Recent Stories
September 13, 2012
Flanked by school children, fire fighters, community volunteers, funders and government officials, Principal Bernadette Trapp cut the red ribbons on Monument Elementary School’s new playground and Cool Café on September 12, 2012. The event symbolized a new era of healthy living for the nearly 500 students who now will have better access to healthy foods and opportunities for safe physical activity. NJPHK-Trenton and the Greater Trenton-Area YMCA are major partners in the building and planning of the new playground as a part of the school’s Healthy Initiatives program. Partnerships with NJPHK-Trenton and ARAMARK Food and Nutrition Services, enabled the school to introduce healthier meal options for students. “Monument was chosen as the Healthy Initiatives pilot school because Bernadette Trapp demonstrated genuine interest in the health and welfare of her students and strong determination to find the funding that could create a safe place to play,” said NJPHK-Trenton Project Manager Marissa […]
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August 24, 2012
Donned with fancy aprons and matching chefs hats, eight Trenton students recently brought out their inner culinary skills in a recent Tweet-2- Eat tasting demonstration outside of Monchy’s Bodega on North Clinton Ave. The girls made healthy versions of corn and bean salad, fruit smoothies and cheese quesadillas. They also gave out samples along with healthy recipes to customers who stopped by during the demonstration. “Everything was delicious,” said Marissa Davis, project manager for the NJPHK-Trenton. “Not only did the girls have fun with their newfound culinary skills, but they asked if they could return the following week to cook again.” Monchy’s is one of four stores that have signed up to participate in Trenton’s Healthy Corner Store and Bodega initiative. The goal of the Healthy Store and Bodega initiative is to provide support store owners in offering healthier options including fresh fruits and vegetables. The goal is to increase […]
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August 23, 2012
Until recently, six year old Roberto had never dipped into a public pool or had any swim lessons. However, Roberto and a number of other New Brunswick neighborhood children, along with their parents were able to participate in a six-week swim program this summer every Friday night. Thanks to an agreement between the Raritan YMCA and Rutgers University Cook College, families from PRAB, Unity Square and Mae J. Strong Child Development Center were able to access the University’s pool to learn how to swim during off peak hours. Partnership agreements like these help improve the health of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity, while maximizing resources. “When we work together as a community, we’re empowered to give our children and families more opportunities to be active, and that’s critical to preventing obesity,” said Gina Stravic, President of the Raritan YMCA and Co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-New […]
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August 23, 2012
As NJPHK-New Brunswick’s Partnership Coordinator, Dr. Fatimah Williams Castro believes that creating healthy communities is the key to reversing the obesity epidemic. “Children need safe places to walk, bike and play and families need access to fresh foods at affordable prices,” Dr. Williams Castro explains. “My goal for NJPHK-NB is to cultivate a movement that draws on the strength of New Brunswick’s local assets, including community-based organizations and families and the research, corporate, health, and public sectors. Together, we can tackle this epidemic in New Brunswick and keep our kids and their families active and healthy.” Dr. Williams Castro joined the NJPHK-NB in June 2011. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Rutgers University. She has contributed to health research with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and has a background in social movements, law, and urban studies. She spent a number of years in Honduras, Central America where […]
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August 23, 2012
More than 23 million children and teenagers (31.8 percent) ages two to 19 are obese or overweight. “National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK) recognize the serious threat obesity poses to the health of America’s children and the importance of decreasing its prevalence not only in the state of New Jersey, but across the entire United States,” stated Darrin Anderson, Deputy Director, NJPHK. During the month of September, NJPHK communities will sponsor several activities to promote healthy environments. These events and activities include: Camden—Community playground build day in Northgate Park on October 20th New Brunswick—Community viewing of film written and produced by elementary school students on childhood obesity challenges faced in their community Newark—Community Build Day of a Born Learning Trail in Nat Turner Park on September 26, 27 and 28th Trenton—Ribbon cutting ceremony of first healthy cafeteria created in Trenton at Monument Elementary […]
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August 23, 2012
Courtney Price, NJPHK-Newark Project Manager Recalling one of my favorite books by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach; James is a boy who longs for friends. One day he stumbles across a gigantic peach in a forest behind his house. Throughout the story the peach becomes his fortress inhabited by many who become something he always wanted—friends. The story goes on to end with the pit of the peach becoming the location for James’ mansion found in New York’s Central Park, which was open to all his new friends. If you’ve ever visited Central Park you’ll know how magical a park can be for a child. Some of Newark’s parks can be an exciting FREE trip and “magical” for young children and their families. With many open areas for uninhibited play, pools for swimming or trees for keeping cool, parks can leave a lasting impression on a child and […]
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August 23, 2012
Registration is now open for the Obesity Prevention in New Jersey Conference, scheduled for December 11, 2012 at the Hilton in East Brunswick. The conference theme is “The State of the State: Important Next Steps,” and will feature special guest speakers, as well as breakout sessions focused on various topics related to obesity prevention. Dr. Terry T-K Huang, Senior Advisor for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Obesity Research Task Force will serve as the keynote speaker for the morning events. In addition to his role at NIH, Dr. Huang serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has conducted a great deal of research in the areas of pediatric obesity, metabolic syndrome, fetal and early childhood nutrition, and risks for obesity and chronic diseases. Dr. Marlene Schwartz, Deputy Director of the Rudd Center […]
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August 23, 2012
Originally published in The Trentonian Young people from the Trenton YMCA work with Chef Dave Nuss, right, from the Childrens Aid Society of New York to prepare healthy food during an event to raise public awareness for the NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids and efforts to prevent childhood obesity Thursday afternoon at North Clinton and Lincoln Avenues. (Trentonian photo/Jackie Schear) SHARE:
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August 12, 2012
Originally published by Princeton Varsity Club On Saturday, August 11th, Princeton administrators, coaches and family members spent the day at Monument Elementary School, helping to build the school’s first playground. Read full story View event photos SHARE:
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August 11, 2012
More than 400 volunteers from the Trenton community came out and spent the entire day building a new playground at Monument Elementary School on August 11th. Made possible by a $20,000 grant awarded by KaBOOM!, the tremendous show of solidarity emphasized the community’s support to provide an environment that promotes health, fitness and physical activity among Trenton children and their families. KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to saving play by ensuring there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child, last May, selected the City of Trenton as a 2012 Playful City USA community. Unstructured, child-directed play has been proven to help kids develop physically, socially and cognitively, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “There is substantial evidence that physical activity can help improve academic achievement, including […]
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