CANFIT Workshop in Illinois

On May 18 and 20, 2010 the Illinois Afterschool Network brought staff from CANFIT in Berkeley, California to facilitate the Recipes for Success training in Naperville and Springfield. Ninety participants from all over Illinois came to participate in an interactive, hands-on workshop that is designed for youth providers to learn how to teach youth about healthy eating and physical activity.

Right away I was blown away from the commitment of each participant to represent their community and young people they work with and share their personal experiences. Health is the cornerstone of everyone’s livelihood - without it, we are unable to function at our best. Some of the most powerful moments in the training came when participants found out how much sugar and fat is in the foods they ate and provided to the youth they serve. Many people were so shocked that they vowed never to touch their favorite foods again! By being more aware of the things we put in our bodies and we give to our youth we will be able to make healthier choices the next time the opportunity presents itself. The Recipes for Success training allowed staff leads to became more knowledgeable on what they need to do as leaders to lay out a strong foundation for the young people they work with.

Laying the groundwork for healthy eating and physical activity for young people is pivotal because they model what they see. After co-facilitating both trainings, each group of leaders left me feeling inspired in a different way. At the end of the training, everyone wrote down three things they want to do to make changes in their programs. Each person had unique goals that were specific to their programs but all of the targets were the same: improve the nutrition and physical activity of the youth that they serve. Special Thanks to Curtis Peace, Executive Director and the Illinois AfterSchool Network for making our trip special and memorable. Please keep up the good work!!

Article Submitted by Esmeralda Martin, CANFIT Trainer
Read the full article in the IAN Newsletter: IAN_newsletter_Canfit_article.pdf

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Youth Take Action

Sacramento, CA – “Obesity threatens the healthy future of one third of all American children. Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years. We need to get moving.” – Michelle Obama. On Saturday, April 17th, youth ages 15-25 are meeting in Sacramento for the California Convergence conference to change the health of their communities and reduce obesity in the next generation. During the first two days of the conference entitled “Youth Taking Action,” young people from 21 communities including Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, Shasta and the Central Valley will take part in interactive, team-building trainings and workshops in policy education, communications, media, spoken word and advocacy. Through the work of the California Center for Civic Participation, CCROPP, Partnership for the Public’s Health and CANFIT, young leaders (who are already modeling the examples of the Governor - Governor’s Health Summit and the First Lady - LetsMove.gov), will connect with upcoming proposed legislation in Sacramento and Washington, DC. They will also research, develop and recommend their own policy priorities to improve food and physical activity environments in the state so their families and peers have healthier places to live and eat. 

About California Convergence
The California Convergence provides a unique opportunity to accelerate the movement to make the environments in which people live healthier by strategically connecting existing resources, and creating an effective learning community that can take action, and share information, tools and resources across initiatives and funding streams, and ultimately create a model for the rest of the nation. The California Convergence project is aligned with the National Convergence work, and is an attempt to manifest that effort on a statewide scale.

WHAT: California Convergence Conference – “Working Together to Improve Food and Physical Activity Environments”
WHEN:  Saturday, April 17, 2010 – 11:00am - 4:00pm – Youth Taking Action Day 1
Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 8:00am – 4:00pm – Youth Taking Action Day 2
Monday, April 19, 2010 – 9:00- 4:30pm - California Convergence Policy Conference

WHERE: Sheraton Grand, Gardenia Ballroom, Sacramento
1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 94814

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CANFIT Getting Kids Healthy

CANFIT Getting Kids Healthy in California

By Macon Morehouse, 2007
Updated March 2010

Want to add zing to your after-school snacks, while still staying healthy?
Go multi-cultural!

With just a little planning, it’s easy to trade in prepackaged, supersized, bad-for-you treats for goodies that will take your kids’ taste buds around the world. The best part is they are inexpensive, tasty and healthy. 

You can slice jicama [a root with an apple-like flavor] and sprinkle it with lime juice and chili powder. Mix grated plantains [banana-like, but less sweet] with sugar. Wrap cheese, black beans and your favorite veggies in corn tortillas. Munch on edamame [soybeans], nopales [prickly pear] and chayote [a cucumber-flavored plant] for more instant and delicious snacks. 

These ideas come from a new ethnic snack guide set to be released in October 2007 (updated in January 2010) by CANFIT (Communities. Adolescents. Nutrition. Fitness), with its “healthy-at-any-size” approach to fighting childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in this country, particularly among minority groups. While 27% of white children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese, 38% of Hispanic children in the same age group are, along with 41% of Afrrican-American children (according to the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health.)

CANFIT spokesperson Betty Geishirt Cantrell says, “You can tell someone it’s healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, but if they aren’t accessible and affordable, they won’t be eaten.” Therefore, “For something to be useful, it must be realistic. If your culture has beans as a staple of the diet, how can they be prepared in a healthier way?” Ignoring what is readily available or more common to a particular culture is a “lost opportunity” she says.

Lloyd Nadal, CANFIT program director, notes that many of the recipes found in the ethnic snack guide are specifically “Latino-influenced.” Others “have influence from one culture, a few cultures, or are just healthy and things we think kids could enjoy.”

Even better for the children’s busy or frugal parents, these snacks won’t require a trip to a specialty food store. Any local grocery store or food shopping club, such as Costco, should suffice. What you end up with are inexpensive, tasty and healthy treats, typically at less than 250 calories a serving.

