Skateboarding has led Jeremy Rogers to connect with troubled children. Rogers, sport and exercise psychology graduate, created Colorado Motion to help adolescents overcome daily challenges and teach them life skills, resilience and perseverance.
“Colorado Motion provides a fresh approach to improving the lives and mental well-being of children and adolescents in the Colorado area. Colorado Motion utilizes the benefits of physical activity and counseling to provide child and adolescent mental health services. While engaging in physical activities ranging from skateboarding to hiking to playing catch, we build a mentorship-based relationship,” Rogers explained.
Rogers realized that a large population of children and adolescents were resistant to traditional therapy services and suffered from it. It was his goal to create a program to reach a diverse group of children.
“I would use my skateboard as a way to connect with these children and adolescents. I learned I could establish a relationship that was sufficient for therapeutic change through the shared experience of physical activity. Parents were excited about the results and kids were now engaging for the first time,” Rogers added.
Since its founding, the Colorado Motion program has received accolades from numerous sources in Colorado.
“The Teen Court of Colorado Springs has selected Colorado Motion as a treatment provider for the 2015-2016 year due to our ability to reach a diverse group of adolescents. Colorado Motion was recognized by Pikes Peak Young Leadership Group in December 2015 for its community value,” Rogers said.
“Colorado Motion has been invited to speak at various events pertaining to mentorship at City Hall, local high schools and our municipal courts. Colorado Motion has helped over 80 teens in El Paso County expunge their records, improve their academic performance and realize their potential,” he added.
Rogers is appreciative of his time at West Virginia University and constantly applies his education within his work.
“My education at WVU was an essential ingredient in the creation of Colorado Motion. When pitching the program to referral sources, I constantly referenced my SEP education around the psychological benefits of physical activity. Perhaps more importantly, my time at WVU inspired me to dream big,” Rogers explained.
Rogers credits Sport Sciences Department Chair Jack Watson for his leadership and guidance.
“Dr. Jack Watson was and continues to be such an incredible mentor in my life. Dr. Watson taught me how to believe in my dreams. He taught me how to dream vividly and plot specifically. Now, I believe that these dreams can turn into realities. Having Dr. Watson’s mentorship was the most impactful portion of my education at West Virginia University,” Rogers said.
After graduating from WVU, Rogers moved to Colorado to continue his education. “It had always been my dream to come out to Colorado and live in the mountains. Back in Morgantown, I decorated my room with posters of places in Colorado, like Pikes Peak, Breckenridge and Garden of the Gods. After visiting different campuses, I went to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs,” Rogers explained.