Bronx Health REACH e-blast - Please share with others who may be interested! Bronx Health REACH Nutrition & Fitness Workgroup Meeting - February 20th The next Bronx Health REACH Nutrition & Fitness Workgroup meeting will be focused on Community-Based Initiatives and will be held Thursday, February 20th from 9:30AM-11:30AM at the Morrisania D&TC (1225 Gerard Ave, Bronx NY 10452), room 214. At this meeting we will hear from Jose Quintana, Bronx District Public Health Office, about the "We All Want Healthy Children: Protecting Our Children from Unhealthy Food & Beverage Marketing Campaign" as well as other updates on healthy eating and active living initiatives. For more information, please contact Emma Rodgers at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or 212-633-0800 x 1249. Lethal But Legal: Corporations, Consumption and Protecting Public Health Book Launch - February 20th The CUNY School of Public Health invites you to a panel discussion to celebrate the release of a new book LETHAL BUT LEGAL Corporations, Consumption and Protecting Public Health by Nicholas Freudenberg, Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the City University of New York School of Public Health and Hunter College, published by Oxford University Press. Panelists will include: Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, author of Food Politics Laura Berry, Executive Director, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility Nicholas Freudenberg, CUNY School of Public Health and Hunter College When: Thursday February 20, 2014 5:30 pm -7:30 pm Where: Skylight Room, 9th Floor, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street Event is free and open to the public but space is limited so please RSVP here<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/lethal-but-legal-corporations-consumption-and-protecting-public-health-tickets-10450121595>. Love Your Block Grant - Due February 20th Love Your Block is a special partnership between Citizens Committee for New York City and NYC Service that provides a unique opportunity for City residents to transform and beautify their neighborhoods. Resident-led volunteer groups receive a grant of up to $1,000 as well as access to City services from the Departments of Transportation, Parks and Recreation, and Sanitation. Review the grant guidelines to see if your group's project and the Love Your Block grant are a good match, and download an application here<http://www.citizensnyc.org/grants/love-your-block>. If you have questions about your application, please feel free to reach out to Tehmina at 212-822-9563 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Applications are due February 20th, 2014 at 5:00pm and can be submitted by mail, email or fax to Tehmina Brohi: Citizens Committee for New York City, c/o Tehmina Brohi 77 Water Street, Suite 202 New York, NY 10005 E-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Fax: 212-989-0983 20th Annual Bronx Parks Speak-Up - February 22nd Did you know the Bronx is the only NYC borough that holds an annual Parks Conference? The next Bronx Parks Speak Up will be held Saturday, February 22nd at Lehman College. Bronx Parks Speak-Up is an annual community networking conference which gives attendees the chance to learn about government and non-government resources and participate in face-to-face discussions with city and local elected and appointed officials. The Bronx Coalition of Parks and Green Spaces has adopted a multi-point platform to increase the Parks budget; hire more, especially skilled, personnel; preserve community gardens; and increase the opportunities for recreation in parks. Scheduled workshops include: "Creative Solutions: Addressing Park Group Dilemmas," "Engaging Youth," and "Working Together on a Master Plan." When: Saturday Feb. 22, 11am to 5pm Where: 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, New York, NY 10468, Music Building of Lehman College For more information and to RSVP, visit www.bronxspeakup.org/<http://www.bronxspeakup.org/> If your group is interested in tabling at the Speak Up, contact: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> For more information please send an email to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. In case of bad weather please visit www.bronxspeakup.org<http://www.bronxspeakup.org> or call 718-601-1460 Faith-Based Outreach Initiative - Meeting Feb. 24th The next Bronx Health REACH Faith-Based Outreach Initiative meeting will be held Monday, February 24th from 4-6pm at Walker Memorial Baptist Church (120 E. 169th St, Bronx NY 10452). For more information, please contact Hardeep Singh at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or 212-633-0800 x 1287. Communities for Healthy Food NYC Launch - February 25th Please join LISC NYC and its community partners for the launch of Communities for Healthy Food NYC, an innovative approach to expand access to healthy, affordable food in four of the city's most economically challenged communities. This new initiative, seeded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, addresses the interrelated issues of diet-related diseases, poverty and unemployment to help residents live longer and healthier. LISC NYC's four community partners will be on hand to highlight their strategies to integrate access to healthy and affordable food into every aspect of their comprehensive community development work - through resident outreach, nutrition education, and seeding of new food enterprises. Come partake in the healthy food tastings through interactive cooking demonstrations. Communities for Healthy Food NYC launch will take place Tuesday, February 25th from 4-5pm at the New Settlement Community Center. Email Colleen Flynn at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> to register for this free event! Shape Up NYC Classes (Instructor Training application due February 26th) Shape Up NYC offers free fitness classes every week at dozens of locations across the five boroughs. Shape Up NYC classes are taught by expert fitness