We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Cook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
First, Thanks for asking me back! It’s a gift to share about Foster Fit and what we are trying to do here in the DFW. As for the question. I embrace challenges, and that always comes with risk. I have been blessed with a great life and as traditional as it may look, it has never been conventional. The best parts of my professional and personal life have been born out of leaps of faith, or “risks”. The breaking, the growing, the praying it all lead me to this path right now. My professional background was in sports, sales and marketing, but I currently work with the foster system and trying everyday to better the lives of the youth in the system. Being a foster parent was never planned, and somehow working with the foster system has become my calling. I am now the Vice President of Foster Fit, a non-profit with the goal to connect foster youth and those who have aged-out with an uplifting and strong community through fitness and CrossFit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

What I am most excited about these days is my work with Foster Fit. What started as just entering a CrossFit competition that Foster Fit was putting on, is now coming alongside the same organization to improve the lives of kids from hard places. My current priorities are outreach and bridging the gap for foster youth and fitness. This year I had the opportunity to work with some great people at lululemon. They have sponsored three foster sweat sessions already with three more on the horizon. It is my favorite day of the month, every month. We invite local foster agencies and families to a fun fitness class in the studio that I get to coach and then these same foster youth get to take part in Foster Fit’s scholarship program. We have served almost 50 foster teens and preteens already in just a few sessions and lululemon makes sure each participant walks away feeling extraordinary.  I knew the concept would be beneficial because sweating together was a huge part of my own family bonding when we first became foster parents, but you can watch these teens completely change in just an hour together. It is the Foster Fit mission in motion.
We have a lululemon and foster care field day coming up on September 30th, a training day with Adaptive Training Foundation on October 21st, and a yoga event with lululemon in November. If anyone know of a foster or adoptive family that would benefit, please have them reach out to me through any of the channels listed below!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I used to be a marketing manager here so I know all the good spots, but I will try to stay in the same vein and mindset of foster family. If I was telling a family visiting the area that might need to have special accommodations this is what I would do:

Breakfast/Coffee: Well-grounded Coffee or Lalaland. Both establishments have a history of hiring friends from hard places and believe in the goodness of people while keeping the best coffee and breakfast in stock!

Adventuring: We would go to White Rock Lake to paddle board, the Arboretum to check out the beauty with plenty of space to not get overwhelmed, and Hapik Climbing gym because its literally for all ages and all levels.

Lunch: Legacy Hall because there is literally something for everyone and if it gets too overwhelming you can take to the field to eat. No one needs to be overstimulated.

Afternoon: you can’t miss out on an FC Dallas game, a rangers game, or hiking the trails at the Dorba location in Rockwall.

Dinner: Hat Creek, Desta Ethiopian, Zaza’s, and the Truck Yard on Greenville would all be musts. A few locations with comfort food and other that will expand the minds and palates of the whole family.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All of the partners that continue to spur the vision on including lululemon (Knox location), my Foster Fit board, PWR Lift, MadieRose Photography, Mental Giants, Got Your 6 Designs, and my co-instructor Mollie Youree. I also have to shout out to my husband and sons who inspired the concept and remind me God still does miracles everyday. 

Website: Fosterfit.org

Instagram: motherhoodandthefword

Image Credits
Madie Rose Photography (Locally-owned)

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