April 2019 Common Ground Newsletter

April 2019

Healthi Kids' new agenda, brand and website embrace whole child health

Healthi Kids has launched a new agenda, brand, logo and website to reflect its expanded focus on whole child health. The initiative first focused on childhood healthy weight. Last year it announced it was expanding to address the physical, social, emotional and cognitive health of children birth through age 8.

“We can’t silo what’s right for kids,” said Dina Faticone, director of community health and engagement for Common Ground Health. “We must focus on what our community knows is best for whole child health.”

Learn more.

Conference focuses on violence as a public health issue

Too many people of color are dying of violence in our region. Homicide ranks as a top cause of premature death among African-Americans in our region, eclipsed only by cancer and heart disease. Forty percent of blacks and 36% of Latinos in our region have said they have experienced street violence, as compared to 18% of whites, according to a 2018 Common Ground survey.

To address this critical issue, the African American Health Coalition with the Latino Health Coalition is hosting the “Speak Life!” Health Equity Conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 4 at the Rochester Riverside Hotel. Learn more.

Local churches participating in the Healthy Blood Pressure Through Faith and Lifestyle hosted health demonstrations and workshops on March 30 at Asbury First United Methodist Church. Here Crystal Muhammad tells participants how they can make a fruit and yogurt parfait instead of reaching for a bowl of ice cream. Click here for more pictures.

Partner spotlight:
Cameron Community Ministries

Thumbs up to Cameron Community Ministries for meeting neighborhood needs by building a teen center. The urban outreach program has raised more than $450,000 towards construction, which will expand current services to serve teenagers in grades 7 to 12. Crews are renovating a home and adding a 1,000-foot expansion to house academic services, career exploration, conflict resolution and more. They will also install a community garden.

“Cameron teens routinely inspire us as they advocate for safe and accessible play spaces,” said Jenn Beideman of Healthi Kids. “We are thrilled to see the program expanding services to benefit teens.”  

Learn more.

Upcoming event

Transportation advocate Mark Fenton and state smart growth planner Paul Beyer will speak at the 2019 Active Transportation Summit: Ideas into Motion May 23 at the Rochester Riverside Hotel. Register today.

We're hiring

Common Ground Health is hiring for a director of research to set organizational strategy for developing research priorities and to oversee research across departments. Learn more.