Recent Stories
July 5, 2017
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”10″ 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 officially opened on Monday, June 12 for its third season as the safe and inviting community gathering place for residents to have access to healthy, affordable food options, health screenings, and summer fun. The high heat index didn’t stop almost 250 residents and commuters from enjoying the market’s opening day which included health screenings, games, healthy tasting demonstrations, music by Miss Sue Miss Sue, and more. New vendors Juicin’ with Judy, Capital City Farm, and Local 130 Seafood also were a big hit among customers. A new video highlighting the benefits of the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market and how it has contributed to creating a culture of health since its inception in 2015 was recently released. The video features customer, vendor and staff testimonials about the market’s positive influence on the Trenton community. The […]
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July 5, 2017
Summer is finally here, and it’s the perfect time of year to get outside and explore new places with friends and family. July is National Park and Recreation Month, and New Jersey’s national and state park system has a summer calendar that is packed with activities and events for all ages. National Park and Recreation Month is an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association to encourage people to visit, appreciate, and experience local, state, and national parks. New Jersey is home to over 60 beautiful parks and forests. These parks are open to the public for most of the year. Each park has a plethora of family-friendly activities like: Nature Trails (Cape May Point State Park and Ringwood State Park) Historic Reenactments and Landmarks (Morristown National Historical Park, Washington Crossing State Park, and Monmouth Battlefield State Park) Lighthouses (Absecon Lighthouse House Historic Site) Astronomy Observatories (Voorhees State Park). […]
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July 5, 2017
Birthday cakes are being traded in for a healthier option for the Raritan Valley YMCA. On Thursday, June 8, parents of two-year-old Sonika brought in a cake made entirely of fruit to celebrate her birthday. Since adopting the Healthy U program, an updated policy about birthday treats was issued for the Raritan Valley YMCA’s on-site childcare center and includes the following statement: “Birthdays are an important milestone in a young child’s life, and we like to celebrate them. As a promoter of the Healthy U program, we would like our parents to choose healthy options to celebrate birthdays, for example instead of cupcakes, bring in special fruits your child likes to share.” The Healthy U initiative promotes healthy changes by providing nutrition education and implementing behavioral changes in preschoolers. “We’re very optimistic that healthy changes like this will help shape the culture of health here at the YMCA,” said executive […]
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July 5, 2017
Award recognizes leadership and commitment in creating changes that surround families with opportunities to make healthy choices The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK) was recently presented with one of the first Department of Health Population Hero Award in the category of Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration. Presented on June 7th during the Department of Health’s annual Population Health Summit at Rider University attended by more than 350 public health professionals, the award acknowledges NJPHK’s leadership and collaboration in improving health through leadership and innovation. “Shifting the healthcare system’s focus to wellness and collaborating with communities to build healthier environments that promote wellness are cornerstones of the Department’s work,” said Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett. “Inspiring initiatives to improve Population Health are ongoing in every region of our state, and it’s important that we shine a spotlight on this incredible work not only to honor our awardees but to encourage others.” “NJPHK […]
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July 5, 2017
Passion for people is a phrase that best describes Gary and Bonnie Graham. As the former executive director of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, Gary led the effort of partnering with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids to life in 2009. Since Gary’s retirement in 2012, the Grahams have hosted the annual Graham Social Responsibility Conference of the New Jersey State Alliance. The seed funds for the initial conference came from Kathy Dunn, a former YMCA executive. Over the past four years, the conference has grown to nearly 350 YMCA employees and community partners attending every year. The goal is for individuals to understand social responsibility and their role as a community advocate, as well as collaborate with partners and have actionable plans for community impact. “It’s really about getting beyond the implicit bias we all have and showing people that you care,” said Gary Graham in a recent telephone interview. Gary has […]
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June 9, 2017
Healthy employees make for a happier work environment, and Elwyn of New Jersey understands just how important that balance can be for their employees. Since 2015, Live Healthy Vineland has worked with local organizations such as Elwyn New Jersey to implement healthy workplace strategies. Elwyn is a human service organization serving 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. As part of its healthy workplace initiative, Elwyn’s management and employees observe National Walk to Work Day, host health fairs where employees can learn about community-based health and wellness resources and have established a wellness council to support and encourage healthy living among employees. Christina Belony, a lead technician for the Dorothy Group Home, has been an employee at Elwyn for 17 years. Belony is a major health advocate both at work and home, […]
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June 6, 2017
NJPHK’s Deputy Director Dr. Darrin Anderson served as a speaker at the recent Emerging Multicultural Leadership experience (EMLE) Conference. Held at Rutgers University, Newark on May 20, EMLE is a learning experience designed to provide emerging professional staff of color the opportunity to become further engaged and connected to the Y Movement. Additional speakers included Lucria Ortiz, Senior Director of Fund Development and Communications for the YMCA of Greater New York, Ebony Conely-Young, Executive Director, Long Island City YMCA and Bertram Lawson II, Vice President, Operations, Camp Services & Diversity/Inclusion/Global Engagement, Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA. Workshops included: business etiquette, navigating corporate politics and collaboration strategies. SHARE:
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June 6, 2017
If you were out and about in Trenton on May 19, you might have noticed someone intercepting bicyclists to provide unique safety cards in honor of Bike to Work Day. The “someone” was Jay Watson, Vice President of D&R Greenway Land Trust. Each card Watson handed out contained a one dollar bill folded into a directional arrow to get bicyclists riding RIGHT! “I wanted to develop a way to approach riders to change the way they rode their bicycles in the city,” said Watson. “I wanted them to ride safely.” The bicyclist intercepts during Bike to Work Week was the first roll out of the safety cards. Watson’s primary goal is to get everyone riding on the right side of the road. Motorists tend to scan for traffic following the rules for cars, so bicyclists need to be seen in that traffic. Including a dollar bill in the card gave […]
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June 6, 2017
Dates Set for Camden Night Gardens and Camden Jam, New Programming Unveiled On May 9, 2017, Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd and Cooper’s Ferry Partnership Vice President Meishka L. Mitchell unveiled the Connect the Lots program for 2017. A variety of fun outdoor events and programming for the spring and summer months are planned to engage residents and activate vacant, underutilized spaces in neighborhoods throughout the City of Camden. “This year’s line-up of dynamic programming is designed for people of all ages,” explained Mayor Redd. “By offering an array of activities right in the heart of our vibrant neighborhoods, we are hoping to inspire residents to celebrate the rich cultural offerings we have right here in the City while engaging the community and attracting visitors from throughout the region.” “These free family-friendly events will provide safe havens where Camden youth and their families can interact and enjoy their community in […]
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June 6, 2017
Get Healthy Camden is teaming up with Virtua Health Systems to provide a mobile farmers market for Camden and Burlington counties’ residents this summer as part of Connect the Lots. Now in its third year, Connect the Lots is a community-driven initiative that utilizes underused and vacant spaces in the city for healthy, fun, and safe activities for residents. Starting on June 29 through September, the Mobile Market will set up shop every Thursday at Roosevelt Plaza Park. Open from 11 am to 1 pm, Camden residents will have access to a fun atmosphere with live music and fresh produce from Whole Foods. “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Virtua in providing residents access to fresh, healthy produce and continue building a culture of health in our city,” said Val Galarza, senior project director for Cooper’s Ferry and Get Healthy Camden. The Mobile Market will sell produce at a reduced […]
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