Core City CrossFit Kids: Helen Taylor’s Mission to Change Lives (EP. 008)
The CrossFit Podcast
CrossFit LLC
4.3 • 757 Ratings
🗓️ 1 April 2025
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Helen Taylor, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer and fourth degree black belt, is the founder of Core City CrossFit Kids, a nonprofit organization in Detroit, Michigan, dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged youth through fitness, mentorship, and community.In this episode, Helen talks with Denise Thomas about the realities of running a nonprofit in an under-resourced community, the challenges of earning trust, and what it takes to keep kids engaged both inside and outside the gym. She also shares how Core City CrossFit Kids has become more than just a fitness program — it’s a space where kids find consistency, support, and leadership opportunities they don’t get anywhere else.
Topics Included:
- Helen’s background in martial arts and transition to CrossFit
- The origins of Core City CrossFit Kids and the challenges of starting a nonprofit
- The role of fitness in addressing mental health, depression, and food insecurity
- Building trust with youth in underprivileged communities
- Collaborating with local schools, law enforcement, and community leaders
Resources Mentioned:
- Core City CrossFit Kids: https://www.instagram.com/corecitycrossfitkids
- Core City Documentary: find it at @corecityfilm or here; special thanks to Shadow Creek Films and Corban Aspegren for a great film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVyG_QdW0CY
- Contact Helen: For donations, volunteering, or inquiries, email corecitycrossfitkids@gmail.com
Community Highlight:
This week, we’re highlighting Jessie Dudley, a former elementary school teacher who now runs Organización de Amigos, a nonprofit breaking down financial barriers to sports and fitness for kids and teens. Jessie has opened two CrossFit affiliates in schools with another in the works, aiming to expand across Washington County, Oregon. She’s currently looking for CrossFit coaches for paid roles.
Learn more at www.organizaciondeamigos.com or follow @organizaciondeamigos.
Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here: https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/CrossFit-Community-Stories/tt-PrkSJ
Share Your Thoughts:
Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here: https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/The-CrossFit-Podcast—Feedback-Survey/tt-lf9Gf?ep=008
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Greetings everyone, I'm Denise Thomas and welcome to the CrossFit podcast. |
| 0:08.8 | This is where we welcome guests who are making the world a fitter and healthier place. |
| 0:14.0 | And this week we have a very heartwarming and soul-caressing episode for you. |
| 0:19.7 | Because we're talking with Helen Taylor, out of Detroit, Michigan. |
| 0:24.5 | Helen is the founder of Core City CrossFit Kids, |
| 0:27.5 | which is a non-profit organization where Helen herself will go over to the school, |
| 0:32.8 | pick up the kids, take them to the gym, |
| 0:35.3 | and then teach a gaggle of middle schoolers how to do CrossFit. |
| 0:39.0 | A program is also the subject of a documentary which is a must, must see. And on top of all |
| 0:45.3 | that, Helen is a CrossFit Level 2 coach. She's a mixed martial artist. She's an absolute |
| 0:52.4 | diamond of a human being and she puts her heart and soul |
| 0:55.8 | into every single kid at Core City CrossFit Kids. Now there are a few times in this conversation |
| 1:01.1 | where I get a little choked up and I feel like you may too. So grab your Kleenexas and here we go. |
| 1:08.2 | Without further ado, here's Helen Taylor. |
| 1:17.3 | Helen Taylor, welcome to the CrossFit podcast. How are you? |
| 1:20.8 | I'm doing well. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited. |
| 1:28.1 | Oh, me too. I have done my due diligence, done a little stalking slash research. |
| 1:33.5 | So I feel, and I say this with a handful of guests, I feel like I already know you, |
| 1:36.5 | and now it's just nice to meet you in person. |
| 1:38.5 | So thank you for doing this. |
| 1:39.4 | It means a lot to us. |
| 1:40.7 | No, thank you for having me. |
... |
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