While the ethnic snack guide is geared toward California after-school programs (CANFIT provides them firsthand with training to incorporate physical activity - such as hip-hop dance - into their programs as well as nutrition education), the ideas can spice up any family’s after-school routine.

Ready to get cooking and stay healthy?

Try these recipes:

Jicama with Lime Juice

1 medium jicama
2-1/2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoons chili powder
salt, to taste
Peel jicama and cut into sticks.
Sprinkle with lime juice, chili powder and salt.

Plantain cereal

2 large green plantains
3 cups water
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
skim milk
Peel plantains and grate coarsely.
In a medium saucepan, stir together water, salt and sugar
Bring to a boil.
Stir in plantain and any plantain juice.
Reduce heat and cook at a simmer until it is smooth (about 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
Serve with skim milk.

Chili bean dip

8 ounces light or fat-free cream cheese
1 can (24 oz.) light chili
1 package shredded skim mozzarella or other low-fat cheese
Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a small, glass baking dish.
Spread chili over cream cheese.
Sprinkle on cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
Cool.
Serve with baked tortilla chips.

Why are good after-school snacks - particularly ones that tap into ethnic group’s tastes - so important? Just ask CANFIT’s executive director Arnell Hinkle, who is African-American, and program director Lloyd Nadal, who is Filipino, both of whom know first-hand what a difference tasty and healthy foods can make:

Arnell Hinkle: I grew up poor in St. Louis (Mo.) in a neighborhood where it wasn’t safe to be out playing. Our diet was a lot of meat and not a lot of vegetables, and those we had were cooked to death. (At an arts after-school program) when I was 14, I had a sandwich on wheat bread with cucumber and tomato. The taste! I loved it! It opened up the idea that there were other ways of eating. Because my mom and dad worked, I did the cooking. I learned to bake bread and I got a cookbook and tried different recipes. My family thought it was pretty bizarre but it was okay as long as I made things they liked too. I ended up going to chef school and became an organic farmer.

Lloyd Nadal: We have a family history of diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, high blood pressure. It seemed normal that people would be overweight, but that’s not right. I was overweight as a kid. My grandmother always said I had to eat two plates (of food) if I was hungry or not. It was considered a privilege to eat because my family grew up poor in the Phillipines. We ate food like adobo (chicken with a sauce) and pancit (noodles with vegetables) and crispy pata (a fried fish). Filipino food is cooked with lard so it’s often very greasy: 80% of the food is not healthy! Culturally, the thinking is if you are skinny, there is something wrong with you. Being a little overweight was the standard. In high school (before basketball and baseball games),we used to go to McDonalds before (playing basketball and baseball) games and have fries, a burger and a Coke, or go to the local taco shop. I remember feeling sluggish (afterwards). It didn’t make me feel good. I started getting into weight training and really enjoyed not just the sports, but the training. I realized how important it was to be in as good shape as possible to compete, and I loved to compete.  Now I volunteer with two after-school programs and we do exercise programs and I coach basketball. I started a soda-free summer challenge and some kids have actually been successful. I am slowly but surely helping them understand the importance of good nutrition.

Original Article Source: http://www.fundraising123.org/article/canfit-getting-kids-healthy-california

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Youth Perspective on First Lady’s Speech

Guest Blogger: My Reflections on First Lady’s Obesity Campaign Announcement

Posted by Maya Salsedo on February 9, 2010 at 1:00pm
Article Source: http://ning.it/bmtimM

Michelle Obama has said that her interest in childhood obesity and health began with her own family, similarly, the inspiration I draw upon for my work is deeply rooted in my own family’s relationship to food. Growing up in a lower class, single parent household my family was often presented with a dilemma all poor and working class families: little time and almost no money for food. Our options were seemingly and practically limited to fast food, and so we ate it often.

Now I have been working on what I care to refer to as the food revolution, an idea that incubuses food solidarity, food systems change, health, workers, policy and leadership opportunities for urban and rural people! So, watching the First Lady’s announcement today was deeply moving!

Tiki Barber, an ex-football player opened up dialogue and MCed todays events saying that we need to keep the promise of healthy lives for our children. I believe Tiki Barber was a good step in the direction of role modeling active lifestyles for youth, especially youth of color! Barber then introduced Dr. Judith Palfrey, the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Palfrey pointed out that 30% of American youth are obese, saying that we had a problem of abundance but also a lack of access to healthy food and physical fitness. In my work I have come to understand this as both a dichotomous problem, and a perpetuating instance in which many people have no access to healthy, culturally appropriate food and they have far too much access to unhealthy calorie rich foods. I have done extensive research around food access and food deserts and hearing the white house take hold of this vocabulary and dialogue is something I frankly was not expecting!

I currently am the Youth Organizer for Rooted in Community (RIC), a national network of high school youth both urban and rural who are committed to fostering healthy communities through food justice! My work with RIC has given me the opportunity to see and hear from the experiences of my peers, the true proliferation of food access inequity in our country. RIC also brought me to the Kellogg Food & Society Conference the past two years where I met Will Allen for the first time! Will Allen is the creator of Growing Power a Milwaukee based farm program that generates its funding through growing food for its communities while providing jobs and after school activities to community members. Will Allen spoke today bringing the aspect of growing healthy food into the picture, he pointed out that we are constantly loosing farmers and farmland and painted a nostalgic picture of a food system in which many of our grand parents, and great grand parents in my case, grew food for their local communities. Will Allen became a hero of mine at the Kellogg conference where in a room full of 400+ important people in our food movement, all with incredibly impressive resumé’s, Will chose to sit with a table of five or so of us youth. He shared with us insight and checked into the insight we had as future leaders! I have full faith that as long as Michelle Obama and he are working together his visions and knowledge can match her action and strategy for one heck of a revolution!

