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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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November 10, 2015
Four years ago, Robert Dickinson smoked too much, ate too much and rarely exercised. In his words, he’d been a “rolly polly” kid whose weight continued to climb in his adult years. He managed to kick cigarettes on Valentine’s Day in 2011—his first day without a cigarette since he was 15. Two months later, his wife was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and she would die that November. Caring for his wife while holding down a demanding job, Dickinson had no time to think about what he was eating—he grabbed fast food or opened a can, whatever was easiest and most accessible. His weight climbed to 286 pounds. Last year, Dickinson was promoted to Health Officer for the Vineland Department of Health. The new position prompted him to take stock. He wanted to set an example for the community, but thought, “Who would take an obese health officer preaching obesity […]
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November 10, 2015
New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) embraces ideas, partnerships and initiatives that move New Brunswick’s people forward. From supporting community development efforts to healthier living initiatives, NBT has made significant strides in changing the way residents think about and engage in a healthier lifestyle. This fall, NBT welcomes Manuel (Manny) Castaneda as its Director of Community Health. In this new role, Manny will handle the management and implementation of health and social initiatives of Healthier New Brunswick, a collective impact approach, which includes the Live Well-Vivir Bien New Brunswick campaign. The campaign is designed to unify, promote and encourage participation in community efforts that foster a culture of health and wellness. “I’ve lived and worked in New Brunswick for most of my life, so I am both proud and excited to help my fellow residents achieve better outcomes in the areas of health and wellness,” said Manny. Manny has worked at community-based […]
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November 10, 2015
“Is transportation a contemporary civil rights issue?” That was the question posed by Dr. Darrin Anderson, deputy director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK), who served as the keynote speaker for the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA) annual meeting. Held on Friday, October 23, the event was attended by more than 150 individuals representing policy makers, transportation professionals and local business leaders. GMTMA is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to improving mobility and reducing traffic congestion in and around Mercer and Ocean counties. GMTMA provides information, administers programs and assists commuters and residents with rideshare matching, bicycle and pedestrian programs, rail and bus travel information and incentives for commuters. NJPHK has partnered with GMTMA on on Safe Routes to School events, walking audits, and this year’s BikeFest at Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market which included bike safety training for children, free bike helmets, arm reflectors for adults and […]
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November 10, 2015
Dr. Sandra G. Hassink, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, will be the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Building a Culture of Health in NJ Conference on Wednesday, December 2 at Pines Manor in Edison, NJ. She will speak on the social determinants of health and civil rights pertaining to food access and physical activity. Dr. Hassink has focused her career on preventing and treating childhood obesity. She is a pediatrician at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (AIDHC) in Wilmington, Del., where she founded the weight management program in 1988 and serves as director of the Nemours Pediatric Obesity Initiative. She is co-principal investigator for the Healthy Active Living for Families project, which promotes active healthy living for parents and families of young children. Participants at this year’s conference also will be able to choose among six workshops focused on topics related to improving the health of NJ communities. […]
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October 26, 2015
A vacant asphalt lot at the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Hudson Street in Trenton became a healthy haven for hundreds of residents when it transformed into the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market this summer. The market was a ‘first of its kind’, featuring a combination of farmers market standards – fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced honey, eggs and baked goods – combined with unique offerings, including health screening services, physical activities, bingo and community events, such as a BikeFest and fall festival. “The Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market was a true success; exceeding our expectations and laying a great foundation on which to build for next year,” said Darrin Anderson, Deputy Director, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. The Greenwood Ave, Farmers Market opened every Monday (except Labor Day and Columbus Day) from June 15th through October 26th. Over its 18-week run, approximately 4,000 residents/customers visited the market. Over the […]
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October 26, 2015
Originally posted in the Daily Journal Jodi Streahle, writer for the Daily Journal The air was cold enough to chill a body to the bone as a record amount of participants gathered Saturday morning at Parvin State Park for the annual Bone Run & Walk presented by The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. More than 750 participants lined up on Almond Road to embark on a 3-plus mile cross-country course around Parvin Lake. Many wore fun costumes and even more were armed with hats, ear warmers and gloves. There were superheroes, neon hair, wild socks and more. The course included scenic uphill trails, downhill trails and trails that were so tight they made passing fellow runners an art form. “I love to run here. It’s a beautiful course,” said Eric DuBois of Pittsgrove, who was the first runner to cross the finish line. Parvin State Park […]
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October 14, 2015
On October 14, about 620 fourth and fifth-grade students in the Middletown Township School District got to play with the pros in a free joint soccer and basketball ProCamp. The ProCamp was led by New Jersey natives Carli Lloyd, a World Soccer Cup MVP, and Jay Williams, an All-American basketball player and first round draft choice. The three-hour Healthy U Be Active ProCamp kicked off with team photos with the pros followed by camper drills. Then the games began. Throughout the event, Lloyd and Williams spoke to the kids about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. More importantly, they modeled their messages. An awards ceremony capped off the event. The camp was presented by the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. Middletown Township hosted the event. Middletown Township Schools are among the first and the largest in the state to incorporate Healthy […]
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September 10, 2015
General Mills is the first corporate employer in Vineland to join the Healthy Worksite Program as part of the Live Healthy Vineland initiative. “General Mills is a great win for the community, and its location across from South Vineland Park gives us a chance to reintroduce to park to General Mills’ 400 employees and use the grounds and its amenities,” said David Calderetti, project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-V). The first step is to form a Wellness Committee and then survey the needs and desires of employees and leadership. “Healthy Worksite is not a one-size fits all initiative,” explained Calderetti. “We use proven CDC methods to understand what makes sense for a given employer and the employees.” And there’s more: Employers from the public sector are also engaged. The Vineland Public School District has agreed to be a Healthy Worksite for its 2,300 employees. In addition, […]
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