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April 30, 2013
When New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture sought to announce the receipt of a $62,713 U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant, Vineland proved to be the perfect place to host the press conference. The grant, the second that was awarded, will help continue work started with Rutgers Food Innovation Center on a project to bring Made with Jersey Fresh items to schools throughout the state. The initial $51,000 grant provided the Department of Agriculture the opportunity to work with the Innovation Center to develop farm-to-school menu items that meet the nutritional, cost and shelf-life needs for school meals, and are also appealing to students. “When we received that initial grant, we partnered with New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids to help us place samples of the farm-to-school products,” said Diane Holtaway, associate director of client services, Rutgers Food Innovation Center. “Together, we made a great decision to place […]
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April 27, 2013
A rising sun, children at play and heaps of healthy fruits and vegetables are the striking images in an outdoor mural at Monument Elementary School completed on April 27. The mural, designed and executed by local artist Jonathan Conner (aka Lank) with the assistance of artist Willie Condry, Jr. (aka Kasso) and community members, is the crowning achievement of a year-long wellness transformation at the school. The school’s Wellness Council, which has been overseeing and supporting efforts to create and maintain a healthier environment for students, wanted a mural for the playground as a finale to the environmental changes and improvements that have taken place at Monument Elementary. “The school has healthy choices in the cafeteria, KABOOM! playground equipment, a running track and designated areas for basketball, soccer, street hockey and hopscotch. The mural is the culmination of the work and vision emphasizing wellness,” explains Marissa Davis, NJPHK-Trenton project manager. […]
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April 25, 2013
On April 25, the Shiloh Community Development Corporation’s (CDC) “Soaring to New Heights” monthly breakfast meeting featured something new on the menu: healthy food choices. The healthy breakfast items met the nutritional guidelines recommended by the new organizational wellness policy recently adopted by the Trenton Historic Development Collaborative (THDC), a coalition focused on economic redevelopment, safety and wellness in the city of Trenton. As a THDC stakeholder organization, Shiloh CDC has agreed to incorporate healthy food and physical activity into their group activities. All other THDC organizations plan to do the same. With over 40 community organizations aligned under the THDC, the commitment to wellness can have far-reaching effects. “Modeling healthy behavior is critical in the effort to reverse trends in childhood obesity,” explains Marissa Davis, NJPHK-Trenton project manager. “With organizations on board committed to wellness, healthy choices and physical activity can become the expected norm. The THDC wellness policy […]
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April 8, 2013
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a Washington-based organization dedicated to making streets safe and accessible for all users, has recognized Trenton for having one of the best Complete Streets policies in the nation. Of nearly 130 communities across the country that submitted Complete Streets policies, Trenton ranked number eight on the list. Marissa Davis, NJPHK-Trenton project manager, knows that the Complete Streets policy will help Trentonians make physical activity a regular part of their daily lives. “We’re making it easier and to move around the city, and that’s going to make Trenton a healthier place to live, work, bike and just have fun.” Stefanie Seskin, deputy director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, said “Trenton’s policy should be a national standard; (it’s) a policy that takes a stand for everyone who uses our streets, including people young and old, whether they’re walking, driving, bicycling, riding a bus, shopping, or sightseeing.” […]
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April 2, 2013
Thanks to a Healthy Snacks grant from the Department of Community Affairs, children participating in an after-school tutoring program at Monument Elementary are enjoying nutritious treats. The students also are serving as “researchers” to help NJPHK-Trenton document children’s taste preferences when it comes to healthy snack foods. Shannon O’Connor, AmeriCorps member serving as network assistant for NJPHK-Trenton, researched a wide variety of healthy snacks suitable for distribution at Monument and compiled nutrition information about each. After snacks are provided to the students, Monument staff ask them which they like and dislike. O’Connor collects that information, and as a result, NJPHK-Trenton has a comprehensive list of healthy snacks that children prefer. The list is available to schools, parents and care givers, and other interested parties and includes: Ocean Spray Craisins Dole Diced Pears in 100% fruit juice Dole Diced Peaches in 100% fruit juice Kashi Soft-Baked Cereal Bars (Ripe Strawberry) Kashi […]