I try and steer clear of the nitty gritty planing, and strategizing that comes with my work as a shaper campaigns and actions (all of my fellow NGO and Non-Profiteers know what I mean). Particularly when it comes to the grass roots organizing I have done, scale has been an issue “how do we take this great local model and bring it with all its outcomes, to the larger picture?” The First Lady seemed to be all over it! Two speakers this morning, Chip Johnson and Joseph Curtatone, Mayors of Hernando Mississippi and Somerville Massachusetts respectively, gave us examples of local Governments making big impacts on their communities. The Mayors have established CSA’s, Farmers Markets, Basketball leagues, walking paths and more recreation space promoting healthy lifestyles for their community members young and old. I see Michelle and Barack Obama taking these policies national, and I am excited!

Michelle Obama was introduced by 6th grader Tammy Nguyen she had worked with in planting the White House Garden! This brave young lady spoke about her own journey learning about healthy food and was a great example of what a few trips to the garden classroom can do! I too experienced the impact that growing my own food can have on my day-to-day eating habits! The First Lady’s campaign will have four pillars, the first will be increasing the number of healthy schools with a $10billion over ten years plan. The second initiative will be to increase physical activity through in school incentives and modeled behavior campaigns from popular athletes. The third portion of her campaign is going to improve food access and affordability by wiping out food desserts in the next seven years! and the fourth goal is to encourage consumers to make healthy choices for themselves and their families, an idea that heavily challenges our current culture regarding food!

The first lady made changing food culture on an individual and community level the strategy of her campaign more so than relying mandates and impersonal lectures on healthy food, as we have all seen these methods fail! Changing food culture to me is a HUGE lever for improving our national health, particularly when it comes to youth! Some California programs I have worked with that are setting the bar for making healthy food and healthy decisions a normal part of teenagers’ lives include the MoProject in the EastBay and FoodWhat!? of Santa Cruz to name a few! The MoProject is currently hosting an online video contest for youth to promote health to their peers and FoodWhat has been working on peer lead cooking classes in which youth gather around the kitchen table, cook and eat together!

In the end Michelle Obama said that it was not going to take “a stroke of genius or a feat of technology [to solve the obesity problem we are faced with] we already have the tools we need.” I would like to challenge all of us who are already engaged in this work to take a look at our capitol, our tools, our resources...Our YOUTH! Myself and my peers face the systemic and cultural causes of obesity everyday, therefore we have the knowledge, we know whats going on and we have profound influence over our peers. Youth are the people who are best prepared to fight this battle, so lets ignite this revolution youth and adults, as a mighty force.

Maya Salsedo, 17
Youth Organizer
Rooted in Community

Article Source: http://ning.it/bmtimM

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Long Beach Post Features MO Project

Summit Uses New Media To Promote Youth Involvement

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 01.26.10 |

10:15am | More than 50 local youths participated in a day summit to discuss leading healthy lifestyles at the Holiday Inn in downtown Long Beach over the weekend, as several organizations aimed at improving the quality of life for at-risk teens came together to learn and discuss how using new media tools can help them get involved in their communities.

The event is called the MO Project, and an organization called CANFIT (Community, Adolescents, Nutrition, Fitness) holds them all over the nation to give youngsters the chance to share their stories of getting involved with the use of social media such as YouTube. Teens tell their tales of community activism, which sparks discussion among the group about the best ways to make a difference.

In one video, a young lady recites a poem about the things she sees on the streets in her crime-ridden neighborhood. In another, a young man raps about the benefits of eating nutritiously.

On Saturday, local youths from organizations such as Long Beach Weed & Seed, the Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach, Educated Men With Meaningful Messages and Network For A Healthy California participated.

The event was significant and positive, particularly because the groups that participated typically aim to promote good decision-making and healthy living among at-risk youth. The successes of Weed & Seed as an anti-gang youth support organization that encourages volunteerism have been well documented, while Educated Men With Meaningful Messages focuses specifically on educating Southeast Asian teen males on pregnancy prevention and other community issues. Bringing all of the groups and their ideas together made for a productive day of discussion and community involvement.

LB Post article source: http://www.lbpost.com/ryan/8098
Promote MO Project on your Twitter with this link: http://www.canfit.org/news

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8th Statewide MO Project Youth Event in Long Beach, CA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Esmeralda Martin

PHONE: 510-919-4088
http://www.canfit.org
http://www.moproject.com

Long Beach, CA – “All children deserve to grow up in places that support being healthy.” CANFIT is partnering with Families in Good Health, Long Beach to hold the 8th statewide MO Project event in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, January 23, 2010. This project is the only one of its kind - a day where youth from all over the state can make videos and learn interactively through media how to get involved in improving the health of their community. 

Participants can enter the MO Project contest by uploading their videos, posters or spoken word pieces to http://www.moproject.com.  A total of five winners will receive either a Wii or an iPod Touch! For the “People’s Choice Award” category, youth can also vote for their favorite videos online. 

