Health advocates hoping to raise an estimated $28.4 million per year from a soda tax in Multnomah County are working to gather around 25,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The tax would allow for an 18 cent tax for an average 12-ounce soda or 51 cents per liter of soda, with revenues helping to fund early childhood education, reading and literacy initiatives and school programs encouraging nutrition, physical education, school gardens and more. Health advocates like Michael Bloomberg are working together to get the initiative off the ground with seed funding. Also, the American Heart Association, who have helped pass similar policies across the nation have started a local advocacy group called,"Yes for Healthy Kids and Education Coalition" aiming to build support ...
With the little “casita” (home) as a sentimental reminder of her childhood home and her late grandmother, Gabrielle Castellanos caring nature shines through. Castellanos truly cares about others through her desire to pursue a master’s degree and a PhD, and then apply what she learns to improve health in the community. She creates unique ways to help people live healthier lifestyles, whether it’s through a better diet, stress management, or cancer and chronic disease prevention—or a super-innovative way to integrate all of these elements. Castellanos, a native of San Antonio and a graduate of Health Careers High School, earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Allied Health Education ...
After decades of educational messages and campaigns on the grave health consequences of tobacco use, fewer young people than ever smoke cigarettes. But this triumph has come with an unintended side effect. A rising number of middle and high school kids are smoking electronic cigarettes, or "E-cigarettes," according to a National Institutes of Health report. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that vaporize flavored liquids that often times contain nicotine. These alternatives to smoking tobacco come with their own set of health risks, including asthma and respiratory infections. Among Latinos, tobacco use remains a serious problem and an increasing number have begun using e-cigarettes, according to American Heart Association News. "Easy access to these products, the ...
In addition to reducing your risk for heart disease, diabetes, 13 types of cancer, and numerous other lifelong health complications, physical activity, like walking, also boosts your mood, and improves academic performance, creativity, and your memory. Physical activity plays a critical role in reducing health disparities among Latinos because they face disproportionately more barriers to access safe places to walk and play. Forbes shares six reasons why you should make walking part of your day: Walking boosts your mood, even when you're not expecting it.
Walking enhances creativity, especially when you're seeking a solution.
Walking sparks connections between brain cells.
Walking improves working memory.
Walking yields the right rhythm for thinking.
Walking is ...
Genetic researchers are overwhelmingly focused on white populations, which could have negative implications for the health of minorities, Vocativ reports. The report cites a new op-ed in the journal Nature that found that 81% of participants were of European descent (white) and only 19% non-European descent in all scientific studies that "correlated a genetic mutation with a particular disease." The white participant percentage, while down from 96% in the same analysis in 2009, means minorities remain vastly underrepresented. In fact, less than 1% of genetic research had Hispanic-descent participants in 2016. Only 3% of participants were of African descent. Genetic research can uncover the causes of many diseases, and allow scientists to create drugs to treat the underlying ...
The college enrollment numbers for Latinos have steadily risen in recent years. However, Latino students still lag behind other racial and ethnic groups in obtaining two- and four-year degrees. In an effort to curb this trend, the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) has determined that addressing strategies at an institutional level are needed to help Latino students. “It is up to us to identify the challenges community college Latino students face but also to let them know there is hope,” said Maria Harper-Marinick, chancellor of the Maricopa Community College District and NCCHC president. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get ...
What is #RealSchoolFood? The Chef Ann Foundation (CAF), a national non-profit that works to improve school lunches and communities with tools, training, and resources is bringing awareness about healthier whole food lunches. Over 30 million kids eat school lunch daily, many of the foods are processed or contain unknown ingredients, reported PRNewswire. Considering kids more than half of their daily calories at lunch, and Latino kids are often in schools that don't offer as many salads and fresh fruits as their peers, healthier school lunches are a vital component in helping to reduce childhood chronic diseases, like diabetes and obesity. Working towards healthier school lunches, the CFA is now igniting a social media campaign with the hashtag #RealSchoolFood, to help bring ...
City parks worker Michael Baldwin saw rampant physical inactivity and disease in San Antonio, Texas (68% Latino). To help, he wanted to attract people to existing health programs and services in city parks. Baldwin and his team, through local collaborations, developed Fit Pass, a city-wide scavenger hunt for wellness and physical activities. People can download a phone app or a bilingual Fit Pass passport that can be stamped for attending some of 2,300 activities across San Antonio parks, incentivizing Latino families to get physically active and play in parks. Physical Inactivity in San Antonio
Michael Baldwin, special projects manager with the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department (Parks Department) in San Antonio, Texas, has helped develop and implement ...
According to a local news article, Boulder, Colo. two new council-initiated proposals may become a part of three different proposals set for voters to decide on in November's ballot. Back in July, advocates for the soda tax were supported with over the amount of signatures required for the tax to be put on November's ballot. However, language was debated as to how the tax would be implemented without having a taxpayer bill of rights provision, required to allow the city to raise local government tax. After working with local City Attorney Tom Carr, a single ballot title was created with implementation guidelines of the tax and legally defensible language to help defend against naysayers of the tax. The council has recommended placing the tax proposal on the November ...
