June 2019

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June 2019
Kids call for safe play spaces during Peace Walk
The children of Cameron Community Ministries' After School Program marched May 30th for peace and their right to play in a safe neighborhood. During their Seventh Annual Peace Walk in the Lyell/Otis neighborhood, Cameron Community Ministries also featured its new Teen Center, which will play a key role in keeping teens in the neighborhood safe. Healthi Kids provided advocacy training and event support for the walk.
View news coverage and read more (https://www.healthikids.org/blog/kids-marched-for-the-right-to-play-in-a-safe-neighborhood) .
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Share feedback on our early care and education system
Are you a parent or caregiver of a child ages 0-5? Do you work with our youngest kids? Are you an administrator of an early childhood program? The New York State Council on Children and Families wants to hear from you by June 7!
The state council is looking to better understand the strengths and needs of caregivers, program administrators and staff working with kids ages 0-5. Share your experience in a survey, which may take up to 20 minutes to complete. Participants will be entered to win a $100 gift card.
Learn more and share the survey with friends and family. (https://www.healthikids.org/blog/action-alert-share-with-nys-your-feedback-on-our-early-care-and-education-system)
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Educators learn yoga for peaceful classrooms
Yoga and mindfulness techniques can help kids learn, self-regulate, control impulses and focus better. These techniques can be adapted for classrooms -- where time and space are short -- to create a positive, peaceful and productive climate.
That's why Healthi Kids hosted professional development May 18th on trauma-informed yoga. The audience was 40 kindergarten-eighth grade classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff. ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms conducted the training for Rochester schools 3, 8, 9, 16, 17, 22, 29, 53 and 106. The training helped educators look at how stress and trauma affect learning and behavior. Participants identified five critical steps to integrate self-regulation. They learned how self-regulation is related to brain development.
To learn more about how trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness techniques can be incorporated into the classroom, contact Alicia Evans at Alicia.evans@commongroundhealth.org (mailto:Alicia.evans@commongroundhealth.org) or call 585-224-3172.
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Active Transportation Summit put ideas into motion
Do you bike, walk, run, use a wheelchair, scooter, or skateboard or take the bus? Those are examples of active transportation.
About 120 people took part in discussions of active transportation during the Active Transportation Summit May 23rd at the Rochester Riverside Hotel. The goal of the event, which built on summits in 2010 and 2013, was to advance active transportation and recreation for people of all ages and abilities.
Read more and view photos on our blog. (https://www.healthikids.org/blog/active-transportation-summit-put-ideas-into-motion)
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Tell your NY legislators "thank you!"
Take a moment to tell your state representatives thank you for increasing the Advantage statewide funding stream for after school by 45% per student. The funding stream has increased from $1375 per student to $2,000 per student. This is a huge win for providers and kids across the state as additional dollars will go towards supporting families, kids and staff who depend on out of school time programs. While we know there is still work to be done to meet the recommended funding levels, this is a great step in the right direction!
Write a thank you note today. (https://www.healthikids.org/take-action/current-campaigns)
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Kids played the Riverway
Healthi Kids shut down Court Street May 11th for Play the Riverway. The event took place in conjunction with Little Kids, Big Rigs, and before the Rochester Twilight Criterium professional cycling races.
The event helped to spread the word about the new Play Walk that Healthi Kids, the City of Rochester and community partners will be installing along Court Street this summer. Learn more about the Play Walk here (http://www.playwalkroc.fun/) .
Kids were able to play with interactive and life-sized games. They climbed a rock wall and tested out a skate park. Musicians from Arts in the Loop performed during the event.
View a photo gallery here. (https://flhsa.smugmug.com/Healthi-Kids/2019/Play-the-Riverway-2019/n-BpMFGp/)
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Most New York school wellness policies fall short
New research from the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy finds that New York's school district wellness policies fall short of supporting whole child health. Wellness policies guide school districts in creating school environments that support health, well-being and students' abilities to learn.
The research found wellness policies could be stronger and more comprehensive, and most policies lack at least one federally required component. A new assembly bill would establish a model statewide school wellness policy based on best practices and local priorities and would create a school district wellness policy database.
