Welcome to Voices for a Healthy Southcoast


CHART members pictured from left, first row, New Bedford Planning Department, Ray Khalife, New Bedford Dept. of Public Health, Marianne De Souza, Southcoast Hospital Group, Kerry Mello, Mass in Motion, Pauline Hamel, Greater Fall Fiver Partners, Marcia Picard and Southcoast Hospital Group, Donna Querim. Second row, Seven Hills – Partners for Clean Air, Dawn Nicolson, YMCA Southcoast, Gary Schuyler, Nancy LaRue Bonell (YMCA co-coach), Healthy City Fall River, Dr. David Weed and Southcoast Hospital Group, Amanda Szot. Not pictured are Jim Rattray, Jen DiBello, Judith Coykendall, Kevin Brogiolo, Helena Marques, Melyssa Beaudry, John Quinn, Maria Evora-Rosa and Bill Shell.

 

 

Voices Letter:

Join in to help change health policy
YMCA SOUTHCOAST has started a 12 week exercise and nutrician program 

LIVESTRONG® — to serve people affected by cancer and empower them to take action and will bring proven cancer support programs to the southcoast. A pilot program is starting in November at Fall River, New Bedford and Gleason (Wareham) YMCAs. Please contact Mary Beth Gamache at mgamache@ymcasouthcoast.org to get involved.

Fall River Mayor William Flanagan and Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly invited Boston Bicycle “Czar” Nicole Freedman to to Government Center in Fall River on January 12, 2012 to describe what Boston has been able to do to enhance and encourage bicycle riding. Ms. Freedman is a former member of the U.S. National Cycling Team, competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and won the 64-mile U.S. Championship Road Race. She is now in charge of Boston Bikes, a city-wide effort to increase bicycling and to improve safety, comfort and connectivity for people of all abilities. Ms. Freedman explained how she has developed the network and offered suggestions for ways that Fall River could implement many of the same features. For more information about Fall River Mass In Motion, go to www.HealthyCityFallRiver.org

Partners for a Healthy Fall River made a video of Nicole Freedman speaking.

To View click on the photo below to see the Fifth Annual Fall River Fitness Challenge kicked-off at the Matthew Kuss Middle School in Fall River, MA, with over 600 people attending and over 300 weighing-in for the four-month series. Sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness and Healthy City Fall River, and supported by Partners for a Healthier Community, the Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in Fall River to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. For more information and additional videos, go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com

Wareham Board of Health passes proposal that bans cigarette sales at pharmacies, Walmart in 2012 read more…

January 26, 2011 12:00 AM

NEW BEDFORD — Voices for a Healthy SouthCoast, an Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE (ACHIEVE) initiative coalition of 17 towns from Swansea to Wareham focused on policy and environmental changes and encourage healthier lifestyles, recognized Community Health Action Response Teams (CHART) members for their first year of service.

Members of the CHART began Mass Forum VII — Massachusetts Partnership for Healthy Communities. This was a nine-month educational process involved coalition building, skill training; education and team building for groups around the Commonwealth that are engaged in projects to build healthier communities by specifically focusing on issues such as physical activity, nutrition, tobacco cessation, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In March 2009 the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts was selected to be an ACHIEVE community. The main objective of ACHIEVE is to unite local leaders through CHARTs.

“We recognize the contributions that out CHART members have made on our first year effort. “Our team has accomplished a lot this year,” says Nancy Bonell, CHART team co-chair. To READ more

Voices for a Healthy Southcoast seeks planning board help

Encouraging people to quit smoking, the Fall River City Council passed a ban of sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. Future plans will be to sign on other Southcoast communities. This policy received National attention for the Y USA and CDC in June.

Partners for a Healthy  Fall River made a video of the bike summit.  To View click on the photo below