Looking for ideas to help your organization get moving? Check out the stories below and at Communities on the Move to learn about the great work faith-based and neighborhood organizations are doing across the country to improve the health of their communities! Share your story with us by emailing partnerships@hhs.gov or collaborate@usda.gov.
You can't have a great city without great schools. And you can't have great schools if students arrive each morning poorly nourished and out of shape.
The connection between a city and its schools was the prime motivating factor that pushed me to run for Mayor in 2008. Our collaborative success -- raising awareness about the critical connection between Sacramento and its schools -- was a major factor in deciding to continue the work for a second term.
Everywhere I turned, I saw the great problem of childhood obesity. Things had changed over the short time from my childhood. Today's children were not getting the physical activity or food they needed. I was going to change that with the use of my Girl Scouts Gold Award. I was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! initiative and by my younger cousin DJ, who is obese. I have a great love of sports and knew there had to be something to tie healthy living together with sports. Then the idea was born.
Ed. Note: This article is a cross post from USDA's Blog
The Louisiana State 4-H Food and Fitness Camp is joining the Let’s Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. As a camp for fourth and fifth graders designed and run by high school 4-H teens, the program motivates campers to eat healthier and move more.
This year, the 4-H Food and Fitness Camp incorporated a jungle safari-themed experience, showing campers that eating right and exercising can be fun! Dressed in wild animal costumes and surrounded by fake vines, the campers and counselors played games and learned about nutrition.
The winners of the Communities on the Move Video Challenge have been chosen! Since First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Video Challenge in February, Let’s Move Faith and Communities has been inspired by every congregation and community that submitted a video highlighting how they are promoting healthy lifestyles for kids. From putting on nutrition-themed puppet shows in Connecticut to advocating for safer play spaces in Colorado and preaching healthy living from the pulpit in Florida, the ideas in these videos demonstrate the commitment that communities across the country have to reversing the trend of childhood obesity within a generation.
Once school gets out, where do your kids get nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch? Many families have trouble getting meals on the table over the summer, but this week marked the start of summer food service at thousands of sites across the country where kids can get healthy meals and snacks.
The members of UrbanPromise in Camden, New Jersey have been motivating their community to be active for years through their annual Pedal for Promise bike ride. Pedal for Promise raises money for the UrbanPromise Academy, a private high school that helps teens who are two or three grades below average reach their academic potential. Pedal for Promise also involves youth in a healthy, fun cycling activity.
First Lady Michelle Obama was thinking of Sam Shihadeh and Rose Fakhoury when she challenged faith-based and community organizations to appoint wellness ambassadors. Sam, a personal trainer and council member of the Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Washington DC, and Rose, the Director of St. George’s Sunday School, joined forces to lead, organize and take action to improve health and wellness in their community. St. George Church hosted a Let’s Move! event on May 5, 2012 to get their community members eating healthy foods, moving and working to combat childhood obesity.
As a congregation inspired to fight obesity, the church practices what it preaches. The event kicked off with children racing through an outdoor obstacle course. During the day attendees heard from a diverse group of panelists such as doctors, personal trainers, and a registered dietitian, on the importance of leading a healthy life. I joined Paul Monteiro of the White House Office of Public Engagement to share more about the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative.
Sign up by visiting our registration site or emailing us at collaborate@usda.gov.
First Lady Michelle Obama is urging all faith and community leaders to learn more about ways to collaborate with Let’s Move! One way to do this is by joining USDA’s series of calls entitled Together We Can. Last week, USDA’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships led the first of these calls, and shared opportunities to partner with USDA with local faith and community leaders to help those in need in their communities. Neighborhood and faith-based organizations are well positioned to initiate and coordinate activities that encourage healthy living and well-being, which is why Let’s Move Faith and Communities aims to help these organization solve the problems that lead to childhood obesity and address related issues of hunger. This series of calls aims to equip these organizations with introductory knowledge, best practices, and contact information to help community-based organizations understand and access USDA programs.
April showers bring May flowers. That’s how the old adage goes. But instead of waiting for the flowers to bloom, this May bring your family together with an activity that is perfect whether the sun is shining or it’s pouring down rain – we're talking about gardening of course! Families, schools and communities across the country can all take part in our newest initiative to get our children healthy. We’re growing our own produce and we want you to join us.
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) blog.
The public voting period for the Communities on the Move Video Challenge is in full swing! Browse our video gallery and vote for your favorites daily until Friday, May 11th. These videos showcase some of the innovative approaches community and faith-based groups are taking to encourage healthier lifestyles for kids.
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