In the first MO Project, youth from all over the state made videos showing the everyday challenges affecting their health.  The winning entries included videos about improving school lunch, creating safer sidewalks and starting a positive graffiti wall.  On June 2009, 30 youth winners were honored by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson at the California Childhood Obesity Conference in Los Angeles, CA.

“It’s really important to join the MO Project because it’s a fun and easy way to use videos to show what you want to change in your community and let your voice be heard,” – Julia, age 15 from Bakersfield, CA.

MO Project has engaged over 500 youth in communities across the state in Merced, Chula Vista, Kettleman City, Santa Ana, Richmond, Arvin, Ceres and Long Beach. “Many of these historically underserved areas have limited access to affordable, healthy foods and safe places for physical activity. It has been truly inspiring to travel all over the state and partner with community members and youth to give them a platform to make change,” –Lloyd Nadal, CANFIT Program Director.

MO PROJECT is supported by CANFIT and made possible by funding from the California Endowment and Kaiser Permanente Southern California region.

CANFIT’s mission is to work with communities and policymakers to develop culturally resonant policies and practices that improve food and fitness environments for youth in low income communities and communities of color. For more info, visit http://www.canfit.org.

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CANFIT Executive Director Arnell Hinkle Receives Ian Axford Fellowship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lloyd Nadal

PHONE: 510-644-1533
http://www.canfit.org

January 2010, Berkeley, CA—Arnell J. Hinkle, RD, MPH, executive director of CANFIT, has been awarded an Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy. Ms. Hinkle will be one of five Axford fellows based in Wellington, New Zealand from February – September 2010.

Ms. Hinkle’s project, Policy Implementation for Health Equity: Examining Healthy Eating-Healthy Action(HEHA) in Maori and Pacific Communities, will determine the level of engagement of local indigenous and immigrant communities, particularly low-income communities, in the implementation of the government’s HEHA campaign, and assess the food systems and built environment of Maori and Pacific Islander communities.  The resulting policy report and community case study will be disseminated in New Zealand and the United States.

“I am very honored to receive this award and look forward to working with the Ministries of Pacific Island Affairs and Maori Health in New Zealand” states Ms. Hinkle. “I will build upon my experiences working with communities of color in the U.S., and take the lessons learned from New Zealand to help develop policy strategies to eliminate health disparities in both countries.”

Established in 1995, the Axford Fellowship, administered by the Fulbright Office, New Zealand, gives outstanding American professionals the opportunity to study, travel, and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand. It gives the recipient fellows first-hand knowledge of economic, social and political reforms, and management of the government sector.

The goals of the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy are:
• To reinforce New Zealand/United States links by enabling Americans of high intellectual ability and leadership potential to spend time in New Zealand to gain experience and build contacts in the field of public policy development;
• To help improve the practice of public policy in the United States and New Zealand by the cross-fertilization of ideas and experience in the two countries; and
• To build a network of public policy experts on both sides of the Pacific, and encourage ongoing policy exchange between New Zealand and the United States.

As founding executive director of CANFIT, Hinkle has received numerous grants, fellowships and awards, including a Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leader Award (2003), and an American Public Health Association’s Mary C. Egan award (2007).  She recently served as a Food and Society Policy Fellow with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. 

For more information on the Axford Fellowship:  http://www.fulbright.org.nz/awards/am-ian-axford.html.

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MO PROJECT – Youth Shaping their Future for a Healthier California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Esmeralda Martin

PHONE: 510-919-4088
http://www.canfit.org
http://www.moproject.com

CERES, CA – “All children deserve to grow up in places that support being healthy.” CANFIT is partnering with Stanislaus Health Services Agency and the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Project (CCROPP) to hold the 7th statewide MO Project event in Ceres, CA on Saturday, January 9, 2010. This project is the only one of its kind - a day where youth from all over the state can make videos and learn interactively through media how to get involved in improving the health of their community. 

Participants can enter the MO Project contest by uploading their videos, posters or spoken word pieces to http://www.moproject.com.  A total of five winners will receive either a Wii or an iPod Touch! For the “People’s Choice Award” category, youth can also vote for their favorite videos online. 

In the first MO Project, youth from all over the state made videos showing the everyday challenges affecting their health.  The winning entries included videos about improving school lunch, creating safer sidewalks and starting a positive graffiti wall.  On June 2009, 30 youth winners were honored by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson at the California Childhood Obesity Conference in Los Angeles, CA.

“It’s really important to join the MO Project because it’s a fun and easy way to use videos to show what you want to change in your community and let your voice be heard,” – Julia, age 15 from Bakersfield, CA.

MO Project has engaged over 400+ youth in communities across the state in Merced, Chula Vista, Kettleman City, Santa Ana, Richmond, Arvin and upcoming in Ceres and Long Beach. “Many of these historically underserved areas have limited access to affordable, healthy foods and safe places for physical activity. It has been truly inspiring to travel all over the state and partner with community members and youth to give them a platform to make change,” –Lloyd Nadal, CANFIT Program Director.

Event: MO Project Youth Event
Place: Ceres Community Center
Address: 2701 4th Street Ceres, California 95307
Date &Time: Saturday, January 9, 2010 - 9-4pm

MO PROJECT is supported by CANFIT and made possible by funding from the California Endowment and Kaiser Permanente Southern California region.

CANFIT’s mission is to work with communities and policymakers to develop culturally resonant policies and practices that improve food and fitness environments for youth in low income communities and communities of color. For more info, visit http://www.canfit.org .

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Chula Vista Youth Artist Designs for MO Project!

