Recent Stories
July 20, 2012
What will your ideal playspace look like? That was the question posed to nearly 500 students from Monument Elementary School who took out their crayons and tapped into their imagination to design their future playground on Friday, April 20th. “Design Day” was a time for students to dream beyond the horizon, flex their creative muscles and have an immediate impact on their playspace. Student groups created a total of 18 playground designs. Classmates then voted to select the top seven. The final seven designs were displayed on a school bulletin board where over 150 parents were able to cast their vote on their favorite designs. The winning playground design will be built on August 11 by parents, students and community volunteers. NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids – Trenton and KaBOOM, a national nonprofit dedicated to saving play for America’s children are leading the project. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Trenton’s City Council recently passed one of the most comprehensive Complete Streets policies in the state of New Jersey. Led by New Jersey Future, the policy ensures that future roadway design and construction plans will consider the needs of people of all ages and abilities, whether they are traveling by foot, bicycle, car or bus. “I believe the safety of our streets needs to be a priority and I was happy to take the lead in supporting this important resolution,” stated North Ward councilwoman and council vice president Marge Caldwell-Wilson. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Nearly 75 residents of New Brunswick got a sneak peek at the environmental factors that have contributed to childhood obesity in their neighborhood through the lens of middle school students. The screening of the Health HEROES Video Journalism project was one of the main attractions at the New Brunswick Community Health Fair held at Roosevelt School in April. The 20-minute documentary was created by sixth- and seventh-grade students participating in the Film Club@ the Hub and showcased the challenges children face when it comes to access to quality food and physical fitness activities in the New Brunswick community. The student journalism project kicked off in January 2012 on Martin Luther King Day. From January through March, students determined areas of focus, developed interview questions and embarked on a journey to nearby corner stores, a local farmers market, restaurants and a community park. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Very Veggie Pasta Sauce and Blueberry Parfait are two Jersey Fresh selections now on the menu at Vineland High School. It’s been a bit of a journey from farm to table, but now that two items have made the grade, Lisa Scheetz, NJPHK-Vineland Program Coordinator, is optimistic that more will follow. Scheetz credits the collaboration of NJPHK-Vineland partners city of Vineland Health Department, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Rutgers Innovation Center, Vineland Public Schools and food vendor Sodexo for bringing Jersey Farm Fresh offerings to Vineland public school cafeterias. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Seven Vineland corner stores and restaurants have signed on to work with NJPHK-Vineland and its partners, the Vineland Health Department and Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA, to provide healthy eating choices in their establishments. The initiative was prompted by the results of the Community Healthy Living Index, an environmental and community survey, which identified the one mile radius around Vineland City Hall as a food desert—an area in which affordable healthy food is not readily available. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the good work of a New Brunswick teaching assistant is multiplying tenfold. Carmen Rine has been cooking and serving breakfast for up to 35 students at the Greater Brunswick Charter School for the past four years. Now, thanks to a $25,000 seed grant from New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT), all 340 students at the school will benefit from a wholesome morning meal. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Five Newark health care providers are ready to introduce Let’s Move! in the Clinic, an important milestone in NJPHK-Newark’s work with the healthcare sector. The Let’s Move! healthy lifestyle toolkit is designed to help health care providers talk with patients, parents, guardians and other care givers about the nutritional and physical activity needs of children. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 20, 2012
Nat Turner Park in Newark, NJ will be the new home for the construction of the Born Learning Trail. Nat Turner Park, the largest city-owned park in Newark, NJ sits on nine-acres across from Central High School and is named after the American slave who led revolt in 1831 in Virginia. The Born Learning Trail will provide 10 engaging, interactive activities that adults can use to create early learning opportunities for children. By following a series of colorful shapes, signs and hopscotch squares, children can learn their numbers and letters through active play. The Trail is a great way for a community to use outdoor space to promote literacy and social development. SHARE:
READ MORE
July 19, 2012
Bill Lovett has been appointed the New Program Director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. Prior to taking on his new leadership assignment, Lovett served the YMCA for 35 years, spending the last 23 years of his career as the CEO of the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy before retiring in 2012. During his reign as CEO, the YMCA grew from one branch and an annual $785,000 budget to five branches and a budget of $14,000,000. The YMCA currently has more than 40,000 members and a staff of more than 500. Additionally, the YMCA operates ten child-care centers, six day camps and four outdoor pools and is the leading provider of childcare, day camp, aquaticsl and wellness programs in Middlesex County. He is past chairperson of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance and is a past Board Member of the YMCA of the USA. Bill Lovett graduated from Hiram […]
READ MORE
July 19, 2012
Nearly 50 residents, planners, parks and recreation staff, police officers, safety officers and community advocates from Camden, New Brunswick and Trenton attended a three-day Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) workshop. Held at Middlesex County Community College on April 24-26, the workshop was co-sponsored by New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, ShapingNJ and the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State College. The curriculum focused on crime-reducing strategies through site design, landscaping, lighting and community engagement, among others. Individuals participated in “hands on” exercises that included developing and reviewing site plans for parks using CPTED principles of natural access control, natural surveillance, territoriality, and maintenance. SHARE:
READ MORE
Contact Us: 609-278-9622
Follow Us On: