Common Ground Newsletter

October 2024 Newsletter

Medical student Diamond Guy takes questions from the audience at the 2024 Hair and Health Symposium.

Event highlights signs of overall health as seen through hair, skin and nails

The questions for nail care expert Nancy Armfield came quickly: What should I look for in my nails to spot disease? How often should I get a pedicure?

Those were some of the questions from the more than 140 people who attended the 2024 Hair and Health Symposium Oct. 13 at the Stardust Ballroom at the Edgerton R-Center. In its fourth year, the event aims to help people understand how a person’s hair, nails and skin reveal signs of their health, how the beauty routines they have affect their health. Read more.

Hundreds of women gather to talk about healthy living

The annual A Call to Women of Color event was held on Sept. 14. With the theme “Tapestries of Generations,” the event focused on empowering women and girls of color to engage in conversation and promote healthy living among women. More than 300 women attended the event, which also featured local vendors and nonprofits. See the photo gallery here.

City of Rochester officials presented a check for the repainting project at Parsells Avenue and Greeley Street.

City partners repaint intersection to slow traffic

Community partners recently celebrated the repainting of a street mural at Parsells Avenue and Greeley Street. The street painting, called Art on the Avenue, was first painted in 2018 as part of Reconnect Rochester’s Complete Streets Makeover project. This year’s project included the handprints of children to remind drivers of all the kids present in the neighborhood.

Art on the Avenue partners include Healthi Kids, Connected Communities, Reconnect Rochester, the Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition, 441 Ministries and Rochester City Council. Learn more.

Common Ground presents at Civitas conference

Several Common Ground Health staff members presented at the Civitas Networks for Health’s 2024 Annual Conference on Oct. 15.

Kathi Lynch, M.S., senior health planning research analyst, and Holly Sienkiewicz, DrPH, director of research presented “Adopting Equitable Data Practices in Public Health Analysis and Surveillance.” They discussed adopting a data-equity framework to help identify and assess biases at each phase of the research process.

Jackie Dozier, director of community health and well being, Melanie Funchess, director of mental health and wellness, Dina Faticone, chief program officer, and Sienkiewicz presented on "The Power of Relationships in Transforming Data to Action." They talked about how building relationships has helped them address high blood pressure and opioid overdoses in adults and adverse COVID experiences in youth. Learn about Civitas here.

Partner spotlight: Finger Lakes Community Health

Finger Lakes Community Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), held its 2024 Annual Health Conference on Oct. 17. The professional-development conference featured experts in their field to provide an understanding of how ZIP codes are the biggest predictor of health outcomes, misinformation and disinformation, and social drivers of health.

Keynote speaker Pauline W. Hoffmann, Ph.D.​, discussed the importance of developing partnerships with other community groups to better inoculate against the "infodemic" — the widespread dissemination of misinformation — and to prepare for future crises. Learn more about the services Finger Lakes Community provides.

NY Health Foundation hosts mental health webinar

The area needs to shift focus from inpatient mental health treatment to prevention and build a system that works better for those who need services. That was a takeaway from Melanie Funchess, director of mental health and wellness, in an Oct. 29 NY Health Foundation Webinar, called Bouncing Back: Mental Health Progress and Remaining Challenges in New York.

The foundation recently released a report that found reports of depression and/or anxiety dropped 40% between July 2023 and July 2024. However, young people and Latinos statewide are still reporting higher rates of poor mental health relative to other populations. Access the report here.

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In the headlines

Finger Lakes 1 New report highlights housing challenges for Finger Lakes residents aging in place

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