To raise awareness and promote MO Project to youth across California, CANFIT hired Jesus Paredes, a Chula Vista youth artist and entrepreneur to design the MO Project club cards. Jesus is a recent graduate from PLATT College San Diego with a B.A. in Media Science and has been a graphic designer for 4 years in the San Diego County area. He is also a staff member of “Club TC” an after school program at Chula Vista Middle School, supported by the Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) Initiative in Chula Vista.

For hiring inquiries, check out his freelance business at: Matik Multimedia.

For FREE MO Project club cards for your youth program, contact us at: or call 510 -644-1533.

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CANFIT wins SILVER in 2009 Web Health Awards Program

The CANFIT website wins a silver award for helping consumers stay healthy or prevent injury/disease in the Spring/Summer 2009 Web Health Awards Program. Contest entries were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges using a rating scale of 1 to 100. Each judge evaluated entries for content, creativity and an overall assessment. The awards are given by the National Health Information Awards program.

Download CANFIT resources on nutrition & physical activity for your youth program!

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CANFIT Scores “Excellent” in Action for Healthy Kids Criteria

Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) developed a set of criteria for identifying the efficacy and sustainability of school-based approaches to increasing good nutrition and physical activity. Out of the evaluation process, AFHK assigns an “Essential Criteria Score” based on ten criteria. Each score, ranked out of a possible 300, is determined by a panel of experts representing 27 national organizations and government agencies. CANFIT placed in the excellent category with a score of 270 out of 300. Read more about CANFIT on AFHK

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AFTERschool Meals Act 2009

AFTERSchool Meals Act
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
A bi-partisan bill has been introduced in the Senate to expand access to healthy afterschool meals for school children to all states.

About This Legislation:

A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to expand access to healthy afterschool meals for school children in working families. The Stabenow-Lugar bill would allow all states to be eligible to participate in the full afterschool meal program. Schools would be eligible to receive reimbursement either through CACFP or through the Russell School Lunch/Breakfast Program, removing an unnecessary administrative burden. Grants would also be authorized to help states with start-up costs

Click here to read the full Advocacy Alert

Join the CANFIT network to download our FREE CANFIT Healthy Snack Guide

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MO Project Award Ceremony Featured in WereFedUp News

WereFedUp News!
Posted by Ruben Brambila on June 23, 2009 at 12:09pm

On Friday June 12, 2009, Youth Leaders from South Los Angeles were rewarded with the top prize on a video that was created by the WereFedUp.com online social network. The video “Restaurant Menu labeling”, was submitted to the MO-Project’s video contest. Watch MO Project Winning Entries

After receiving the largest number of votes in the Short Story category - the Youth Activism Against Obesity (YAAO) Youth Leader group (who run the WereFedUp.com site) was rewarded with a brand new Nintendo Wii and special recognition at the Childhood Obesity Conference held in downtown Los Angeles. Read more about MO Project at moproject.com. Three YAAO Youth Leaders (Jessica Orellana, Gustavo Mendoza, Juan Valdivia) from South Los Angeles - sporting their new yellow shirts - were presented with the award. Read the Full Article

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CANFIT Honors MO Project Winners at Childhood Obesity Conference

Source: Kaiser Permanente
On Wednesday June 10, 2009, 3:58 pm EDT
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From public service announcements and documentaries to poems and posters, 39 California students who designed creative ways to advocate for more safe play areas, more access to healthy food, and ‘mo,’ will be honored as “MO Project” winners by CANFIT (Communities Adolescents Nutrition Fitness) at the 5th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference on Friday, June 12 from 11:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, 404 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. The theme of the conference is “Creating Healthy Places for All Children.”

“The MO Project gives young people an opportunity to tell their stories in their own words to state and local officials,” said Arnell Hinkle, executive director of CANFIT. “Their creativity advances the work of California youth in the California Convergence project.” The MO Project was made possible, in part, by a $100,000 Community Benefit grant from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

CANFIT’s first online multimedia contest for youth ages 13-18 drew more than 100 entries from Los Angeles, the Central Valley and the San Francisco-Bay area.

There were 5 categories and one winning entry per category. The participants in each winning entry received an iPod Touch or Wii. To view the winning entries, click here. The winning submissions are:

•PSA - Make the Right Choice Too promotes the message that healthy foods can have long-term effects in our community. The producers are students from the Oakland area: Yen Nyguyen 15, Leme Tran 16, Deryion Gilliam 16, Christopher Gilmore 16, Juan Payne 16, Varany Lam 18, Hung Phan 17, and Kelly Truong 16, attend Oakland High School. Jeremy Lee 18, attends Laney College and Anthony Herbert 18, attends Edwards Shands Adult School.

•Short Story - Menu Labeling – South Los Angeles students discuss the importance of restaurant menu labeling. The producers are students from Wallis Annenberg High School in Los Angeles: Susana Martinez 17, Henry Guandique 17, Eduardo Carbajal 18, Gustavo Mendoza 16, Juan Valdivia 16, Britanni Marie Dighero 17, Jacqueline Leiva 14, Jessica Orellana 16, Itzel Contreras 13, and Carolina “Caro” Vasquez 15.

