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Two to be honored by YMCA

May 22, 2016

Originally posted on MyCentralJersey.com by Cheryl Makin Bill Lovett and Mickey Gross named winners of prestigious awards Two community members are set to be honored at the 2016 Annual Dinner Meeting of the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, and Woodbridge and South Amboy in May. William “Bill” Lovett and Michael “Mickey” Gross were named the recipients of two prestigious awards — the Charles S. Edgar Memorial Award and the Peter J. Barnes, Jr. Community Champion Award, respectively. For his outstanding work with the YMCA and the community, Lovett, currently the Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for YMCA’s, will receive the Charles S. Edgar Memorial Award. The Alliance is a not-for-profit association made up of 37 YMCA’s from throughout the state. Prior to this position, Lovett was the CEO of the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy from 1988 until his retirement in 2012. According to the YMCA, the Charles S. Edgar Award recipient is […]

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Vineland Schools Form District Wellness Team

May 22, 2016

Wellness has been on the forefront in Vineland public schools since the Board adopted a wellness policy in 2014. Now the District has created a District Wellness Team to support the individual schools and to filter information within the district about wellness best practices and opportunities for funding. Chelsea Welch, field representative for the Vineland Department of Health, is working with the Team. She got involved when she saw that funding opportunities from Sustainable Jersey and other sources were not getting the necessary traction because the District lacked a central “clearing house” to review opportunities and get the word out to the various schools. “The District team brings 17 diverse representatives together to consider the opportunities for grant funding, generate ideas for grants and help to focus and push funding applications forward,” Welch explained. “The goal is to consolidate efforts and focus on grants and programs that are best for […]

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Seven Lessons in Creating an Urban Farmers Market

May 22, 2016

Last year, Greenwood Ave.’s first urban market gave nearly 4,000 Trenton residents access to locally grown fruits and vegetables to ignite healthier living. Not a typical farmers market, the goal of the market was to help make the healthy choice the easy choice by offering on-site free health screenings, live cooking demonstrations, lessons in nutrition and weekly physical fitness activities. Greenwood Ave.’s second market season opens every Monday beginning June 13, 2016 through October 24, from 2 – 6 PM. Each week, the market will feature Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables. Matching dollars will be provided for residents using SNAP, WIC and FMNP vouchers. Health screenings, nutrition education, cooking demonstrations and live music will also be included in the weekly activities. For the first time, the farmers market will also provide free dinner for children ages 18 and under as a part of the USDA Summer Food Service meal site […]

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YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day a Success in Trenton

May 22, 2016

A fun afternoon was had by everyone who came out to celebrate the Trenton YMCA’s Healthy Kid’s Day on April 30. Trenton’s Healthy Kids Day event was one of 23 separate events across New Jersey. Held from 10 am – 2 pm, the event provided local residents with music, games, prizes, and plenty of health-conscious vendors who shared their knowledge with the community. Trenton’s Healthy Kids Day encouraged kids to go outside and play.  A passport listing all participating organizations was given to every child who came to the event. After kids filled their respective passports with stamps from each table, they received a free t-shirt. At the NJPHK-Trenton table, kids received plant seedlings with Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market stickers, promoting its June 13 opening day. Along with the passport, games and a live DJ, the event also included tours of the facilities, a rock climbing wall, circus aerialists and […]

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Camden’s Partner Meeting Focuses on Building a Culture of Health

May 22, 2016

“Basic human needs have to be fulfilled” … “Education is most important to bring to the community” … “Children need proper outlets for physical activity.” These were among the comments shared by individuals who came together on May 3rd for an All Partners Meeting to explore solutions to getting one step closer to building a Culture of Health in Camden. Valeria Galarza, senior project manager for Cooper’s Ferry Partnership facilitated the two-hour meeting attended by more than 80 people and included suggestions and ideas from speakers, residents, and partners, all concerned about the South Jersey city’s future and its citizens. Galarza kicked off the meeting with the unveiling of the new Get Healthy Camden initiative, which focuses on food access, physical activity and school wellness. Cooper’s Ferry Partnership’s Vice President of Neighborhood Initiatives Meishka Mitchell provided background information on the Camden Collaborative Initiative, the umbrella organization that Get Healthy Camden […]

