December 2025

December 2025 Newsletter 

Celebrating our 2025 Healthi Kids Coalition award winners

This week, the Healthi Kids Coalition gathered for our annual holiday party and awards ceremony—a time to celebrate the amazing partners who make our work possible. We were thrilled to honor three outstanding leaders: Curtis Birthwright, Tonia Burton, and Sharon Peck. Each of them brings unique energy, creativity, and commitment to building a healthier, more playful community for kids and families.

Learn more about why these champions inspire us every day!

Healthi Kids engages kids and families at RCSD's Booktacular Fall Festival

Last month, Healthi Kids joined the Booktacular Fall Festival to share our infant mental health resources—and we added something new! Alongside our usual table, we set up a special play space with materials from our Infant & Toddler Play Days. Families loved it!

Learn more.

2025 READY Design Fellow presents new school initiative to support boys' development

Congratulations to Healthy Schools Project Coordinator Hailey Cox, who recently presented about an innovative school initiative she is calling The Movers & Shakers. As part of her work as a 2025 READY Design Studio Fellow, her work is focused on improving outcomes for boys—especially Black and Latino boys. She emphasizes how common school discipline strategies—such as removing recess or limiting physical activity—can harm boys who rely on movement for self-regulation and learning. Cox, who recently graduated with a master’s degree in Child and Family Policy, studied how ecological stressors, school policy, and adult perceptions shape boys’ experiences. In addition to her research, she partners with families and educators to promote practices and policies that affirm boys’ developmental needs rather than punish them.

Learn more about the READY Design Fellowship.

Skate your way into free winter fun!

Grab the kids, bundle up, and take advantage of some free winter fun at the downtown outdoor ice rink! Public skating is FREE for everyone, including skate rentals and penguin-shaped equipment that make it fun and easy for beginners. Skates are limited, so bring your own if you can. 

Check out the hours and other logistics.

In the headlines

• Sounding the alarm on youth self-harm - WXXI Connections, December 

• ERs reportedly seeing more youth self-harm; local nonprofit calls for school-based prevention - WXXI News, December 2, 2025