•Short Documentary - What We See in Santa Ana shows all the things students observe in Santa Ana that do not work for the community. The producers, from the Orange County area, are: Eduardo Valdez 16, Johnny Tozcano18, Irving Vilchis18, Karla Valadez 14, and Luis Gonzales 18, attend Century High School. Ernesto Sandoval 13, and Wendy Vilchis 13, attend Villa Fundamental Intermediate. Jose Rodriguez 14, attends Lathrop Intermediate School, and Carlos Rodriguez 15, attends Saddleback High School.

•Spoken Word - Nutritious Poem was written for the benefit of young kids. Poet Adrian Crosby 16, attends Le Grand High School in Merced County.

•Poster - Jovenes Sanos City Planning - The poster of an ideal city was designed by students from Watsonville High in Santa Cruz County: Francisco Serrano 17, Noemi Melendrez 18, Tania Guzman 17, Cynthia Lopez 17, Yette Rodriguez 17, Pedro Rodriguez 17, Brenda Jauregui 18, Xochitl Garcia 17, and Javier Vargas 17.

To view the winning entries, click here.

CANFIT also awarded five honorable mentions. Those winners received an American Express $50 gift card. The “We Need to Make a Change” entry was aired in a City of Bakersfield Council meeting to advocate for healthy changes in their community. View the MO Project movement on Facebook.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit program is committed to improving the health of the communities we serve and reducing health disparities through community partnerships with the safety net of community clinics, public health departments, public hospitals, and other agencies. Community Benefit also helps increase access to quality health care and coverage, regardless of income, through our charity care and charitable coverage programs; supports community groups to inspire people to make positive changes for health through our Health Eating Active Living programs and Community Health Initiatives; and shares our medical knowledge, expertise, and research to help Southern California people live healthier lives. For more info, visit http://www.kaiserpermanente.org.

About CANFIT

Founded in 1993, CANFIT, a nonprofit, works with communities and policymakers to develop culturally resonant policies and practices that improve food and fitness environments for adolescents in low income communities and communities of color.

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CANFIT Introduces New Physical Activity Policy Report

Physical activity is known to be an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, yet it is often absent from policies and programs aimed at improving the health and wellness of youth. Although there are recommendations for physical activity and physical education during the school day in California, many schools lack the resources and infrastructure to provide such programming. After school and other community-based programs are therefore in a significant position to help youth get the daily physical activity they need.

Most of the work to improve physical activity environments for youth has focused on school environments. Yet youth spend a significant portion of their time in out-of-school or after school environments. Particularly in low income or underserved communities, middle and high school youth often feel alienated from the public school system and relate better to neighborhood, community-based organizations and institutions. Little has been done to examine the neighborhood structures that are already serving youth and assess how they might become engaged in community health initiatives that strengthen or expand physical activity opportunities for young people. To fill this need, CANFIT created the Youth Activity Policy Project (YAP).

The goal of the YAP Project is to increase physical activity opportunities for low income and underserved youth. As a first step, the project conducted a strategic policy analysis of youth serving community-based organizations in northern California. This analysis examined the policy and resource levers needed to improve youth-serving organizations’ capacity to provide physical activity opportunities for low income youth. The YAP Project was generously funded by Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region’s Healthy Eating Active Living Initiative.

Click here to see the full report.

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CANFIT Releases New After School Physical Activity Brief

Physical activity is known to be an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but policies and programs aimed at improving the health and wellness of youth often overlook the importance of physical activity in their lives. Compounding the situation, many schools lack the resources and infrastructure to meet recommendations for daily physical activity and physical education during the school day. This brief describes the landscape of physical activity for youth in California today. Download the brief today!

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San Francisco Chronicle features CANFIT Executive Director

Budget Brown Bag: Packing a week’s worth of lunches for $20

by Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writer
This article appeared on page F - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

School is back in session, and parents are once again contemplating the age old-old question: What to pack for lunch? With food prices soaring and the economy on the skids, it’s not easy coming up with meals that are inexpensive, yet nutritious and delicious. “Because kids consume 35 to 50 percent of their daily calories at school”, says Juliet Sims of Prevention Institute, a nonprofit Oakland group dedicated to preserving community health, “it’s important to make good choices.” Read the entire article here.

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CANFIT Getting Kids Healthy in California

by Macon Morehouse, Network for Good
This article was featured on Network for Good’s website.

Want to add zing to your after-school snacks, while still staying healthy? Go multi-cultural!

With just a little planning, it’s easy to trade in prepackaged, supersized, bad-for-you treats for goodies that will take your kids’ taste buds around the world. The best part is they are inexpensive, tasty and healthy. With just a little planning, it’s easy to trade in prepackaged, supersized, bad-for-you treats for goodies that will take your kids’ taste buds around the world. The best part is they are inexpensive, tasty and healthy.  Read the entire article here.

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CANFIT’s Executive Director Receives American Public Health Association Award

CANFIT Executive Director, Arnell Hinkle, has been awarded the American Public Health Association (APHA), Food and Nutrition Section, Mary C. Egan Award.  This award honors public health professionals who have served as members in the area of public health nutrition and contributed to improving nutrition among low income and underserved populations.  The award was presented at the APHA annual meeting held in Washington, D.C., November 3, 2007.

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CANFIT Releases After School Brief

The After School Landscape in California: Opportunities of the After School Education and Safety Program Act

With the implementation of Proposition 49, the legislation that created the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, the number of state-funded after school programs in the state has nearly doubled. This policy brief explores the landscape of after school in the state, including the differences between programs run by local education agencies and those run by community-based programs, and how programs are implementing physical activity and nutrition components. The brief also highlights how The California Endowment’s Healthy Eating and Active Communities are helping to shape the movement toward intentional physical activity and nutrition in after school, and it provides recommendations for communities interested in expanding after school opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles.

