What is the role of racial segregation and park availability in physical activity?

May 22, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Two researchers uncover dynamics that challenge the assumption that more parks lead to more activity In cities across the United States, physical activity is often promoted as a cornerstone of public health, yet disparities in access and engagement persist. Despite the well-documented benefits of leisure-time physical activity, many communities […]

RST Ph.D. student helps student-athletes find belonging, in and out of his research

Dec. 10, 2024 | Ethan Simmons Solomon Siskind is investigating what it’s like to be a Black student-athlete at a predominantly white institution and how being part of a racial affinity group affects their life on campush Solomon Siskind is living a double life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—two lives that are finely intertwined.  […]

Fredericks: How Black American Distance Runners Shaped the Sport From the Shadows

February 29, 2024 | Ethan Simmons The world of competitive long-distance running took off in the 1970s. But stories of the sport’s Black architects and pioneers who laid its foundation have been largely untold for decades.  Teaching Assistant Professor Jake Fredericks in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois has […]

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