Strategic Alliance Newsletter
May/June 2011
Strategic Alliance Hosts ENACT Advocacy Day in Sacramento
On May 4th, over 100 food and physical activity advocates from across the state gathered in Sacramento for Strategic Alliance’s 2011 ENACT Nutrition and Activity Day. ENACT Day, an annual event, is an opportunity for advocates to educate policymakers about opportunities to improve California’s nutrition and physical activity environments at both a local and state level.
The event received strong enthusiasm from attendees. One group of advocates from Tulare County met with Assembly-woman Connie Conway for nearly 45 minutes. “I was encouraged to hear Connie indicate strong support for [ENACT Day bills] AB 516, AB 839, and AB 581,” said Susan Elizabeth, community coordinator of Tulare County’s Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP). “She committed to urging her caucus to vote in favor! The Tulare folks really enjoyed their day in Sacramento.”
To all those who attended: Your advocacy efforts went far beyond the day itself, and are making a difference! With your support, 3 of the 4 bills on ENACT Day’s agenda are moving forward through the legislative process.
Click here for updates on these bills.
Protect Parks…for Health, Equity and Sustainability
The California Department of Parks and Recreation has recently released a list of 70 parks that are slated for permanent closure to the public as a budgetary decision. As proposed, the closures span the entire state from San Diego County to Del Norte County and will impact 36 of the state's 58 counties, limiting park access for millions more Californians. Read more…
CBS Nightly News Highlights Local Efforts in Baldwin Park
See how local residents in Baldwin Park, California, are working to make their community an even healthier place to live, work, and play. Increasing access to fresh produce and physical activity opportunities, preventing fast food restaurants from opening, and banning flavored milk in schools are just some of the changes the city has enacted. Watch a video of the news feature here.
Healthy Food Financing Initiative Open for Business
For the first time ever, the federal government is requesting proposals for Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grants and loans to help open new fresh food outlets – supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and expanded convenience stores – in low-income and under-served communities. $10 million will be available from the Department of Health and Human Services for this program, and the deadline to apply is July 11, 2011. Learn more about the HFFI here. For more information on the Notice of Funds Availability, click here.
Farmers Market Funding Opportunity
Earlier this month, the federal government announced the availability of $10 million in competitive grant funds under the Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP). Grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 will be awarded to farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Projects that expand access to low-income and underserved areas will be prioritized. Local governments, non-profits, and agricultural cooperatives are eligible to apply. Click here for more information.
6th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference
June 28-30, 2011San Diego, CA
Register here.
SA Reception at Childhood Obesity Conference
June 28, 2011
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Gallery at the Childhood Obesity Conference – Manchester Grand Hyatt – San Diego, CA
Refreshments will be available. Please RSVP to Janet (janet@preventioninstitute.org) by June 24.
3rd Annual Safe Routes to School Conference
August 16-18, 2011
Minneapolis, MN
Registration is now open.
Food Day Webinar
Industrial food animal production and the high-meat American diet: health and environmental consequences
June 28, 2011
10:00 am – 11:00 am PST
Register today!
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