Recent Stories
April 5, 2014
At Belmar Elementary School, one good idea led to another, and another, until there was a recipe book full of good ideas. After reading a newspaper article about an elementary school’s healthy chopped salad contest, Lisa Lee, field representative for Disease Control and School Health Council project coordinator for the Monmouth County Health Department, shares the story with the School Health Councils at the Belmar Elementary School and the Farmingdale Elementary School. The School Health Council at Belmar ran with it. On February 19, Belmar Elementary students and parents participated in the first Belmar Chopped Healthy Salad Competition. Fifteen children, representing pre-K through 8th grade, created a variety of salads (with some parental assistance) and offered them for tasting by students, parents and judges. The entries were as diverse as the school population. Ingredients included kale, edamame, homemade tortilla chips and sesame seeds, as well as staples like fruit and […]
READ MORE
April 5, 2014
Dr. Nwando Anyaoku served as one of four experts on The State of NJ’s Health: Growing Healthy Kids town hall. Hosted by Mike Schneider, managing editor of NJTV News with Mike Schneider, the program examined the causes of the current childhood obesity crisis and the many organizations that have mobilized to tackle the problem. The program also focused on the promising strategies for addressing the epidemic and provided viewers with ways to make a difference in their own communities. Viewers also learned how neighbors are building playgrounds, launching farmer’s markets and bringing supermarkets to areas once called “food deserts.” “Nearly one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese,” stated Dr. Anyaoku, co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Newark, and director of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital/Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “Childhood obesity brings with it a plethora of health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes […]
READ MORE
April 5, 2014
More than 1,600 high school students attended the 44th Annual Northeast Regional YMCA Model United Nations (UN) Conference in Hershey, PA. The three-day conference was held over two weekends in January and included students from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. The YMCA Model UN program introduces students to the operation and structure of the UN while providing them with an opportunity to actively learn about world cultures and debate issues of international importance. The program promotes leadership through character development, while introducing students to a vast array of ideas. “The YMCA Model UN program is distinct because students lead the committees,” stated Curtis Myers, director of the Model UN student program and Civic Engagement for the YMCA of Burlington/Camden Counties. “Our program focuses on compromise, finding solutions, and student development to achieve our goal of “developing tomorrow’s global leaders, today,” said Myers who also serves as executive […]
READ MORE
April 5, 2014
Visitors to the New Jersey Adventure Aquarium on January 30 who made a left at the shark tank found themselves at the NJPHK-Camden SMART Initiative Forum exhibit. Valeria Galarza, NJPHK-Camden project manager, and Alexis Sangalang, FoodCorps service member, were promoting the gardening, parks, and playground initiatives spearheaded by NJPHK-Camden in this second annual forum focused on sustainability and green initiatives in Camden. NJPHK-Camden’s exhibit attracted a steady crowd of onlookers. “Turnout was impressive and we welcomed the chance to spread the word about the positive environmental impact NJPHK-Camden and our partners are creating here in Camden,” Galarza said. “Improving the areas where residents and their families play and enjoy the outdoors is so important in the fight against childhood obesity. We have had some true successes and were happy to share our stories.” NJPHK-Camden was one of 16 exhibitors. Speakers at the forum included Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd, who […]
READ MORE
April 1, 2014
Originally published in The Daily Journal Last week, the 2014 New Jersey state report titled “Providing Access to Healthy Solutions — An Analysis of New Jersey’s Opportunities to Enhance Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes” was released. The report, written by PATHS (Providing Access to Healthy Solutions), an initiative led by the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI), provides an overview of the landscape of type 2 diabetes in New Jersey, where approximately 700,000 individuals live with the disease and many others are at risk for developing it, including children. New Jersey ranks No. 3 in the nation for obesity among low-income children ages 2 to 5, of whom 16.6 percent are obese. In Cumberland County, the prevalence of obesity is 33.4 percent. These children are at greater risk of receiving a diabetes diagnosis in their future. This new report is a welcome […]
READ MORE
March 27, 2014
Originally published in NJ Spotlight by Andrew Kitchenman Hunterdon tops state while Cumberland is least healthy, according to RWJ Foundation, which says smart policies can improve outcomes statewide When Robert Wood Johnson Foundation officials describe their annual county health rankings, it isn’t so much the ranking that they emphasize, as what goes into the numbers. The Plainsboro-based organization wants the fifth annual statewide rankings, released yesterday, to spur local and state officials, as well as local charities and businesses, to push for improved public-health measures. The 2014 rankings found that Hunterdon County was the healthiest in the state, while Cumberland County was the least healthy. While the relative wealth of each county is a major factor in determining the outcomes, foundation officials emphasized that there are many policy changes that can help improve the health of residents of any county in the state. The foundation also stressed the importance of […]
READ MORE
March 21, 2014
Originally published in the Star Ledger on nj.com by Dr. Nwando Anyaoku Progress in public health is often surprising and sometimes mysterious. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the first substantial evidence that obesity rates have fallen over the past decade in children 2 to 5 years old. While the report sliced through some of the pessimism on childhood obesity, it failed to explain why the picture has improved. Some commentators credited first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, which was front and center at last week’s Partnership for a Healthier America summit. The conference united public health advocates and food companies in an effort to devise better strategies to fight childhood obesity. It was an important summit because many of America’s inner cities, which shoulder the burden of obesity, have been stymied in crafting an action plan. With the best intentions, they pour […]
READ MORE
March 10, 2014
Originally published in NJBIZ Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center THE SOUTH JERSEY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION In just four years, The South Jersey Young Professionals Association (SJYPA) has raised over $200,000 to support the construction of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, a project destined to revitalize the lives of our neighbors in Camden. With the Kroc Center set to open in the Fall of 2014, this year’s Halo Ball will cap off a five-year partnership with The Salvation Army. The SJYPA will also present The Halo Award to a young professional who has demonstrated a commitment to the betterment of the South Jersey community. Angel of the year winner Valeria Galarza, the New Jersey Partnership for Health Kids-Camden project manager. SHARE:
READ MORE
March 5, 2014
Sabater Elementary School in Vineland was the site of a “Safe Routes to School” learning experience on March 5. Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Safe Routes to School teaches children how to ride their bikes and cross streets with safety in mind. “The school cafeteria was turned into a major intersection so the third- and fourth-graders could learn how to navigate city streets and be alert to traffic signals,” explained Lisa Scheetz, project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland). Sabater was chosen for the first Vineland-area Safe Routes experience because more than 400 of the school’s students bike or walk to school each day. “With the passage of Complete Streets in 2011, NJPHK-Vineland and our partners are intent on making Vineland’s streets usable and safe for residents. Safe Routes to School is just one of the activities to promote safe outdoor activity,” Scheetz said. Two […]
READ MORE
February 10, 2014
Originally published in Burlington County Times It’s been a season of good deeds, honors and accomplishments. In the month that includes Valentine’s Day, here are some heartwarming reports of kudos-worthy neighbors and causes.Maybe we don’t think enough about architecture, but we should not forget that it’s all around us, and is a key part of our everyday life, according to someone who clearly recognizes that. Kimberly Bunn of Moorestown, owner and principal of Bunn Architecture, is the recently installed president elect of the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ). The local organization, which was founded in 1900, is now comprised of 2000 members in six regional sections. For a total of 22 years, in two separate stints, Sister M. Elizabeth Corry served as president of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. The award established in her honor is regarded as a most prestigious one, and this […]
READ MORE
Contact Us: 609-278-9622
Follow Us On: