Trenton
May 1, 2017
It’s graduation time, and the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids is proud to celebrate two of its public health students who recently worked with the initiative and are graduating this spring. Congratulations Chinyere Eziegbo and Victoria Buhl! Name Chinyere Ezeigbo School Kaplan University Major and Focus Area Master of Public Health Describe the internship (your role) & any accomplishments Primary: Capacity Building Secondary: Healthy Futures As an NJ Campus Compact Collective Impact VISTA member serving Trenton YMCA and the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, Chinyere helped implement the following initiatives: A study to inform the improvement of the emergency food system, with a focus on food pantries A city-wide School District Wellness Policy The Greenwood Avenue Farmers Market The Trenton Healthy Food and Fitness Network’s public relations, internal communications, and overall development. During her service year as a VISTA, she participated in tasks that improved the administrative processes […]
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February 13, 2017
Since the startup of the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market in June 2015, Michelle Brill, Family and Community Health Sciences Educator, Amanda Skahan Grasso, Miss Snow, and volunteer Barbara Inman-Clark from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County have educated numerous Trenton families about nutrition and healthy eating on a weekly basis. From curly kale slaw to fruit kabobs, you’ll find Michelle and her team preparing and hosting food tasting sessions—all to promote recipes that contribute to a healthier way of life. In recognition of this innovative partnership with the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market, Michelle Brill received national, state and regional awards from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS). Presented during NEAFCS’s annual conference in Big Sky, Montana in the Fall of 2016, the award recognized Brill for her efforts in building community partnerships to meet the educational needs and concerns of families. “Michelle and her team have made such an impact on our ability to make the healthy choice the easy choice […]
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January 12, 2017
For more than 30 years, the Mercer Street Food Bank has responded to community-wide hunger in Mercer County. The food bank distributes nearly 2.7 million pounds of food and groceries annually to a network of 80 local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, meal sites, schools, senior and disabled programs and low-income housing sites. The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank receives food donations such as rice, salmon, pasta, and most recently fresh produce from the government and private donors. Nearly 12,000 people who face the pain and indignity of hunger are served per month through these distribution channels. Kyle Williams is the highly involved and hands-on director of the successful food bank. Williams started out as a volunteer and eventually was hired by the food bank and promoted to Food Bank Director. Williams also helped launch the ‘Send Hunger Packing’ program two years ago – a hunger prevention initiative in local […]
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January 12, 2017
The Greenwood Ave Farmers Market closed out its successful second season on October 24, 2016, with its annual Fall Fest. The fall-themed community event included music, pumpkin decorating, face painting and other physical activities for children. Health services were on site, and free flu shots were available to the public. Kids were encouraged to wear costumes and market customers received various giveaways. Since its opening day in June, the has market attracted more than 5,300 health-conscious visitors. Nearly 1,700 people also benefited from the free health services hosted weekly by the market. “We couldn’t be more pleased to close our second year with a fun event,” said Davis. The farmers market has become a community hub of health and wellness and will be featured in an upcoming highlights video produced by the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. A film crew was on site to interview patrons, healthcare workers, and […]
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September 29, 2016
Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market Showcased the Fun Side of Health at ‘Fit Fest’ Physical health and fun were the main menu items served during the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market’s Fit Fest on August 29. There were plenty of healthy activities and giveaways for market visitors, including free pedometers courtesy of Novo Nordisk. The Trenton YMCA gave away one week Guest Passes to patrons and even led a few Zumba sessions–a crowd favorite. “We want our residents to understand a healthy lifestyle incorporates both healthy foods and physical fitness,” says Marissa Davis, project director for the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson even stopped by the market to show his support of the market’s health initiatives. The summer interns from Capital City My Brother’s Keeper kept kids moving with jump ropes, hopscotch, and hula hoops. An inflatable, 22-foot water slide was on site to help visitors beat the heat and to keep hydrated. […]
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July 29, 2016
The Trenton community learned the importance of staying hydrated during the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market Water Fest Event on July 25th. As part of the special event, many families took home free cases of canned water thanks to a generous donation from CannedWater4Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to children internationally. Partnership for a Healthier America’s (PHA) Drink Up donated BPA-free water bottles to encourage community residents to drink more water. Most people don’t drink enough water on a regular basis,” said Marissa Davis, Project Director, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids – Trenton. “When it’s hot, our bodies lose water faster than normal, so it’s important to encourage Trenton families to make a conscious effort to drink water—especially when they are more active in the summer.” As the heat index soared to 100 degrees on the day of the Water Fest, children and adults stayed cool by enjoying the giant and inflatable 22 ft. water slide. Educational water-themed activities like the ‘Sewer in a Suitcase’ allowed market visitors to get […]
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July 28, 2016
On Monday, July 25, USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and the New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher visited Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market to participate in a special event commemorating the market as the first in the state to host a summer dinner program. Nearly one in two children in Trenton are overweight or obese. And according to a recent study released by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, residents in Trenton are more likely to have a shorter lifespan than neighboring communities. The study notes that a complex web of factors impacts the disparities that exist, including poverty, environmental factors and access to education, jobs, affordable housing, nutritious food, places for physical activity, health care, and social services. The Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market is just one way that Trenton is helping to close the health gap and increase longevity. Two years ago, the market location was a vacant parking lot. Today, […]
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July 20, 2016
Nearly 350 people attended the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market on Monday, June 27 and previewed art displayed as part of a pop-up gallery entitled “Gear Up with Nature” as part of a special Art Fest event. The gallery contained creations made by students at Artworks in Trenton, a downtown visual art center. The students created silhouettes of desert scenes on rice paper using bicycle parts and paper as stencils in a workshop. Residents also participated in various art-centered activities, and SAGE Coalition donated sketchbooks to make the event possible. Sidewalk chalk, acrylic paints, colored pencils and drawing paper were available for children to create their very own masterpieces on site. Market visitors also had the opportunity to have their portraits drawn by a 17-year-old local Artworks artist Bayron Calderon. “The event encouraged people to be creative because art is an aspect of living a healthy life,” said Lori Johansson, Greenwood Ave. […]
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July 20, 2016
Originally posted on NJ.com By Thomas Regan | For NJ.com Follow on Twitter on July 01, 2016 TRENTON — Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will fund an initiative to improve the health of Trenton’s children and families, officials said. The program, called the Community Health Collaborative, will be coordinated by the Trenton Health Team and will look to educate parents and promote physical activity and healthy food choices for grade school children. “My administration has been working diligently with community partners to incorporate health considerations in all of our policies and planning efforts,” said Mayor Eric Jackson. “We look forward to a powerful collaboration aimed at building the long-term health of our community.” The Novo Nordisk funding will support programs designed to empower parents and caregivers, provide healthy food choices in schools, improve access to healthy, affordable foods, and increase physical activity. These programs will take the form of dramatic presentations, school gardening, cooking demonstrations, taste tests, […]
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July 1, 2016
In addition to being known by Trenton residents as a community hub for health and wellness, the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market is now recognized as the first farmers market in the state to participate in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. Sponsored by the USDA, the program helps ensure that children age 18 and under receive a nutritious and balanced meal when school is not in session. The program kicked off on Monday, June 27th, with 50 children receiving free dinners that included milk, fruit, vegetables, grains, and protein. Meals will be served every Monday through August 29 from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. “The summer meal program is a conscious addition to the culture of the health and wellness we are creating in Trenton,” said Marissa Davis, project director for the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids–Trenton. “Our goal is to continue to foster a safe place for children […]
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