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April 2, 2013
When Valeria Galarza learned about the Project Manager position at NJPHK-Camden, she felt it could have been created for her. It was the opportunity she had been hoping for, allowing her to combine her background in community and public health with her interest in public policy and work with the community of her adopted hometown of Camden, where her husband Eddie grew up. She joined NJPHK-Camden in October 2010 and jumped into the work with unbounded enthusiasm. The chance to change policy in her community is Galarza’s passion. “Policy is the foundation for change,” Galarza said. “Many major accomplishments can be traced back to a policy.” One of the biggest challenges we face in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic, is that many of our policies stand in the way of healthier choices—kids don’t have safe places to walk, bike, or play outside and it’s often cheaper and more convenient for […]
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March 9, 2013
Originally published in Press of Atlantic City Local officials are planning a few projects aimed at getting city residents living in New Jersey’s least healthy county up and moving to improve their physical conditions. One part of the plan involves creating two miles of downtown bike lanes that will run on Wood and Elmer streets between East and West avenues. The other is a monthly fun and fitness event held in the downtown Landis Avenue business district on the first Friday of most spring and summer months. The evening events would close a block of Landis Avenue for families to participate in a series of yet-to-be-developed events. A goal of both projects is to improve local and Cumberland County health indicators that Emma Lopez, health educator for the city’s health department, called “horrible.” One of the biggest problems is obesity, she said. While improving personal health is the main goal, […]
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March 8, 2013
Headlined by Michelle Obama and Eli Manning, the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Building a Healthier Future Summit provided the opportunity to engage with leaders and activists dedicated to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. NJPHK staff member were among the more than 1,000 leaders from public, private, and non-profit organizations who attended the Summit in Washington, DC from March 6-8. Here’s what inspired them most: Among the many subjects explored at the Summit, forging a strong partnership with for-profit organizations and transforming physical activity deserts into areas for play were two priorities that resonated with Darrin Anderson, NJPHK deputy director. “In New Jersey, we are fortunate to have strong corporate partners like Campbell Soup and Johnson & Johnson,” Anderson said. “When businesses take a leadership role in implementing healthy strategies, our communities benefit and the impact is far reaching.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Parks and […]
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March 7, 2013
Lisa’s focus on childhood obesity began in 2007 as a manager for the “STEPS for Kids” program funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. STEPS targeted students, aged 8-12, who were overweight. The children and their families participated together during the 12-week course. Through STEPS Lisa met a 12-year-old boy that the school nurse had referred to the program. While measuring the young man’s waist during pre-testing, she realized that her 60-inch tape measure wasn’t going to be long enough, as his waist was 62 inches. After measuring, he looked at her and asked, “Can you help me?” She immediately responded, “Yes,” without knowing how she was going to do so. What she did know was that it was a much bigger problem than one class could solve. “At that moment I knew I had to change my delivery and fitness philosophy assisting families going through this challenge,” said Scheetz, […]
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February 28, 2013
Originally mentioned on CBS Philly Valeria Galarza, NJPHK-Camden project manager, has been recognized by the Campbell Soup Foundation for her leadership in building a healthy community for Camden residents. The Campbell Healthy Communities Award was presented to Galarza in recognition of the significant contributions she has made on behalf of NJPHK-Camden to improving the lives of Camden residents. Galarza was one of three community leaders honored at the Foundation’s award breakfast attended by over 100 leaders of non-profit community organizations on February 28. “The award recognizes the strides our NJPHK-Camden partners have made in building a healthy environment in Camden,” Galarza said. “I am so fortunate to work with a committed group of community leaders who share a clear vision of a healthy future in Camden.” Galarza joined NJPHK-Camden in October 2010.Through her leadership, NJPHK-Camden and its partners have worked together to impact areas such as the adoption of comprehensive […]
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