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July 2018
From left, Ka'leah Johnson, 6, Kazeer Johnson, 4, and Tyrell Johnson Jr., 3, race at PlayROCs Your Neighborhood 2018 July 21 at Carter Street R-Center.
PlayROCs event shows strong demand for safe play
Hundreds of kids took part in Saturday's PlayROCs Your Neighborhood 2018, which took place simultaneously at 32 sites. The event turned local parking lots, vacant lots and other underused spaces into places for play. Check out news coverage from Spectrum, WROC-TV and WXXI.
While at the event, families signed petitions urging Rochester City Council to put kids first in the city's comprehensive plan. The petition calls for safer and more inclusive neighborhoods and play spaces. It also calls for slower traffic so all kids have safe routes to play.
To circulate a petition, contact Advocacy Manager Jenn Beideman at jenn.beideman@commongroundhealth.org or 585.224.3151.
Kids enjoy a water balloon fight at the Maplewood Public Library July 21 at Play ROCs Your Neighborhood 2018.
Education Commissioner visits to promote cultural education
State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, members of the board of regents, and several staff from the state education department visited Rochester this Monday and Tuesday to tour our many cultural education resources and promote the importance of cultural education as part of a well-rounded education. Healthi Kids staff Dina Faticone and Erick Stephens joined the commissioner and her team for the tour.
Elia stopped at the Memorial Art Gallery where director Jonathon Binstock shared highlights of their collaboration with several schools in the Rochester City School District. Elia also stopped at the Central Library of Rochester where youth and teens told her how the library programs and resources positively impact their lives. Research has shown that quality music and arts programs can contribute positively to a child's social emotional and cognitive development. Learn more here.
Grant to school district can help with health
Congratulations to the Rochester City School District for receiving $3.75 million in Student Support and Achievement Enrichment (Title IV-A) grant. The funding can provide physical and behavioral health programming to students.
This award is distributed through the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. In the last federal budget, Congress doubled funds for prevention and enrichment opportunities in schools. This was due in part to the efforts of health advocates across the country, including our Coalition and its membership.
The Healthi Kids Coalition is urging the district to use this federal investment to provide all students with the essential physical, social emotional, and behavioral health supports they need to thrive.
To learn more, reach out to our Advocacy Manager Jenn Beideman at jenn.beideman@commongroundhealth.org or 585.224.3151.
One R-Center offers preschoolers play program
Early childhood is a crucial time for kids to build their brains and positive adult-child relationships through play. That's why the City of Rochester is offering a program for preschoolers through Aug. 12. The program for parents and kids takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays at the Humboldt R-Center, 1045 Atlantic Avenue. The Teach Our Toddlers (T.O.T.) program has interactive play projects, music and movement exercise and early reader activities.
Families do not have to register in advance to attend. The program is presented by the Department of Recreation and Youth Services.
Summer Meals are in session
While school's out, all kids 18 and younger can get free summer meals at sites throughout Rochester. Dial 211 or visit www.summermealsroc.org for a map of locations or to find a summer meals food truck stop near you.
Shuttle to Campbell Street R-Center runs daily
A city shuttle is running this summer from School 17 to the Campbell Street R Center to transport kids who are looking to participate in recreation programs. The shuttle picks up at noon and returns at 5 p.m. to School 17.
There will be outdoor play activities and summer meals at School 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays through Aug. 17. Rec on the Move will provide the outdoor activities. For details, call 585-428-7860.
Play Streets return to Rochester
The Play Streets program, which closes down a residential street to allow kids to have safe, accessible play spaces during the summer, returns to Rochester's streets this summer.
Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition will host Play Streets on Greeley Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, and 20.
Project Hope will host Play Streets on Treyer Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25, 27 and 30, Aug. 1, 3, 6, 13, 15 and 17. The Treyer Street site will include work that volunteers have done on a children's garden.
Project Hope will also host Play Streets on Radio Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 8 and 10.
The events will feature free games, activities, playful sidewalks, healthy snacks, lunch and more.
To learn more about our playability work, contact Jenn Beideman at jenn.beideman@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3151.
City looking at areas to support transit
This spring, 436 people shared how to make Rochester more supportive of active transportation and public transit. Now the city will share a draft of a plan based on that feedback.
The transit supportive development plan encourages walking, biking and public transit to get around. There will be an open house on the plan from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at City Hall, 30 Church Street, Rochester.
Under the proposal, the city would encourage a mix of housing, work, shopping, services and entertainment along designated routes. The planning is part of updates to the city's comprehensive plan for development. It is also being coordinated with Reimagine RTS, a plan to reconfigure bus routes Rochester.
For details, contact Mike Bulger at mike.bulger@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3171.
Beechwood area to get temporary street makeover
Congratulations to Parsells Avenue and Greeley Street, which were chosen for a Complete Streets Makeover from Reconnect Rochester, Healthi Kids Coalition, Stantec, the Community Design Center, the City of Rochester and others.
Design firm Stantec will provide a design concept for a street that is easier for walkers and bikers to navigate. Temporary on-street design experiments will test the new concepts. Based on the results, program partners will advocate with neighbors for permanent design changes.
The project will be featured in a short film shown at a Rochester Street Films event on November 14 at the Little Theatre.
Local group offers smart cycling classes
The New York Bicycling Coalition is offering a free 2 1/2 hour class at the public market this summer. The class will look at safe cycling techniques and ways to make cycling easier and more enjoyable. The class will include parking lot maneuvering drills and a short group ride to navigate different traffic scenarios.
The class is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22. The instructor is Tracey Austin. Register at tiny.cc/ROCaugust. For details, contact Jesse Peers at jesse@nybc.net.
Find us on social media for more Healthi Kids updates as we advocate for healthier more active kids in Rochester and Monroe County. Tell us your vision for a Playable Rochester #PlayROCs
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