Recent Stories
November 7, 2017
The Lucky Star Deli on Tyler Street in Trenton is an oasis in a true food desert. Recognizing the importance of offering healthy choices to her customers, store owner Alexsa Zayas was an early and enthusiastic participant in Trenton’s Corner Store Initiative. Zayas once had weight issues of her own so she recognized the importance of bringing wholesome food to the neighborhood. Moreover, Zayas appreciated the education that comes along with being a healthy corner store. “There’s a general lack of knowledge about healthy food, so the education customers receive is very important,” Zayas said. Lucky Star Deli enrolled in the Trenton Healthy Corner Store Network at the start of the initiative in 2014. This year, when The Food Trust expanded the Healthy Corner Store Network with support from Novo Nordisk and introduced Heart Smarts and Health Screenings in Trenton, Lucky Star was chosen as one of four Heart Smarts […]
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November 7, 2017
Valeria Galarza, Senior Program Manager for Get Healthy Camden has been appointed to the Executive Council of the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC). The Executive Council makes cycling and walking safer and more convenient for all New Jersey residents. BPAC’s mission is to advise the New Jersey Department of Transportation on policies, programs, projects, and research priorities to advance cycling and walking as safe and viable forms of transportation and recreation throughout the State for users of all ages and abilities. The Council members also advise other state and regional agencies on priorities to advance cycling and walking in New Jersey. “I’m very excited to represent Camden on the BPAC,” said Galarza. “Improving the built environment by making cycling and walking safer for all residents continues to be a priority.” BPAC is composed of approximately 15 voting members, representing various federal, state, and regional agencies, advocates, and […]
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November 7, 2017
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”16″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_imagebrowser” ajax_pagination=”1″ template=”default” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″] The Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market wrapped up another successful season with their third annual Harvest Fest on Monday October 23, 2017. Open to all ages, Harvest Fest featured fall-themed food tastings, giveaways, games, and activities. Safe trick-or-treating and healthy tips for Halloween were shared with parents. Market-goers also enjoyed a Halloween mask decorating and temporary vegetable tattoos courtesy of Harvest Tattoos. Volunteers from TCNJ were on site to help with activities including pumpkin putt-putt, an apple basket toss, pumpkin painting, and the chance to guess the weight of a large pumpkin. Each child had the opportunity to collect stamps in a passport and win prizes as they visited each Harvest Fest booth. Kitchen aprons, fall-centric recipes, and cases of canned water were free to customers who made a purchase at the market. “Our residents see the Greenwood Ave. Farmers […]
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November 7, 2017
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”15″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_imagebrowser” ajax_pagination=”1″ template=”default” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″] photos courtesy of New Brusnwick Ciclovia New Brunswick Ciclovia, a family-friendly event that emphasizes healthy living and community bonding, hosted its final event of the season on October 8, 2017. Each year, more than three miles of roads throughout the city of New Brunswick become temporarily car-free for five hours on a three-mile route without a beginning or an end. New this year, a free bike-share program was available for participants who didn’t own a bicycle. Residents enjoyed exercise classes, dance performances, rock climbing, activities, games, giveaways, and tables from local vendors along the 3-mile route. Ciclovia will return in the spring of 2018. For information and updates about New Brunswick’s Ciclovia, please visit www.newbrunswickciclovia.com. SHARE:
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November 7, 2017
Since 2015, Live Healthy Vineland has worked with local organizations such as Elwyn New Jersey to implement healthy workplace strategies. Elwyn NJ has many dedicated employees who serve disabled and disadvantaged individuals. The organization has created a successful program where its employees and individuals are living and working in a culture of health. Along with Elwyn, twenty-one local businesses and organizations have implemented interventions that positively impact employee health in the city of Vineland. This video highlights the worksite wellness initiatives made by Elwyn NJ, a human service organization serving disabled individuals, to provide a healthy atmosphere for its dedicated employees. SHARE:
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November 7, 2017
