January 2023

January 2023 Newsletter

Coalition members honored at December Healthi Kids meeting

Five Coalition members received special awards for their hard work and commitment to our mission at our in-person December Healthi Kids Coalition meeting.

The Legacy Awards were presented to Debbie McCoy and Cam Schauf. The Raise Your Voice Awards were presented to Allan Jackson and Lydia Rivera. And the inaugural Dawn Bird "Most Valuable Play-er" Award was presented to Gildred Aponte.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to our honorees!

Healthi Kids, Office of Parent Engagement co-host active play workshop led by Dr. Diane Craft

On January 18, Healthi Kids partnered with the RCSD's Office of Parent Engagement for a free workshop on active play featuring early childhood expert Dr. Diane Craft.

More than 30 educators attended the virtual meeting and learned more about incorporating play and physical activity into their school day.

To learn more about the importance of active play, please feel free to contact Alicia Evans, our Healthy Schools coordinator.

This month, we want to provide a special update on the Rochester Food Policy Council to our coalition. The Food Policy Council falls under the Equitable Communities portion of our Healthi Kids advocacy agenda and is an effort supported by our own Mike Bulger.

Here's what the ROC Food Policy Council has done so far...

• Urged USDA to extend waivers that made it easier for kids to access summer meals.
• Advocated for more funding and transparency for RCSD school meals.
• Joined the NYS Good Food Purchasing campaign and advocated for values-based food procurement.
• Developed recommendations for the City of Rochester's upcoming Healthy Food Grant and Loan Program.
• Provided expert commentary to the White House's Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
• Worked internally to develop additional support processes and to build capacity and relationships in our community.

• Provided recommendations to the City of Rochester's Department of Neighborhood Business and Development based on best practices from our area and other food policy councils across the country.

• ... and more!

Learn more about our work

Meet our newest Food Policy Council members!

Briana Middleton is excited to join Rochester’s first ever Food Policy Council. As a native of Rochester, NY she enjoys educating youth and advocating for equitable opportunities leading to healthier futures, and of course, all things food! Her experience includes advocacy for human rights, refugee rights and food security. Briana recently graduated from SUNY Brockport with a double major in Psychology and Sociology in 2021, and she hopes to advance food policy recommendations by questioning the current systems in Rochester and investing in sustainable systemic changes.

Paul Whitehouse lives in the Beechwood neighborhood with his wife Lorraine. In 2015, he retired from Highland Hospital to become the Executive Director of 441 Ministries. Paul continued to serve 441 Ministries as Program Director, and then as Director of Operations until February 2022. During this time, 441 Ministries has provided the Beechwood neighborhood with children’s programs and affordable housing, as well as youth employment and career training through New City Café. Since July 2018, 441 Ministries has hosted Foodlink’s Curbside Market, providing weekly access to fresh produce to their neighbors year round. They also provide produce, as well as gardening and nutrition instruction, through the Beechwood Community Garden. Paul currently serves as the administrator for New City Fellowship Beechwood Church.

Meet our other Council members

Courtesy of Yale Office of Sustainability (2020)

What is a food system? And what is a food policy council?

The food system includes all the steps it takes to make the food we eat. This includes growing the food, making it into different products, moving it to stores, selling it, and buying it. The food system also includes what happens to the food we don't eat. All the people, companies, laws, and plans that are connected to food help make up the food system. A good food system makes sure that everyone has access to food that is healthy and affordable, and it helps take care of the environment and make sure everyone has equal opportunities.

In many cities, groups called food policy councils have been made to help improve the food system. A food policy council is made up of different people who are interested in food, like community members, groups that help people, schools, businesses, and the government. These groups work together to make changes to the rules that impact food. Some food policy councils are part of the government, and some are not. They work on important food issues, like making sure everyone can get healthy food that's not too expensive, making sure schools and other places have good food to serve, helping businesses that sell healthy food, and reducing the amount of food that goes to waste.

The Rochester Food Policy Council is a partnership between Common Ground Health, Foodlink, the City of Rochester, and local residents.

Learn more about the Rochester Food Policy Council

NY Health Foundation provides ROC Food Policy Council with additional funding to develop a local healthy food plan for the Finger Lakes region

NY Health Foundation has awarded Common Ground Health a grant of $50,000. This funding will allow the Food Policy Council to develop an action plan for the coming years, continue to provide educational and other resources to its members, and further develop its communications and website. 

Importantly, the FPC will work to engage even more members of the community in its work in 2023. The goal is to make sure everyone, especially communities of color, has a say in what happens with food.

The ROC Food Policy Council will show how people can make a difference in the food system and will be a model for other cities in New York. The funding for 2023 comes as part of the NY Health Foundation's Healthy Food, Healthy Lives initiative.

Learn more about this grant

Interested in staying up to date on the ROC Food Policy Council?