Are you interested in making a difference in the life of a child? If so, then learning about effective policies and programs for childhood obesity prevention can be the ticket to better health in you community. In order to equip you with the tools you need to get started, the Texas Pediatric Society is hosting the "Be Our Voice Advocacy Training," on Saturday May 17, 2014 from 8:30am-4:30 pm at the Texas Medical Association Building in Austin, Texas. Teams of 3-5 community members with at least one health professional (community healthy worker, social worker, researcher, clinician) are invited to register by April 21, 2014. Groups that are selected will participate for free. The training will discuss topics such as: Partnerships, collaboration, and the obesity prevention call ...
Sugary drinks are a large component of added calories in the American diet. Latino kids have increased their consumption of sugary drinks—such as soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and flavored milk—between 1991 and 2008, research shows. In Contra Costa, Calif., where 24% of the population is Latino, one of every three kids from low-income families are overweight or obese. A county organization worked with an advertising agency to develop a bilingual social marketing campaign, called Sugar Bites, to urge parents to choose water for their kids instead of sugary drinks.
EMERGENCE
Awareness: First 5 California is a state organization funded by Proposition 10, a statewide ballot initiative passed in 1998, to conduct health and education programs to benefit children ages ...
What happens when a school district’s wellness policy doesn’t cover student sports games or other after-school events? In one district in San Antonio, a Latino-majority city with approximately 63% of the residents being of Latino or Hispanic origin, a school board president drove a policy change to implement healthier menu options at concession stands during school-sanctioned after-school events. With the support of various school officials, parents, and students, the new menu extends the district’s already-strong wellness policy to after-school hours and allows healthier items for students and parents.
EMERGENCE
Awareness: In San Antonio, Texas, the North East Independent School District (NEISD), which has a population of about 67,000 students, of which 55 percent are ...
An abandoned alley in Lake Worth, Fla., was re-developed into an attractive greenway through team work and perseverance by a researcher, school district employee, city staff, and the community. The greenway, which is located near a school in a predominantly Latino area, will increase the area’s walkability and connect two neighborhoods to a nearby high school.
EMERGENCE
Awareness: Dr. Ruth McCaffrey, a trained nurse and professor at Florida Atlantic University, was keenly aware that obesity was a growing concern in Lake Worth, Fla. About 30% of the city’s 35,000 residents live in poverty, and 40% are Latino—with a growing number of families migrating there from Guatemala. Several parts of town lack adequate spaces for physical activity, and the way the city was designed impedes ...
Latinos from low-income neighborhoods of Southern California are less likely to have access to green space, parks, and other recreational facilities. Robert Garcia of The City Project wants to change this by seeking green justice, through equal access of green space for all. Although, Los Angeles is one of the most heavily populated cities in the country, it continues to have a limited amount of parks, especially in underserved communities. Residents of Maywood, a predominantly low-income, Latino neighborhood, suffer disproportionately from high rates of obesity and have only 0.6 acres of park space per 1,000 residents. According to Robert Garcia, of The City Project in California, parks in California are a civil rights issue, because not everyone has equal access to them. This ...
Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago has launched the Chicago Plays initiative to improve the condition of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout the city. Parks with trails, playgrounds, and athletic facilities can increase the amount of physical activity that people participate in. A recent study found that 81 percent of Hispanic neighborhoods lacked recreational facilities. Through the Chicago Plays initiative, Mayor Emanuel hopes to provide at least one park within a 10-minute walking distance of every Chicagoan. Chicago Plays is a five year playground renovation project that aims to improve the quality of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout Chicago. According to a press release from the office of the mayor, Mayor Emanuel hopes to complete the first upgrades to 50 playgrounds by November ...
A church in Kansas City, Missouri has created their own grocery store to help bring healthy, fresh food into an area of need. Harvest Learning Center (HLC) is a non-profit grocery store built alongside the World Harvest Ministries church in Kansas City's Ivanhoe neighborhood. HLC is run by Pastor Terry Glenn, and is partnered with Good Natured Family Farms, Hen House, Buy Fresh Buy Local, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food & Community Program. The store sells locally grown produce and other healthy foods items and lower rates than most people can find in a regular grocery store. Even better, HLC matches SNAP and food program benefits, ensuring that all families get access to these healthy foods. The church hopes to start cooking classes to help families learn how to prepare easy, ...
BikeTexas a non-profit organization committed to advancing bike access, safety, and education, is collecting signatures for a petition that would encourage the state of Texas to adopt a Complete Streets Policy. ...
Mack Williams, a local advocate, collected 1,200 signatures for a petition to enforce the Safe Passing Ordinance in San Antonio. As a result, Mayor Julian Castro agreed to enforce stricter consequences for those who violate the law. The violation will result in a $300 fine as well as a class C misdemeanor charge. Over 300 cyclists gathered at an event where they spoke of the need to enforce the ordinance. One local resident, who was seriously injured after being hit by a car, spoke via Skype to those who gathered. The city will release a public service announcement and use social media to communicate the importance of following this new law. ...