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Price Shares NJPHK Mission During Public Health Symposium

May 22, 2016

The 21st Annual Public Health Symposium, sponsored by Rutgers School of Public Health, was a homecoming of sorts for Courtney Price, Project Manager of New Jersey Partnership for Kids-Newark (NJPHK-N). Price graduated from Rutgers School of Public Health in 2015 and returned this year as a Symposium presenter. The Symposium addressed the many ways in which the public health system can support healthy living for today’s children. Speakers, poster presentations and exhibiters highlighted how families, communities, schools and other institutions can work together to make the U.S. the healthiest nation in one generation. Participants learned how they can encourage healthy habits for children in New Jersey and beyond. The event kicked off Public Health Week, which is promoted by the American Public Health Association. Price shared the podium with keynote speaker Jennifer Ng’andu, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Kristen Schiro, from EmPower Somerset. Price kicked her presentation off […]

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Alma College Students Visit Stockton University

May 22, 2016

As part of a U.S. experiential learning tour to witness various health challenges, a group of students from Alma College visited Stockton University on May 2.  The main focus of the day centered on disparities, equity and child health, followed by a campus tour. The group was hosted by Dr. Laurie Shanderson, associate dean in the School of Health Sciences at Stockton University. Among the presenters were: NJPHK’s Deputy Director Dr. Darrin Anderson, PhD, who discussed the different challenges seen in rural community health in comparison to those seen in urban and suburban communities. Dr. M. Alysia Mastrangelo, professor of physical therapy at Stockton University, also participated in the session. She shared information about Get FIT@Stockton, a program dedicated to promoting an inclusive culture of health and wellness for people with disabilities, health conditions and their caregivers. Dr. Mastrangelo is also a NJPHK-Vineland partner who leads the collective impact for Health Equity. SHARE:

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Is Community Health A Contemporary Civil Rights Issue?

May 22, 2016

That was the question posed by NJPHK Deputy Director Darrin Anderson, PhD at the “Empowering Adaptable Communities Summit.”  Anderson takes the audience on a historical journey to explore the impact of having a community rooted in inequities.  Watch the YouTube video SHARE:

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NJPHK’s Anderson Shares Importance of Equity and Healthcare Literacy at NJ Rural Health Symposium

May 22, 2016

“Quality through Collaboration:  An Integrated Approach to Improving Health in New Jersey Rural Communities” was the 2016 theme for the first New Jersey Rural Health Symposium held on Thursday, April 21. Attended by more than 200 partners from various communities, educational institutions and government agencies, the event was the first of its kind in New Jersey. The goal of the symposium was to educate and raise awareness of the unique and important rural issues and challenges facing the great Garden State. This event marked the culmination of a joint effort between New Jersey Primary Care Association and the Office of Primary Care & Rural Health to ensure that all of New Jersey’s residents are well served by having access to high quality healthcare. NJPHK’s State Deputy Director, Darrin W. Anderson, Sr., PhD, MS, served as a plenary session speaker and shared information on how to promote health care equity and health literacy in primary care. More than one-third of U.S. adults, an estimated […]

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Free Report Provides Recommendations for Implementing Successful Corner Stores

April 20, 2016

The New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Task Force Initiative is focused on increasing healthy food access in areas underserved by supermarkets by linking community partners with corner store owners. The goal is to expand the scope of the program by replicating its success and bringing best practices to more communities in New Jersey that lack access to affordable, fresh food.  A new, free report entitled, “Supporting Healthy Corner Store Development in New Jersey” lays out a series of recommendations by the New Jersey Healthy Corner store Task Force to increase the distribution, promotion and sale of healthy products in New Jersey corner stores. Download a copy of the report here. SHARE:

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