August 2021

Just last month Common Ground Health released The Color of Health: The Devastating Toll of Racism on Black Lives.

The Color of Health is a report about how Black people in Rochester have less access to health supporting resources than white people because of racism. Examples include quality health care, healthy foods, and safer neighborhoods. These are some of the things that can lead to Black people living healthier and longer lives.

The report includes several elements. It connects the dots between real life scenarios, research, and people's daily experiences. Different types of racism are explained in the report. Additionally, the report lists ways community leaders can work towards solutions.

Why is racism a public health crisis? How does racism impact the health of kids and parents? How can the community help turn it around?

Learn more: Click here to download the full report.

Many Rochester children are at greater risk of hunger during July and August. When school is out during the summer, students lose access to school meals. This is where Summer Meals kicks in. Students have access to healthy meals during the summer thanks to Foodlink, the City of Rochester, Rochester City School District and other community organizations.

Many Rochester parents have taken advantage of free breakfast, lunch, and dinner all summer. There are over 40 Summer Meals locations throughout the city. Breakfast items may include cereal, yogurt, muffins, granola bars, and fruit. Lunch or dinner items may include sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, and vegetables. 

The last day for Summer Meals is Friday, September 3. To view a list of sites where Summer Meals are available click here. For details, visit SummerMealsROC.org or dial 211.

Healthi Kids has been distributing PlayROCs Play Kits since the start of the pandemic to encourage play at home and in neighborhoods. Families and youth organizations enjoy receiving the Play ROCs Play Kits. They've become quite the hot commodity!

In 2020 organizations signed up to be on a 2021 PlayROCs Play Kits waiting list. Healthi Kids partnered with Rec on the Move to offer play kits again this year. In July, staff and volunteers assembled 2,000 PlayROCs Play Kits. They loaded coloring books, sidewalk chalk, fidget spinners and other playful items into the kits. The PlayROCs Play Kits were then provided to neighborhood leaders, community organizations, Rec on the Move and R Centers for distribution.

PlayROCs Play Kits have become popular for many kids in the Rochester community. We know organizations are eager to have Play Kits as an option for their youth. Healthi Kids is working to provide more Play Kits in 2022.

To be one of the first to find out about the next round of Play Kits follow @HealthiKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Did you know over 1 billion people across the world actively use TikTok every day? TikTok prompts social media users to lip sync and other entertaining, and educational videos. Chances are local youth and families who use the app are following local creative educator Chaz Bruce.

Chaz has over 5 million followers on TikTok. He credits Rochester youth for some of his success. He was inspired by his students at Enrico Fermi School No. 17 to download the app in 2018. He was teaching music and performing arts at the time. He began to record student performances and posted them to TikTok.

Chaz advocates for youth to stay active through song, dance, and play. He influences his followers to learn, record and post trending dance routines. This type of activity encourages youth and families to keep moving. Chaz recently turned many of his viral videos into 32 colorless pages. Those pages can be found inside The Brucegang Coloring Book by Ashley Lanina. Chaz is proud to offer youth and families a fun space to color while staying active.

Here are 5 tips from Chaz Bruce about ways kids and families can stay active on TikTok:  

1. Use The Brucegang Coloring Book to identify viral videos that encourage artistic expression.
2. Follow @chazbruce0 on TikTok to accept challenges that encourages dance and movement.
3. Replicate dances to new songs released by artists who want their music to go viral on TikTok.
4. Consistently create original, fun, and respectful content to post.
5. Have lots of energy and be authentic when creating videos.

Upcoming events:

Teens will have the option to extend childhood with a new adventure course coming to Grand Avenue Park in Rochester. The City of Rochester, Healthi Kids, Roc the Future, and Connected Communities are seeking volunteers to help create the play space. Representatives from KABOOM! And Strive Together will support volunteers as they assemble playground equipment. Construction for the new adventure course took place Aug. 11 to 14. The playground will have a grand opening from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 16. See news coverage of the new playground here.

BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY GIVE BACK

The Blow Dry Lounge inside Greece Ridge Mall is providing free hair care services and a book bag giveaway for boys and girls ages 16 and under. The annual Back to School Giveaway will take place on Sunday, September and Tuesday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. To register for an appointment parents must call 585-255-4247.

In the news:

13 WHAM - Local campaign spreads youth mental health resources across FLX - June 14

MGS Architecture - The Ripple: A playful intervention - July 2021

WXXI News - Connections: Discussing Rochester's Proposed Food Policy Council - June 1