instructors who know how to make fitness fun. Class offerings are varied and include aerobics, yoga, pilates and zumba, kickboxing, cardio sculpt, and more. Bronx Health REACH Coalition Partner, Agape Love Christian Center (1023 Allerton Ave, Bronx NY 10469) hosts aerobics classes on Mondays at 6pm. You can search for additional classes by location or browse the list on the Shape Up NYC website<http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc>. Shape Up NYC is looking for new sites as well; to be a host site, classes must be free and open to the public, have a multi-purpose room that can hold a minimum of 20-25 people, and an iPod dock or CD player. If you have a suggestion for a new site, please call 212-360-3304 or email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Also, Shape Up NYC is looking for Instructors! This spring, NYC Parks will offer a comprehensive 10-week training program designed to teach individuals to become fitness instructors for Shape Up NYC. Topics will include: basic anatomy, exercise physiology, injury prevention, music, cueing and body toning with light weights. After 10 weeks, participants will get practical experience by leading a one hour Shape Up NYC class per week as part of a six month internship. Upon completion of the training and internship, participants will receive an NYC Parks Certificate of Completion, and will be equipped to pass a nationally accredited certification exam. If you are interested in applying for the Fitness Instructor Training (FIT) Program, fill out the application (due February 26th) the link for the application is: http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc/instructor-training The deadline to apply is February 26th. If you have question about Shape Up and the FIT Program, please email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Bronx Budget Hearing - March 5th Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. invites you to the Bronx Borough Board Public Hearing on the Mayor's Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2015 and the capital and service needs of the Borough. This hearing will give an opportunity to Bronx and Citywide non-profits, colleges, hospitals, schools, neighborhood organizations and any other parties to speak out on the Mayor's proposed budget and the capital and service needs of our neighborhoods. Anyone interested in presenting testimony should email name, title, organization and telephone number to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> to register in advance of the hearing. Verbal testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Please forward a copy of your written testimony to the above email no later than February 27, 2014 and bring 25 copies with you on the date of the hearing. For accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact 718-590-3500. When: Wednesday, March 5th, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: 3rd Floor Litigation Room, 198 East 161st Street, Bronx NY 10451 Calling All Food Activists! Amy Kwan, doctoral candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center and School of Public Health, is conducting research on youth food activism in New York City. Her personal and professional interest in youth food activism stems from nearly a decade of working for community-based and youth-centered projects that have sought to not just improve the health of young people, but to create space for their leadership and vision for social change. For her dissertation, she is exploring the experiences of NYC young food activists (between ages 18-30) and their pathways into this work. Specifically, she is doing research to understand how community and youth engagement, technology, and social media support health interventions and social change. Amy looking for young people to interview who are currently engaged in food justice work in New York City, and have been involved in this work for at least one year. Are you a young NYC food activist (between the ages of 18-30), or do you know of someone who is? Please contact Amy Kwan if you are interested in sharing your story. She can be reached via email at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or you may call/text her at: 917.597.9096<tel:917.597.9096>. Food & Faith/Spirituality Program Survey - Due March 3rd The Food & Spirituality Committee of the Hunger & Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics is seeking to collect stories of people working on food, nutrition, healthy eating, hunger, and sustainable agriculture projects from a faith-based and/or spirituality perspective. The Food & Spirituality Committee would like to collect and share these stories to better facilitate communication and collaboration among people who share similar missions and goals. If you know of a project that you feel fits this description that you would like to share with others, please complete this survey below to the fullest extent possible by Monday, March 3rd: https://t.co/LkJOSLUvHC. If you have questions, please contact Kelly Moltzen at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or 212-633-0800 x 1328. Advocacy Academy - Starting March 8th Challenges that constitute the burdens of New York City's most vulnerable are numerous and enormous, yet not insurmountable. The root causes and solutions to these problems are multifaceted and complicated. However, the potential power of community leaders, organization members, staff and participants is a force that could be unsurpassed in bringing solutions to the community if that power is accessed. Faith based organizations, big and small, must develop ways to impact the challenges. Organized approaches can bring resources to the people and at the same time impact policy and services. Well-organized, educated strategies can stem the tide of demise to our communities. The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies is hosting an Advocacy Academy to strengthen the voices and impact of faith-based leaders and organizations. The training dates include the