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Staging the Art of Health Wellness a New Draw at Pistahan - CANFIT’s Nadal Featured

Staging the Art of Health Wellness a New Draw at Pistahan
by Cherie M. Querol Moreno; Featured in Asian Journal - View Full Article Here

SAN FRANCISCO — Form and function were never this mutually inclusive. For 13 years, Pistahan Parade and Festival has showcased the best of Filipino American arts and culture. This year the much-awaited annual open-to-the-public FilAm festival in San Francisco will unveil yet another feature to draw the community from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12. Call it the art of health, because staying well does take creativity and skill. Like learning about illnesses now found pervasive in the Filipino and Asian communities. Understanding that these ailments can be deterred with timely interventions, such as altering diets and lifestyles. Acknowledging that prevention is still the secret to longevity. That education is the best form of prevention.

And that each human being is a lifeline. An urgent lifeline, as in the case of Christopher Padua, who suffers from biliary atresia and needs a liver transplant, and for whom organizers are hoping for a big turnout. “We thought it a good idea to have non-profit health-related Filipino organizations address the growing numbers of obesity, diabetes, and other health-related issues within our community,” said Lloyd Nadal, who is spearheading the new component at the festival. “Pistahan would be an opportune time to celebrate
life and a chance to support our people to live longer. I truly believe that we need to work together to support all organizations that work with Filipinos. Health, especially that of our children, is a great way to unite our people.”

Nadal, by day program manager of California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program or CANFit, sent feelers to agencies he thought would want to reach out to a thousand people who typically attend the event to savor the sounds and sights of both the ancestral homeland and the new country. His hunch proved accurate. Nonprofit health care providers based in San Francisco and beyond obliged Nadal’s invitation to set up booths for physical and mental well-being: Asian American Recovery Services (AARS), API Wellness, SOMA Health Center, SOMA Childcare, OnLok Senior Health, Pilipino Senior Resource Center, Vietnamese Youth Development Center, Children’s Organ Transplant
Association (COTA) and Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) eagerly rose to the occasion. While offering resources for abuse survivors and their children,
CORA is assisting with the recruitment of respondents for the Life Calendar Project, a survey being conducted by the Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Institute
to inform policy recommendations for best practices in API cases. The availability of health and resource providers adds significant dimension to the annual summer tradition that
provides “connection with the Filipino American community, discovery of Philippine artifacts, art, crafts and dance, and celebration” of all things Philippine via a genuine town
fiesta.

The 2007 extravaganza will star General Antonio Taguba as the parade grand marshal, entrepreneur Greg and Gig Macabenta as hermano and hermana mayor, movie actor Cesar Montano in his other persona as visual artist, journalist Leslie Guevarra as emcee and a host of FilAms venting their creative spirit like Bernardo Bernardo, Danny Kalanduyan, Stephanie Reese, Bambu, Angelo Pizarro, Tita Aida, For U, Aris Garcia, Florante Aguilar, Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble, Martin Nievera, Laurie Abucaya, Koponang Kolapo, Barangay Dance Company, Leila Ponce, Roscoe Umali, Sandamukal Bad Boys, and Chaya Miranda. Helmed by award-winning designer Al Perez, Pistahan
is a collaboration of community organizers and cultural activists including Braulio Agudelo, Christine Padilla, Cyril Sola, Edward Aquitania, Fay Olylmpia, Florence Mendoza, George Bauto, Gerard Talampas, Jun Galicha, Kai Delen-Briones, Paule Tenchavez, Pearl Parmelee, Richard Mendoza, Rita Rodriguez and Rudy Asercion.

Leave it to event founder Luz De Leon, who has stepped down as festival director but continues to make her presence felt by bringing in former acolytes who have become leaders in their own right. She doffs her hat to Nadal, Maria Luna, Daniel Toleran and their cadre of wellness advocates. She confides to being inspired by the courage and optimism of Christopher Padua’s mother Jenille. The torch is passed and burns bright. “We thank the nonprofit agencies cluster for their great participation,” said recently
appointed festival business manager Rita Rodriguez. “We’re fortunate to have dedicated Filipino staff in nonprofits, who are there every time we need them.”

Cherie M. Querol Moreno is CORA Community Outreach Coordinator. CORA’s 24-hour toll free support line: 800-300-1080

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MEE Productions & CANFIT develop “Preventing Obesity in the Hip-Hop Generation” Workshop Series

CANFit and MEE Productions collaborated on a new workshop series that focuses on addressing healthy eating and increased physical activity among urban, African-American and Latino youth populations. These communications workshops present information in a way that can be immediately applied directly with children, teens and their parents in real-world scenarios.  After successful events in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, the workshop traveled to Los Angeles in June 2007.

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CANFIT Receives Gold Rating by The Cooper Institute and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation

CANFIT was awarded a Gold Rating based on an evaluation by the Cooper Institute and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation as part of their Children’s Healthy Bodies Initiative.  Of over 300 programs initially contacted, CANFIT was one of only 47 that received the highest award, a Gold Rating.  Programs were objectively scored in four categories:  program design, evaluation, implementation and dissemination.  CANFITis very proud to have been recognized as a program having the greatest potential to help reduce childhood obesity.

