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May 2021
City unveils a new extension to the Play Walk
Officials from the City of Rochester and the Healthi Kids Coalition were joined by teens and community members on May 5, 2021 to cut the ribbon on the newest addition to the City's Play Walk sidewalk trail. "The Ripple" is an interactive attraction featuring constantly changing colors and pixelated illustrations, leading children and youth into Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The new extension of the Play Walk will become an iconic landmark for the sidewalk trail along Chestnut and Court Streets between the Strong Museum and the Central Library. Read more here.
Play and Education Convening Kick-off
Despite all the benefits of play, not all children in the RCSD have equitable access to the benefits of play in their education experience. The PlayROCs Advocacy Committee and community partners put out a call to RCSD families and students to come together to create a vision for playful learning in the Rochester City School District. The first session of the Play and Education convening kicked off on May 25. There are a number of ways to participate in this initiative. Learn more and sign up here.
ROC City Council approves the Food Policy Council
On May 11, 2021, the City Council passed the Food Policy Council legislation! As a result of all of the work done by community members, the City of Rochester has endorsed and commits to being a part of the FPC. Thanks to all of you who sent emails, made phone calls and submitted comments to Council. The Food Policy Council will continue the work by bringing people together to create a healthier and more equitable food system in Rochester, NY. Learn more here.
New teen mental health resources available at local libraries
The FLX Teens Are Alright initiative aims to improve mental health literacy for middle- and high-school aged youth in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. To achieve this, the project brought together a diverse team of 15 local teenagers to create new mental health resources for their peers. Together, youth worked with a team of graphic design professors and students from the Rochester Institute of Technology to design the new materials, which are meant to improve collections and programming in public libraries across Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming Counties. The initiative was a partnership between Common Ground Health, Monroe County Library System, Pioneer Library System and the Rochester Regional Library Council. A Young Adult Librarian from Monroe County also provided support for the written content of the materials. The Network of the National Library of Medicine provided the funding for this initiative. To see the materials, stop by your local library and check them out! To learn more, visit healthikids.org/flxteensarealright.
NYS-AIMH Breakfast for Babies
The New York State Association for Infant Mental Health (NYS-AIMH) presents "Breakfast for Babies" on July 23, 2021 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET. The topic is "Self-awareness and Liberating Infant Mental Health". Erick Stephens, Parent Engagement Specialist, will be sharing his personal and Healthi Kids journey to discuss how self-awareness leads to better services for families. Register here.
2021 US Play Coalition Virtual Conference: Play is Survival
Jenn Beideman, Advocacy Manager, Kathryn Mariner, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Visual Cultural Studies, University of Rochester and Healthi Kids Coalition members and residents Heather Feinman, Evette Colon and Dori Young will be presenting at the US Play Coalition 2021 Virtual Conference on the Value of Play on June 2, 2021 at 1:00 PM ET. The presentation is titled "Capture the Flag: How Traditionally Marginalized Residents Reclaim Urban Space through Play." Learn more and register here.
In the news:
WXXI News - Connections:"FLX Teens are Alright"
WHEC - Rochester officials unveil new downtown play walk extension
Related coverage Rochester First WHAM
Spectrum News - RCSD and Foodlink expanding meal options for students
Related coverage Rochester First
CITY Newspaper - New Food Policy Council looking to drain Rochester's 'food swamp'
EHR Intelligence - NY Health Information Exchange Strives to Mitigate Childhood Obesity
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