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK) collaborates with high-profile, high-results partners in pursuing its mission to implement strategies that support access to affordable healthy foods to help children achieve a healthy weight. One such partner is The Food Trust. In a study conducted by Philanthropedia, The Food Trust was ranked #2 in America as a “high-impact” nonprofit focused on children’s health and nutrition. In 2011, The Food Trust received support from the Campbell’s Healthy Communities Initiative to expand its Philadelphia Healthy Corner Store Initiative into Camden and create the Camden Healthy Corner Store Network. In 2014, NJPHK and The Food Trust joined forces to build off the successes of the Camden network and replicate that achievement throughout New Jersey, starting with the other four NJPHK cities (Newark, New Brunswick, Trenton and Vineland). The two organizations, along with The American Heart Association, convened a statewide task force to examine business […]
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November 7, 2017
Valeria Galarza, Get Healthy Camden and Cooper’s Ferry Partnership Senior Project Manager, joined John Weidman, Deputy Executive Director, The Food Trust and Kim Fortunato, president of Campbell Soup Foundation in a panel discussion regarding Food Access at the Kent County Nutrition Summit. Held on October 16th, World Food Day, at the Amway Headquarters in Ada, Michigan, the one-day Summit explored national cross-sector partnerships and reviewed local community health challenges. The Summit brought together more than 150 individuals from various organizations across Michigan state to look at how to further develop local collaborative partnerships in the areas of nutrition, food security and child and maternal health. The Camden panel highlighted the public-private partnership between Campbell’s Healthy Communities Program and its Camden partners, all whom have agreed to Collective Impact and best practices between industry and nonprofit organizations. Campbell’s Healthy Communities is focused on: Food Access—Ensure that high-quality, affordable, nutritious foods are […]
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October 2, 2017
The first Believe in a Healthy Newark Conference was held on Thursday, September 28, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. “The conference was designed to help the larger community become aware of and involved in building a culture of health in Newark,” said Dr. Denise Rodgers, Believe in a Healthy Newark grant recipient and Vice Chancellor, Interprofessional Development, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. About 400 participants representing community-based organizations, business, academia, health care institutions and the school system attended the event. NJPHK’s Dr. Darrin Anderson moderated a panel discussion on how to collectively make an impact in the community. Panelists included Marissa Davis, Live Healthy Trenton, Valeria Galarza, Get Healthy Camden and Lisa Sheetz, Live Healthy Vineland. The session focused on cross-sector collaboration to address specific social and complex community problems. The panel also highlighted local collective impacts as well as […]
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October 2, 2017
Former Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs and social media star Doctor Mike to attend conference More than 400 public health professionals, educators, dieticians, and community leaders from across the state are expected to attend the 2017 Building a Culture of Health in New Jersey conference on Wednesday, November 29th, 2017 in Edison, NJ. This year’s theme, ‘A Systems Approach to Promoting Population Health,’ will teach participants how to leverage and exchange best practices, research findings, and lessons learned in Building a Culture of Health. “A healthy New Jersey starts with creating healthy, equitable communities that are embedded in public policies that ensure access for our most vulnerable population,” said Dr. Darrin Anderson, Deputy Director, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. “This conference is considered a learning lab for communities to create community change and improve health outcomes.” This year, the conference features two dynamic speakers – four-time Olympic runner and New […]
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October 2, 2017
Marissa Davis, project director for NJPHK-Trenton, was recently appointed to the Mercer County Park Commission board. Started in 1958, the Mercer County Park Commission was established to acquire land for recreational facilities throughout Mercer County to meet the need of the growing population. Davis is one of nine commissioners who is charged with promoting and encouraging outdoor recreation, as well as keeping the parks clean and accessible for all residents. “I’m honored to serve with a group of people that work diligently to improve the culture of health for Mercer County residents. We understand the need for family-friendly parks in our community,” said Davis. Today, Mercer County has nine parks where thousands of residents enjoy the outdoors each year. The Mercer County Parks Commission holds public meetings the last Wednesday of the month where residents are encouraged to attend to provide feedback and offer suggestions for improvement. SHARE:
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