Camden
May 22, 2016
“Basic human needs have to be fulfilled” … “Education is most important to bring to the community” … “Children need proper outlets for physical activity.” These were among the comments shared by individuals who came together on May 3rd for an All Partners Meeting to explore solutions to getting one step closer to building a Culture of Health in Camden. Valeria Galarza, senior project manager for Cooper’s Ferry Partnership facilitated the two-hour meeting attended by more than 80 people and included suggestions and ideas from speakers, residents, and partners, all concerned about the South Jersey city’s future and its citizens. Galarza kicked off the meeting with the unveiling of the new Get Healthy Camden initiative, which focuses on food access, physical activity and school wellness. Cooper’s Ferry Partnership’s Vice President of Neighborhood Initiatives Meishka Mitchell provided background information on the Camden Collaborative Initiative, the umbrella organization that Get Healthy Camden […]
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April 19, 2016
Support, balance and self-acceptance were prominent themes at the Women in Leadership Network Forum on February 23, sponsored by Virtua, a New Jersey healthcare services provider. The Network offers professional development, mentoring and learning opportunities for women to maximize their potential. Rhonda Jordan, Virtua Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, described the Forum as an opportunity for women to come together and learn from other women leaders. This was the first in a series of planned events. Valaria Galarza, Senior Project Manager New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C), served as a panelist along with New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen, Tracy Carlino, Virtua Chief Nursing Officer and Niketa Thigpen, CEO of ThigPro Consulting. They fielded questions from 200-plus attendees. For Galarza, the Forum was an opportunity to explain the work of NJPHK-C and also share her story of growing into leadership roles with NJPHK-C, the YMCA and […]
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April 19, 2016
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership is relaunching the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK-Camden) with the unveiling of the new Get Healthy Camden initiative (GHC). For six years, the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties (Y) and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) have co-directed NJPHK-Camden, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The new GHC program is designed to address city-wide challenges in creating a culture of health in Camden. The GHC initiative will fall under the umbrella of the Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI). In order to streamline services in the delivery of programs and resources to Camden residents, Tim Kerrihard, President and CEO of the Y, John Emge, Vice President and Regional Executive Director of UWGPSNJ and Anthony Perno, III, CEO of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership have agreed to move the administration of NJPHK-Camden to Cooper’s Ferry. NJPHK-Camden’s policy goals are to increase access […]
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November 10, 2015
Valeria Galarza, VP of Strategic Advancement for the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties and Project Manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C) was recently named “Woman of the Year” by South Jersey Magazine. Among the hundreds of nominations received by the magazine were individuals, nurses to former business women. Galarza was chosen for her tireless efforts in helping to improve the health of South Jersey’s struggling communities and their children. As part of her NJPHK-C role, she is charged with leading initiatives around creating environmental and policy changes that help reduce childhood obesity in Camden. In partnership with Campbell Soup Company’s Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) and in combination with various other community partners, NJPHK-C has focused on providing technical assistance to Camden City Public Schools in the implementation of its wellness policy and Breakfast-in-the-Classroom program; expanded school wellness policies to non-public schools; supported food access programs by […]
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November 10, 2015
Originally posted in South Jersey Magazine by Rachel Morgan and Liz Hunter; Photo by Jeff Anderson Valeria Galarza (pictured) knows firsthand how important living a healthy lifestyle is—and she’s made it her life’s mission to impart this bit of wisdom on to South Jersey kids. This year’s Woman of the Year is the VP of Strategic Advancement for the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties, which includes the NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C), youth programs, public health programs, youth intervention, civic engagement and the Women’s Opportunity Center. Galarza also co-directs the NJPHK-C and helps spread the message of a healthy lifestyle for kids across the region, and is a new member of the Camden City Promise Zone Leadership Committee. In Galarza’s previous role as program director and project manager of NJPHK-C, she was responsible for daily operations, most notably, advocating for and leading local policy efforts that supported physical […]
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September 10, 2015
This summer kids from Burlington and Camden Counties had the opportunity to cool off, have fun and learn valuable swim skills through the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties’ Free Swim Safe water safety program. Focusing on confidence building, the program taught children, ages six to 12, basic swimming skills as well as safety practices while in and out of the water. The program was started to address a major need in the counties – to provide affordable, local swim lessons and swim safety to those who would otherwise not have access due to a lack of resources and instruction. The YMCA has been a leader in providing swim lessons to youth for over 100 years so the program was a perfect fit for the organization and its staff to come together and make a difference with the children of the communities they serve. “We are so happy to be […]
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May 3, 2015
Since New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C) became a presence in the Camden community, significant progress has been made in the partnership’s efforts to focus on policy and environmental change to reverse the rate of childhood obesity: Camden schools and several faith-based service organizations have implemented wellness policies that guide food preparation and opportunities for physical activity. The school district has earned the recognition “Breakfast in the Classroom Champion” by being among the 20 New Jersey districts with the highest percent of eligible students eating breakfast. City parks in several neighborhoods have been reclaimed and refurbished by the residents and are now again sites for outdoor play. More corner stores now offer healthy food choices. These achievements are a tribute to the NJPHK-C coalition: Campbell Soup Company, the Food Trust, United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern NJ, and the YMCA of Burlington & Camden Counties. Together, these organizations […]
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April 2, 2015
The New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative announced today that it hosted Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt and other community leaders on a site visit at Camden’s Fayer’s Market (1400 Haddon Ave) on April 2. The tour showcased the positive impact healthy corner stores are making to increase people’s access to affordable, healthy food, as well as bolster economic development efforts by capturing dollars that would otherwise be spent outside of the community. The New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative is a statewide program focused on increasing the availability and sales of healthy, affordable food in local stores and bodegas. Currently, there are 80 corner stores participating in the initiative and the goal is to expand to approximately 150 corner stores in underserved New Jersey communities by yearend. Fayer’s Market currently participates in the New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative and was one of the first stores that participated […]
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March 4, 2015
Shana Jarvis has a lot on her plate: a new position as project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C), a new baby, plus classes at Temple University where she’s pursuing a master’s degree in the School of Health Education. While some people might feel overwhelmed, Jarvis feels energized. “I am so excited to be taking on a leadership role with NJPHK-C. The partnership has come a long way in Camden. So much progress has occurred under the leadership of Valeria Galarza, who was recently promoted to vice president of strategic expansion for YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties. I look forward to connecting with the work being done and continuing the forward momentum,” Jarvis said. Jarvis has been with the YMCA of Burlington & Camden Counties since October 2013 as director of Public Health Programs. She managed the Campbell Healthy Communities CATCH program, Watershed Exercise on Bicycles […]
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September 21, 2014
Thanks to a Department of Health mini grant to NJPHK-Camden, Urban Promise students built a community garden, piloted a Farm-to-School program and recently shared their harvest with their good friend and supporter, Diane Sawyer, former anchor of ABC World News. SHARE:
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