’t take a lot. Just safe movement, good information, a little support, and community.

That’s what FTC is about. That’s why I’m here.