|
|
The NYC Food and Fitness Partnership's mission is to engage communities in making the healthy choice the easy choice by creating equitable access to healthy, quality, affordable foods and opportunities for active living, starting in the neighborhoods of highest need. |
|
|
|
| Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization |
As many of you know, the Senate Agriculture Committee has passed its version of the Federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. The bipartisan bill, titled Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, provides overall funding at $450 million a year or $4.5 billion over ten years. The bill reauthorizes several anti-hunger programs for children, strengthens the nutrition standards for food served in school and preschool settings, expands the use of local farm products, organic food and school gardens, and calls for direct certification for school meals, among other reforms. However, it is only roughly half of what President Obama has requested and much less than what advocates believe is necessary to end child hunger and support child health. Additionally, a substantial portion of the funds comes from cuts to other nutrition programs. Please visit the NYC Alliance for CNR for more information.
What you can do now:
1) The Senate Finance Committee has the authority to add new money to the bill and Senator Chuck Schumer is a member of the Committee. Call him at 202-224-6542 and ask him for an investment of $4 billion for Child Nutrition. Tell him why this is important to you, and, if you represent others, who they are and why it is important to them. You can also email Senator Schumer here.
|
| Greening Food Deserts Act |
There is currently a bill in Congress, sponsored by Representative Marcy Kaptur (D - Ohio), to support urban agriculture and other essential pieces of a just and sustainable food system. The bill calls for the establishment of a new office within the Department of Agriculture to ensure that resources are used effectively to encourage local agricultural production and increase the availability of fresh food in urban areas, particularly underserved communities experiencing hunger, poor nutrition, obesity, and food insecurity. It supports community garden programs, agriculture education in schools, infrastructure funding for farmers' markets and funding for seniors farmers' market nutrition programs. Additionally, the bill calls for developing strategies to use Federal nutrition programs as a tool for economic development in food insecure regions in a manner that addresses local conditions and engages local residents. For the full text, click here.
It is very exciting to see this language in the text of the bill before Congress. Ask your Representative to support the bill (HR 4971) sponsored by Ms. Kaptur. You can find your Representative's phone number here.
Bed-Stuy Community Mapping Project - Call for Volunteers!
Sunday, April 11 from 3-5 PM
True South Bookstore, 492 Nostrand Avenue 11216 (between Hancock St. and Halsey St.)
Help gather information and stories on the community food system in Bed-Stuy including community gardens, grocery stores and other local food sources. If you are interested, RSVP by April 9 th to greenstuy@gmail.com. Space is limited. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit the Bed-Stuy Community Mapping Project website.
Brooklyn Food & Fitness Task Force Basic Advocacy Training Series
Wednesdays - April 14, April 28, May 12, and May 26
The Brooklyn Food and Fitness Task Force, led by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Brooklyn District Public Health Office, is hosting a basic advocacy training series. This training is for community members interested in advocating around food and fitness issues in North and Central Brooklyn. Participants will learn general advocacy skills and the steps necessary in organizing an advocacy campaign by working on a specific issue. For this series, participants will explore strategies and policies to promote public safety in Farmers' Markets and Parks. Attendees of all four trainings will earn a certificate in Basic Advocacy.
Learn How to Adopt a Bodega!
Thursday - May 13, 2010 at 6pm - 485 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Adopt-A-Bodega is a community empowerment model geared towards increasing community buy-in and demand for healthier food options in NYC Corner stores. You will receive a toolkit and on-going technical support on working with store owners. Schools (and afterschool programs), community and faith-based organizations, civic organizations, block associations and community boards are encouraged to register for the workshop.
For more information and to RSVP (due by May 7th), please contact Patricia Llanos at pllanos@health.nyc.gov or 646-253-5725. |
| NYC Department of Transportation Plaza Program Funding Available! |
This program is a partnership between the City and nonprofit groups to transform underused streets into vibrant public spaces. The City provides financial and technical assistance to create the pedestrian plaza while the nonprofit organization operates, maintains and manages the spaces. Eligible nonprofit organizations can propose new plaza sites in their neighborhood through a competitive application process with priority given to neighborhoods lacking sufficient open spaces. Deadline for applications is June 30, 2010. Information about the program and upcoming information sessions can be found here.
Complete Streets Week April 19-23 - AARP-sponsored events
New York ranks 3rd in the nation for pedestrian fatalities for people age 65 and older. To bring further light on this issue, AARP is organizing a series of events to support Complete Streets legislation to make New York streets safe for everyone. Volunteers are needed to conduct surveys to help evaluate the safety of streets, sidewalks and intersections in communities across the state. Join a Complete Streets activity in your community or organize your own. For more information, visit the Create the Good website or contact Nisha Kumar at (212) 407-3727 or
Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a series of community workshops on the future of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. This is a planned 14-mile bicycle and pedestrian path stretching from Sunset Park to Greenpoint and connects many existing parks and public open spaces along the waterfront. Many of these areas are underused and difficult to access. This project is designed to enhance access to the waterfront, improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and increase recreational opportunities in these areas. DOT is seeking feedback from these workshops to help refine its Master Plan for the Greenway, identify gaps in the network and develop a long-term vision. Information about upcoming workshops can be found here. |
| Cuts to Summer Youth Employment Program |
Last week, over 200 teens from neighborhoods across New York City gathered in City Hall Park yesterday to urge government leaders to restore funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The program serves youth between the ages of 14 and 24, many of them low income, and provides education and employment opportunities. The Governor's proposed budget cuts the state's $35 million allocation and Mayor Bloomberg proposes an additional $1 million cut. If these budget cuts go through, only 17,200 SYEP jobs will be available in New York City this summer, down from 52,255 last year, while more than 100,000 youth are expected to apply. Read more here and contact the Campaign for Summer Jobs to find out how to become involved. |
| Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) |
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced awardees of its Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) funding. CPPW is funded by the Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009, and will expand evidence-based strategies, mobilize local resources, and strengthen the capacity of states and communities to promote the power of prevention. The goals are to reduce obesity with increased physical activity and improved nutrition, and reduce tobacco use by helping current smokers quit and preventing kids from starting. New York City was awarded $31.1 million to prevent obesity and reduce tobacco use. This is critical support to advance prevention efforts in the City and improve equity. Read more here.
April is MillionTreesNYC Month!
MillionTreesNYC is the City's campaign to plant a million new trees on city streets, parks and backyards. You can request a free tree for your street, volunteer to become a tree steward or donate to help plant more trees. Find out how to pick up your own free tree here and other ways to become involved.
NYC Grows 2010
Sunday, April 25, 10am-4pm
Union Square Park - FREE
Learn all about urban gardening and sustainable living from dozens of experts including hands-on activities, food and beverage sampling, gardening demonstrations, prize drawings and a Kids Area with kid-friendly shows and entertainment. Learn more here.
Bronx Food Summit
MAY 1, 2010 9am- 5pm - free admission
HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY
The Bronx Food Summit is a day-long event that brings together Bronx residents, food justice advocates, local businesses, youth, local businesses and community organizations to discuss how to work together for healthier food and better living in the Bronx. There will be hands-on workshops and seminars on topics such as food deserts, food policy, green jobs, cooking demos, health and diet, and youth workshops.
For more information about becoming a partnering organization, sponsorship opportunities, free expo/vendor tables or volunteer opportunities - please email Regina Ginyard, General Coordinator at bronxfoodsummit@gmail.com or visit their website. |
|
Make News!
If you or your organization would like to be a part of the next upcoming newsletter, please send your stories, pictures or events to newsletter@nycfoodandfitness.org | |
|
|
|
|
|
