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October 12, 2014
Over 4,000 people took advantage of New Brunswick’s open streets on Sunday, October 12. They biked, walked, played ball, talked with friends, skated and climbed a rock wall, among other activities. During Ciclovia, cars are banished; streets are closed to motor traffic but open to fun, games, movement and fellowship. The New Brunswick Ciclovia area is a 3.4 mile route—6.8 miles round trip. This was the third Ciclovia since October 2013, and the response from the community was universally positive, guaranteeing that Ciclovia will become a New Brunswick mainstay. The October Ciclovia saw a slightly altered route, more activity stations, including a bike rodeo and bike exchange, and greater engagement from community organizations. These enhancements resulted in more smiles than ever before, according to Jaymie Santiago, project manager of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-New Brunswick. Santiago has been involved in the planning and execution of Ciclovia in New Brunswick […]
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October 8, 2014
When is walking to school a cause for celebration? When it’s Walk-to-School Wednesday in Asbury Park. Asbury Park is a walking school district which means that all children that attend one of the three elementary schools walk to school every day. But once a month, on a Wednesday, that ordinary walk to school becomes a celebration and a time to recognize the value and importance of walking and biking as a lifelong way to stay fit. “We begin to develop lifelong habits as children,” said Lisa Lee, school health council coordinator for the Monmouth County Health Department. “Walk-to School Wednesday is a way to create excitement about walking and biking so kids can start forming healthy habits now that will have an impact for the rest of their lives.” This is the first year for Walk-to-School Wednesday in Asbury Park, but based on the success of the first month, they […]
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October 3, 2014
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids recently received the prestigious New Jersey Black Issues Convention’s (NJBIC) Community Change Award. The award recognized NJPHK’s outstanding efforts in Health and Human Services and was presented during NJBIC’s 32nd Annual Black Leadership Conference held on October 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, NJ. “This award is a tribute to the collective impact that NJPHK and its partners have had in helping to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic through environmental policy changes that support healthy eating and increase opportunities for physical activity,” said Darrin Anderson, deputy director of the NJPHK State Program Office. The annual NJBIC conference gathers New Jersey thought leaders to discuss critical issues affecting the Black community and generates mobilization tactics for resolutions. This year’s theme was “Moving the Community Forward: Equipping (Tools), Edifying (Awareness) and Elevating (Aspirations).” “Since its inception, NJBIC’s member organizations have provided information and […]
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October 1, 2014
What does it take to sustain a healthy lifestyle? That’s the question some Trenton families had the chance to answer this summer through Rx for Health, an initiative that encouraged them to “eat green, get active, and start their family on the road to a healthier life!” Part food fair, part mini-exercise class and garden experience, Rx for Health was created by New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton (NJPHK-T), America’s Grow-A-Row from Hunterdon County, the Henry J. Austin Health Center (HJAHC), Isles Inc. and Rutgers Cooperative Extension SNAP-ED program. The goal was to provide skills and resources so families could sustain healthy habits. Through the Trenton Green Team, a grant from Sustainable Jersey underwrote the 2014 pilot program. Each Thursday for four weeks in August, children and their families visited HJAHC. Once there, they were greeted by interns dressed like vegetables. They received produce from a local farmers’ market, sampled […]
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September 21, 2014
There’s a healthy alternative to ice cream and ice pops on the way. New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland) is working with the Rutgers University Food Innovation Centerto produce and distribute green wave smoothie pops which blend fruits and greens to provide a refreshing and healthy summer popsicle. The pops will use produce from local farmers. “Our goal is to sell healthy food at concession stands during the summer months,” says Lisa Scheetz, NJPHK-Vineland project manager. “We will distribute the pops to the Y for its summer camps and to concession stands at local ball parks, as well as to our corner stores and Vineland public schools.” SHARE:
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September 21, 2014
The road to wellness in Vineland public schools has had some detours and standstills, but a critical milestone has been achieved: effective September 2014, Vineland Public Schools commenced the new school year with an improved Wellness Policy that commits to providing students with healthy foods; supporting nutrition education; and making daily physical activity a priority. Several components of the policy are particularly important for addressing obesity among children in Vineland, according to Sara Paciocco, health education field representative for the city of Vineland Department of Health. The District has committed to championing nutrition education and to communicating with parents about healthy food and physical activity. The policy also endorses establishing staff wellness councils that can guide staff in how to encourage a healthy lifestyle. A Safe Routes to School clause in the policy commits the board to assessing and “if necessary and to the extent possible” making improvements to facilitate […]
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September 21, 2014
Focused on youth, healthy living and community development, the Living Hope Empowerment Center (LHEC) is a faith-based community development corporation empowering residents of Trenton towards self-sufficiency and economic independence. Led by executive director Francis Blanco, LHEC has been instrumental in several partnership initiatives, spearheading healthy corner stores and advocating for broader policy and planning approaches to promote healthy communities. Blanco has been the co-chair of the Access to Healthy Foods work group for the past two years and is now the chair of the Trenton Healthy Food Network. ”Francis Blanco is an avid supporter of NJPHK-Trenton and incorporates our goals into the mission of Living Hope Empowerment Center, an organization that is doing some amazing things in the areas of health and wellness,” said Marissa Davis, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton (NJPHK-Trenton) project manager. Blanco joined LHEC in 2010 when the organization, founded by Living Hope Church pastors, went […]
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September 21, 2014
Seven New Brunswick houses of worship and the pastoral care office of RWJ University Hospital are in the planning phase of drafting wellness policies that will orient their approach to food preparation and physical activity for church events and programs and outreach activities. The churches previously participated in Faith, Body & Soul, an initiative with multiple phases of wellness education and fitness challenges. That three-year project ended in February and now each church wants to build a sustainable infrastructure that will ensure continued emphasis on wellness regardless of changes in leadership or programs. Jaymie Santiago, project manager of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-New Brunswick, is working with the churches to develop the wellness policies. “A wellness policy is the key step in creating the infrastructure that will enable health and wellness to thrive and continue. Each house of worship has informal policies in place that we need to gather, […]
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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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September 21, 2014
NJPHK-Camden is working with UrbanPromise Ministries and Camden Community Charter School to tailor and adopt wellness policies that will influence nutrition, food choices and physical activity. Both schools also plan to pilot a farm-to-school community garden that will allow children to grow fruits and vegetables for the school cafeterias. Provided with a mini-grant from NJ Healthy Communities to help underwrite the effort, the schools hope to sign off on the wellness policies in time for the 2014-2015 school year. SHARE:
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