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California Convergence eNewsletter - September 2009 |
| Dear California Convergence Participant, |
Welcome to the September, 2009 issue of the California Convergence eNewsletter! We have chosen to use this month's issue as an opportunity to update the California Convergence community on where the movement's policy priorities currently stand. Take a moment to review the Phase II update below and reflect on the immense success the California Convergence movement has seen since it's first conference in 2008.
We also encourage you to take a moment and revisit Ning. This virtual peer learning network has recently seen a flurry of increased activty. Over the past several weeks we have updated the forum section and added a wealth of information on new events, resources, and grant opportunities. There have also been a number of posts on the release of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Prevention and Wellness Fund. Take a look at the funding opportunities forum to join the discussion on this exciting announcement.
As always we welcome any feedback you may have on this eNewsletter or the virtual peer learning network, and please contact us if you would like your work included in next month's issue. You may do so by replying to this email. | |
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| Advancing Convergence Policy Priorities |
Since the California Convergence meeting in Sacramento during the summer of 2008, Convergence communities have worked closely with state policy and advocacy groups to reach agreement on a set of priority policy areas for shared action. While each Convergence community is pursuing their own policy and environmental change strategies to deliver greatest local impact, together they also identified focal points for action where they believe combined efforts can help achieve the greatest local and statewide impact.
The first four areas listed below are a direct response to community-driven priorities. The latter have emerged over the months via partner activity. Both sets reflect the power of the CC network. Each theme was considered at the June 9, 2009 Advisory Committee meeting and has benefitted from solid follow-up by partners over the summer. Convergence is now advancing planning, and has completed submission of funding proposals for concerted policy campaigns, in each of the following areas: |
| Joint Use of Public Facilities |
The Joint Use Statewide Task Force, chaired by Prevention Institute, proposes to coordinate an advocacy effort to bring greater cohesion and scale to: a) securing, and b) effectively implementing joint use agreements that provide access to safe, affordable and convenient physical activity opportunities. This focused campaign can serve to leverage existing efforts, forge strong partnerships across multiple sectors, place strategic pressure on decision-makers to act swiftly to improve community physical activity opportunities, and more fully engage and support grassroots leadership to advance joint use in communities across the state.
To view the Joint Use Forum on Ning and join the discussion, please click here. |
| Healthy Food Retail Environments |
As part of the Convergnece Healthy Food Retail planning workgroup, Public Health Law and Policy proposes to work closely with California Convergence communities and partners to help leverage existing public policies and resources to increase healthy food retail access in these challenging economic times. The approach would include connecting to and accessing existing but under-tapped local resources, and creating a peer-learning community to share information, tools, and resources across initiatives and funding streams. As currently envisioned, Convergence partners would work with local government and private sector partners to identify, promote, and access existing local economic development and redevelopment programs and policies that address the barriers faced by healthy food retailers. Objectives will be further defined in the months ahead, and may include: embedding public health strategies in economic development and redevelopment efforts; improving access to healthy foods for the most vulnerable populations; and developing the capacity of communities to effectively participate in policy making.
To view the Healthy Food Retail Evironments Forum on Ning and join the discussion, please click here. |
| Safety and Violence Prevention |
California Convergence may have up to two local sites participating in a new initiative of the National Convergence Partnership. The initiative is designed by Prevention Institute to support community-based efforts in preventing violence and promoting healthy eating and active living -- by creating opportunities for advocates and practitioners from these fields to work in close partnership. The national initiative will fund up to six communities across the country, ideally two in CA, providing peer-to-peer learning opportunities for all interested CA Convergence sites.
To view the Safety and Violence Prevention Forum on Ning and join the discussion, please click here. |
| Sustainable Communities and Public Health (Land Use and Transportation) |
California Convergence has an opportunity to continue to engage partners working for the public's health in the state climate change policy process. By informing and mobilizing Convergence's extensive network of communities and public health advocacy organizations, we can promote compact urban design with bikeable and walkable streets by participating in the Sustainable Community Strategy process outlined by California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375). SB 375 is the nation's first legislation to link transportation funding, land use planning, housing policy, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. This approach is designed to curb urban sprawl and incentivize alternative modes of transportation to combat global warming while simultaneously generating co-benefits to improving obesity and chronic disease rates as well as respiratory health.
To view the Sustainable Communities and Public Health (Land Use and Transportation) Forum on Ning and to join the discussion, please click here. |
| Beverage Environment (Soda and Water) |
A proposed California Beverage Policy Campaign aims to raise awareness about the role sweetened beverages play in the obesity epidemic, and to begin to transform California's "beverage environment" by supporting the development of new local policies to drive down sweetened beverage consumption. The California Center for Public Health (CCPHA) would conduct the campaign in conjunction with California Convergence communities and partners. The Campaign is to be buttressed by a recentlyreleased landmark study conducted by the CCPHA and UCLA Center for Health Policy Research which finds that sodas and other sweetened beverages play a central role in the obesity epidemic. The study shows that sweetened beverage consumption accounts for 43% of the additional calories Americans have been consuming since 1977 and that sodas are likely to be the single largest contributor to the obesity epidemic in the United States.
In the coming months, Convergence communities may also participate in an initiative being designed and coordinated by California Food Policy Advocates and partners -- to expand access to clean, free, drinking water across the state, with a special focus on schools.
To view the Beverage Environment Forum on Ning and join the discussion, please click here. | |
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In the coming months, as funding is secured and progress made by the partnerships organizing each of the concerted policy campaigns, Convergence communities will be invited to participate as fully as they are interested and able. PPH will conduct cross-campaign coordination, and provide each campaign partnership with support for community engagement, communications, peer learning and networking, and logistics.
With any questions, please contact Lisa Hershey at lhershey@partnershipph.org or 510-302-3327.
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