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CANFIT Named After School lead for TCE’s Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) Initiative

CANFIT has been named the technical support provider for after school programs participating in The California Endowment’s four-year Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) Initiative.  Six collaboratives have been funded in predominantly low income, urban and rural communities across California.  The objectives of the Healthy Eating, Active Communities Initiative are to improve the food and physical activity environments for school-age children and to create momentum for widespread changes in the policies and practices that contribute to the rising rates of childhood obesity. 

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CANFIT and CalSAC Host the National Middle School Conference

CANFIT partnered with the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) to host the National Middle School Conference at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco on November 3-6, 2004. The conference was an enormous success with nearly 450 participants representing 28 states and three countries from Park & Recreation Departments, CBOs, schools, and other agencies! The event was sponsored by the California Endowment, Health Net, Stonyfield Farm, L.A. Care Health Plan and ESPN Play Your Way.

CANFIT kicked things off with its popular “Recipes for Success” workshop as a pre-conference offering on Wednesday. The afternoon was spent learning how to incorporate nutrition education and physical activity into youth programs through hands-on activities. Thursday through Saturday provided participants with more than 50 workshops. Here are excerpts from a few:

Nutrition Policy Change & Financing Obesity Prevention Programs
Literacy for Environmental Justice (http://www.lejyouth.org) is creating access to healthy food in one of San Francisco’s most underserved communities. Bayview Hunters Point is home to over 30,000 people and the closest supermarket is up to three bus rides away for some residents. The Good Neighbor Program works with local merchants (mostly corner stores) to provide them with city and private incentives to carry healthy food. The Good Neighbor Program grew out of Youth Envision, a group of youth who work as advocates for healthy food in their community.

Breakfast Club Plus...Breakfast and a Little Bit More: Innovative Snack Programs Breakfast
Clubs are fast becoming one of the most effective environments for extended opportunities to promote healthy and nutritional eating. Many are establishing new and fun ways to engage and improve the physical health of young people and adults as well as proving to be effective agents in tackling issues of social inclusion and academic underachievement. ContinYou has been recognized as pioneers in supporting schools and communities through a range of initiatives that have raised the profile, increased the effectiveness and measured the impact of breakfast provision. As one of the leading educational charities in the United Kingdom with a network of over 11,000 schools, it has worked to develop the breakfast club culture in partnership with Kellogg’s. For more information, visit http://www.continyou.org.uk.

Community Food Assessments: A Tool for Improving your Local Food System
Raquel Bournhbonesque presented on Community Food Assessments (CFA). A CFA is a participatory and collaborative process that examines a broad range of food-related issues and assets in order to improve the community’s food system. Through such assessments, a diverse group of stakeholders work together to research their local food system, strategically communicate their findings, and implement changes based on their findings. Heather Fenney with the California Food and Justice Coalition offered an introduction to farm-to-school programs along with steps to take to start a program. Farm-to-school programs supply school food service with fresh produce from local farmers, model nutrition education in the cafeteria and offer students experiential learning opportunities around nutrition and agriculture.Raquel presented on the use of school-based CFAs as a tool in developing school nutrition policies. Heather presented on the potential for farm-to-school programs to meet the multiple nutrition related goals that a school may outline in their policy. For more information about the California Food and Justice Coalition go to: http://www.foodsecurity.org/california.

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CANFIT Holds its 10th Anniversary Gala Event

CANFIT’s 10th Anniversary Gala event “WE CANFIT” was held on October 9, 2003 at the Oakland Museum of California. View photos from the event here. Thank you to our Sponsors and Supporters! View the list here. 

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CANFIT Receives Second Award from Dannon Institute in 2003

In 2003, CANFIT’s “Promoting Healthy Activities Together (P.H.A.T.) Campaign (which uses hip-hop culture to promote a healthy lifestyle among youth) was honored with the 6th Annual Dannon Institute Award For Excellence In Community Nutrition. For the second time, In 2002, CANFIT was honored by the Dannon Institute for its manual made in conjunction with the 100 Black Men of America mentoring program. Read the press release here. 

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CANFIT’s Executive Director Receives Robert Wood Johnson Award

CANFIT’s Executive Director, Arnell Hinkle, received the coveted Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program award in 2003.  This program awards individuals who have overcome significant challenges to expand access to health care and social services to under served members of their communities. View the Press Release. 

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Native American Surf Camp Coordinated by CANFIT Grantee

The third annual Native American surf gathering drew nearly 100 children ages 9-18 from reservations across San Diego County. CANFIT supported the camp for its fitness benefits and cultural elements and for providing a fun way for Native American youth to be active. Read the full article here.

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CANFIT Receives Award from Dannon Institute in 2002

CANFit was presented with a 2002 Dannon Institute Award for Excellence in Community Nutrition for a manual made in conjunction with the 100 Black Men of America mentoring program that promotes nutrition and physical activity. View the Dannon Institute news article, ”Role Modeling to Reach African American Youth.” The 100 Way Project: Promoting Nutrition & Physical Activity to African American Males in the 100 Way Project, CANFIT strove to encourage healthy eating and activity behaviors in youth by intervening in local after-school mentoring programs. CANFit partnered with 100
Black Men of America, Inc. (the “100”), a national volunteer organization for professional African American men, to develop a nutrition and physical activity component to the “100’s” preexisting mentoring program. The goal of the project was to improve the health status of 11-18-year-old African American males participating in the Mentoring the 100 Way program.

View the Press Release. 

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