Learn more. (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5be1e0708ab722555ad425eb/t/5cdc2f734e0edc00014428f1/1557933940721/WELL+Research+Brief+Final+-+Final.pdf)
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Complete Streets Makeover repainted and tested
Members of the Beechwood community, Healthi Kids and Reconnect Rochester refreshed the street paintings at Parsells Ave. and Greeley St. in Rochester on May 18th. Crews also installed speed cushions at the intersection. Following the changes, data will be gathered to evaluate whether people slow down when they approach the intersection.
The intersection at Parsells and Greeley was painted in the fall as part of the Complete Streets Makeover (https://www.commongroundhealth.org/neighborhood-intersection-gets-an-extreme-makeover) . Learn more about the 2019 Complete Streets Makeover winner (https://reconnectrochester.org/2019/06/complete-streets-makeover-announcement/) - North Clinton Avenue in the El Camino neighborhood.
View a photo gallery of the May 18 painting here. (https://flhsa.smugmug.com/Healthi-Kids/2019/Complete-Streets-Makeover-refresh-parsells-2019/n-BPdBcf/i-X7jd3N2)
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We're hiring!
Healthi Kids is hiring a Communications Specialist. This position is an ambassador for the Healthi Kids brand and is responsible for executing Healthi Kids' communications plan. The specialist will leverage traditional and new media to promote Healthi Kids' advocacy agenda, and provides support to staff for events, publications and general communication activities.
Common Ground Health is also hiring a director of research, a systems administrator and an administrative assistant.
Learn more. (https://www.commongroundhealth.org/about/careers)
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Upcoming events:
June 8 - Spring into Summer: Summer Meals Fest (https://www.facebook.com/events/1516800385117012/) , Frontier Field. There will be info on summer youth camps, activities, summer learning opportunities, a dance party, a bounce house and obstacle course, Rec on the Move, Summer Meals menu sampling and more.
July 13 - PlayROCs Your Neighborhood 2019 (https://www.healthikids.org/events/playrocs-your-neighborhood) at more than 50 sites across Rochester. Healthi Kids is recruiting volunteers to help support sites. To volunteer, contact Joe at joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org or 585-576-9900.
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Dozens of people turned out for the third annual Beechwood Bike Ride May 17th, which was part of Bike Week festivities. The event was hosted by The Little Flower Community, Healthi Kids and the Beechwood Neighborhood Association.
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In the news:
Connections - Rochester's bike lane problem and the benefits of active transportation (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/connections-discussing-rochesters-bike-lane-problem-and-benefits-active-transportation) .
WXXI News - Walk audit highlights active transportation (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/walk-audit-highlights-active-transportation-rochester-0)
WXXI News - Rochester has a bike lane problem (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/rochester-has-bike-lane-problem)
Bronx Times Reporter - Well campaign focuses attention on healthy school lunch (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5be1e0708ab722555ad425eb/t/5caca4d3ee6eb07d5743726a/1554818260784/20190405_XG1_BXR_PG049.pdf)
WHAM-13/Fox Rochester - Peace Walk returning to Lyell/Otis neighborhood (https://foxrochester.com/news/good-day-rochester/peace-walk-returning-to-lyellotis-neighborhood)
WHAM-13 - Rochester children take part in annual Peace Walk (https://13wham.com/news/local/rochester-children-take-part-in-annual-peace-walk)
WHEC-10 - Peace Walk: Local kids march for peace and the right to play in a safe neighborhood (https://www.whec.com/news/peace-walk-local-kids-march-for-peace-right-to-play-in-safe-neighborhood/5371452/?cat=565)
WROC-TV - 7th annual children's peace walk (https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/7th-annual-children-s-peace-walk/2040964103)
Democrat & Chronicle - Young voices: 'We want peace in our neighborhood!' (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/opinion/2019/05/25/rochester-new-york-violent-crime-young-children/3755713002/) (Op-Ed)
Rochester Business Journal - Children to address violence in annual Peace Walk (https://rbj.net/2019/05/28/children-to-address-violence-in-annual-peace-walk/)
Minority Reporter - Children March So They Can Play in Safe Neighborhoods (http://minorityreporter.net/children-march-so-they-can-play-in-safe-neighborhoods/)
Rochester Beacon - Taking a stand for peace and a safe neighborhood (https://rochesterbeacon.com/2019/05/29/taking-a-stand-for-peace-and-a-safe-neighborhood/)
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