November 2025

November 2025 Newsletter 

We built a playground in a day!

Early on the morning of Oct. 3, 120 volunteers began to arrive at the Ryan R-Center in Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood. They came ready to move three truckloads of mulch, mix five pallets of concrete, assemble playground elements and rebuild bleachers for the sports fields. They did it!

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New York’s largest teacher’s union makes a strong case for play

The New York State United Teachers union recently featured a powerful article on their website about why play is so important to kids. Including recent research and expert interviews, it explained that unstructured play helps kids grow stronger, feel better emotionally, and think more clearly. So why doesn't New York state require daily recess?

Learn more.

Free training for home-based providers

Healthi Kids is offering a free training on Nov. 8 from 12-3 p.m. 

Are you a home-based early childhood educator or care provider? We know that you are vital to the health and well-being of the children in your care yet are often under-resourced or lack opportunities for professional development. That’s why Healthi Kids is offering a free training to help you level up your skills.

Contact Parent Engagement Specialist Erick Stephens to sign up. Email: erickstephens@commongroundhealth.org Phone: 585-224-3112

Learn more.

Are you a foodie? The Food Policy Council wants you!

Healthy food helps kids grow, gives adults energy, and keeps our bodies strong against illness. Now you can help more children, families, and seniors get the healthy food they need. The Rochester Food Policy Council is looking for new members to join its team.

Learn more.

Partner spotlight: Foodlink

With the government shutdown putting a spotlight on the more than 150,000 people in our area who rely on federal food and nutrition assistance, we thought it timely to highlight one of our long-time partners working to end hunger: Foodlink.

Learn more about them.

Summer meals focus of upcoming webinar

Leaders from across New York State will come together on at 1 p.m. Dec. 9, to talk about summer meal programs for kids. Mike Bulger, director of whole child advocacy at Healthi Kids, will join speakers from the Capital Region’s Summer Meals Collaborative and No Kid Hungry New York to share ideas, best practices, and lessons learned, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Sign up.

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