following: Saturday, March 8th, 9am-1pm Tuesday, March 11th, 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday, March 18th, 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday, March 25th, 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday, April 1st, 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday, April 8th, 6:30pm-8:30pm Admission is free but space is limited! For additional information or to RSVP, please contact Rev. Joel Gibson at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 212-801-1331. Each training will take place at FPWA, Laura Parsons Pratt Conference Centers, 281 Park Ave South, New York NY 10010. For more information, please click here<http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=g6GZqKgfh7JeKstCs0AVcTPhiYqp3JkB>. Healthy Schools NY Program Updates Bronx Health REACH's Healthy Schools NY Program aims to improve the nutrition and fitness of students in the Bronx and NYC schools. Below are several opportunities for schools and school health advocates to get involved: DOE Office of School Food Program Awareness Events The Office of SchoolFood would like to partner with your school's PTA or other group of stakeholders interested in improving student nutrition and wellness by holding SchoolFood Program Awareness Events. This is an opportunity to have questions answered about the school meals program, request taste tests of some of the newer menu options, and dialogue with SchoolFood representatives about how to improve student participation in the program. If you are interested in requesting one of these workshops with the DOE Office of SchoolFood, please download this form<http://www.bronxhealthreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/School_Food_Program_Awareness_Event_Form.doc> and email it to Cyrinthia Hill at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Nutrition Education One of the schools participating in the Healthy Schools NY program, PS 132, has been working with the Coalition for Healthy School Food to implement a nutrition education curriculum, Food UnEarthed, with 5th graders. Read more here<http://bronxhealthreach.blogspot.com/2014/02/food-unearthed-uncovering-truth-about.html> on our Bronx Health REACH blog! Physical Education NYC schools, especially elementary schools, face a great deal of challenges in implementing the State-mandated physical education standards. Bronx Health REACH has been collaborating with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI)'s Physical Education Workgroup to identify strategies that we can take to improve physical education within the NYC Department of Education. Here<http://bronxhealthreach.blogspot.com/2014/01/improving-access-to-physical-education.html> is a blogpost about the challenge to implementing PE, written by Sascha Murillo from NYLPI. To share your story of challenges you've experienced in making sure students have the opportunity to receive adequate physical education in NYC schools, please contact Sascha Murillo at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or Kelly Moltzen at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Active Design The Partnership for a Healthier New York City, in collaboration with The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York Academy of Medicine, and other community partners are developing the Active Design Guide for Schools to provide schools and other stakeholders with resources to increase opportunities for physical activity among students by making opportunities safe, appealing and accessible and involving community organizations, local businesses, and city agencies in the process. The toolkit will be modeled after the Active Design Guide for Community Groups<http://centerforactivedesign.org/communityguide>. It will look at the different, common physical spaces in and around schools and offer suggestions for how to transform these spaces into opportunities to engage students from all grade levels in physical activity. The three sections, "Getting to and from School," "At School," and "In the Community" will highlight ideas, benefits and solutions that are evidenced-based and do not require intense resources. The guide will also prominently feature case studies to highlight the successes of the concepts shared in each section. Please contact Emma Rodgers at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> if you have any ideas for resources or case studies to highlight in the guide. We hope to feature schools from all grade levels and boroughs. Excellence in School Wellness Award Application Released - Due April 11th The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released the 2014 Excellence in School Wellness Award, which recognizes elementary schools across the city for meeting a number of criteria relating to physical education, physical activity, nutrition, and wellness coordination. To learn more about the award and how to apply, please click on the links below. If you have any questions about the award or its criteria, email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Application: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/dpho/eswa-application.pdf Guide: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/dpho/eswa-guide.pdf Please remember to send information about your upcoming programs, initiatives, or events that you would like to include in future e-blasts, to Kelly Moltzen at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Thank you, the Bronx Health REACH staff www.bronxhealthreach.org<http://www.bronxhealthreach.org> Blog http://bronxhealthreach.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BronxHealthREACH Twitter: http://twitter.com/BxHealthREACH Bronx Health REACH is a program of the Institute for Family Health. If you would like to be removed from this listserv, please email Kelly Moltzen at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> This encrypted message, including any attachments, contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited and the sole responsibility of the recipient.