[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Unite4HealthyNeighborhoods

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 1, 2010
 
 
CONTACT:  Ian Thomas, Executive Director
The PedNet Coalition
(573) 239-7916  ian at pednet.org
or
Sam Robinson, Community Engagement Coordinator
The PedNet Coalition
(573) 356-3037  sam at pednet.org
 
 
Unite4HealthyNeighborhoods Gathering:
Healthy Community Partnership Responds to Obesity Epidemic
                                                                       

            (COLUMBIA, MO) – Inspiring and empowering the Columbia
community to get fired up about healthy eating and living an active
lifestyle is the goal of Unite4HealthyNeighborhoods (U4HN).  Hosted by
the Healthy Community Partnership, this free, 2-day gathering will
convene at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on Friday, April 9 from
5:30-8:30 p.m. and at the Activity & Recreation Center (ARC) on
Saturday, April 10 from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
            Community Co-Chairs Verna Harris-Laboy (CGM Ladies Night
Out), Eduardo Crespi (Centro Latino), and Sam Robinson (Urban
Empowerment Ministries) expect the event to bring together neighborhood
residents of all ages and local leaders to discuss emerging health and
public policy issues facing the Columbia population and explore
solutions.  
            Participants will also hear from national leaders Erika
Allen (Growing Power, Inc.) and Lucy Gomez-Feliciano (Logan Square
Neighborhood Association), both from Chicago, IL; and Eduardo Sanchez
(Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and member of
the Institute of Medicine's Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity
Prevention).  All three of these dynamic speakers have worked at the
grassroots level and successfully implemented healthy program and policy
changes in underserved communities.  
            U4HN will feature a mix of large-group presentations,
small-group brainstorming sessions, and hands-on activities all aimed at
educating, engaging and empowering residents of underserved
neighborhoods and launching a local movement focused on community
health, equity and sustainability.
            The Healthy Community Partnership coordinated by the PedNet
Coalition and the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and
Human Services consists of approximately 70 agencies including
government, education, business, non-profit and community-based, working
to promote health throughout the community.
            To register for the U4HN Community Gathering or for more
information, visit www.pednet.org/unite or call Sam Robinson at
573-356-3037.
 
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