|
|
|
Dear BHC-SK Partners and Friends,
On behalf of the Steering Committee I want to thank and congratulate you for an outstanding 2015! As we take time to reflect and count our blessings this holiday season, we want to make sure you know how appreciated each and every one of you are. The continued success of Building Healthy Communities South Kern (BHC-SK) is entirely due to our partners who are dedicated to these communities, and work tirelessly to improve the health and health equity of those who live here.
In 2009, when the Building Healthy Communities initiative was beginning in South Kern, residents and organization partners came together and created a common set of goals and plans for how we could transform the communities of South Kern and improve the health of everyone who lives, works, and plays here. Over the first five years of this initiative we have already made incredible strides toward achieving these goals. As a result, thous
ands of residents have access to health insurance and care who didn't before.
Local schools have dramatically changed policies that support student health and the college-going rate of youth in our communities has increased drastically.
Parks have new laws in place that make them cleaner and safer and many have new improvements that make them better places for youth and families to be active and healthy.
Tens of thousands of residents have improved access to clean drinking water, and communities have land use plans that will positively shape how our communities grow for decades.
And this is just to name a few of the many changes that we've seen made over the past five years as a result of the efforts of our BHC-SK partners.
During 2015 we were inspired and challenged as once again nearly two thousand residents and partners came together to create a plan for the next five years of this initiative here in South Kern. This process was daunting, but necessary to ensure that as we move forward we are doing it with the broad engagement and support of the communities of South Kern. Through this process residents and partners have set big goals for the next five years to continue making South Kern into a place that supports everyone in being healthy. Over the coming five years we'll be focusing on helping schools support students in being healthy and successfully pursuing college and career options, increasing access to prevention and community health services, making our communities places that support everyone in being active, and making changes that create cleaner air, water, and land.
As we approach the start of a new calendar year, we are especially excited because this also means the start of a new BHC-SK program year, and the start of five years of implementing this new Action Plan. We ask you to join us as we kick off both of these on January 28 at Sunset School in Weedpatch. At our All-Action Team meeting at 3 p.m. Action Teams will be preparing to launch the new Action Plan, and then at 5 p.m. we'll be sharing this plan with the community at our Central Table meeting. Just as exciting, we'll also be kicking off the sixth year of Live the Challenge, so start planning what you will commit to change for 100 days so you will be ready to make your pledge at Central Table!
We wish you and your family a blessed and restful holiday season filled with community and hope for the future. And we are very much looking forward to continuing to partner with you in the coming year and years.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wood-Slayton, Hub Manager
On behalf of the 2015 BHC-SK Steering Committee
|
|
Just Released: Environment in Health Snapshot
Environment and health are top priorities for Building Healthy Communities South Kern because health doesn't only happen in the doctors office. Health happens when families have access to a clean and safe environment. BHC-SK's Environment Action Team has worked hard these past five years to address environmental concerns facing South Kern communities.
Check out what BHC-SK partners are doing to address infrastructure needs, and improve air and water quality in South Kern.
Local air quality impacts our children's education because poor air quality leads to higher rates of school absenteeism due to respiratory diseases.
South Kern residents are finding their voice and advocating for their communities. BHC-SK partners are working together with residents to bring in millions of dollars to address infrastructure needs in South Kern.
BHC-SK is looking at water access under an equity lens because families making $14,000 or less a year are spending up to 10 percent of their income on bottled water.
|
Please Welcome our New Steering Committee Members
Photos above: (from left to right), Cynthia Marquez, Estela Escoto, Jasmine Santoyo
Building Healthy Communities South Kern is proud to announce the installation of three new steering committee members. We would like to welcome the Greenfield Union School District (GUSD) representing the education sector and will be represented by Cynthia Marquez who works at the Greenfield Family Resource Center (GFRC). Estela Escoto will be representing Arvin residents, and Jasmine Santoyo, a junior at Arvin High School will be the committees new Arvin youth representative.
Eight years ago, Escoto moved to Arvin from Los Angeles thinking that she was moving to a small town with clean air. When she found out that wasn't that case, she decided to become involved in her community.
"I became involved with Building Healthy Communities because I see an opportunity to work collectively with other groups to make change happen in Arvin," says Escoto.
Santoyo, also a member of Committee for Better Arvin, enjoys being active in her community.
"Seeing all the good work happening in South Kern encourages me to continue to be involved," says Santoyo. "I look forward to continue to work with so many inspiring people."
The GUSD is the largest school district in South Kern serving over 7000 students. The GFRC provides support services to the families of the GUSD, to ensure their children succeed in school.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote on this election, please join us in congratulating our latest additions.
|
'Awakening for Social Change'
In light of the new Star Wars movie, The California Endowment and BHC-SK want to know, "What does it take to Awaken the Force in you?"
Star Wars is about how people come together to empower themselves and make a better future for themselves and their planets. Join the effort and share what motivates you to come together with other BHC-SK partners to make a better future for South Kern.
Create your own Star Wars "My Force Awakens" meme and share over social media by clicking here:
www.myforceawakens.org
Please post it with our hashtags: #MyForceAwakens #bhcsk #HealthySouthKern
|
BHC-SK to Receive Kern COG's Regional Award of Merit
Building Healthy Communities South Kern is thrilled and deeply honored to have been selected to receive a Kern Council of Governments Regional Award of Merit in the category of Community Involvement.
The Award will be presented to BHC-SK partners this March by the Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG). The award recognizes BHC-SK's success at achieving health equity by improving community health in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch and Greenfield.
Each year, Kern COG honors individuals and organizations for making major contributions to areas quality of life through innovative and cooperative efforts.
Past recipients of this award include the City of Bakersfield and the Bakersfield Homeless Center for their partnership to create employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. The City of Ridgecrest and the RidgeProject are also past recipients.
A very special thanks to BHC-SK's partners for driving this important work.
|
My grandfather passed away in Mexico earlier this year. I had not seen him in more than ten years, but I remember his face, his voice, and his calm and gentle personality. What broke my heart was seeing my father suffer in sadness. It has been more than two decades since he has seen his own parents.
Knowing that my father couldn't even attend his funeral, I broke down. Now, even as my grandmother continues to grieve, my family cannot go to see her.
Like many other immigrants across this state and the nation, my parents came to California from Mexico seeking opportunity. They created roots and began to raise their family. I was born here and am a U.S. citizen.
|
|
About Us
Building Healthy Communities is a comprehensive community initiative that is creating a revolution in how Californians think about and support health in their communities.
More than 2,500 residents, youth, businesses and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to improve the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan. Residents in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, and the unincorporated areas of Greenfield are proving that we have the power to make health happen in our communities.
BHC-SK is promoting healthy change in the areas of:
- Education: Improving education from pre-K through adult education
- Environment: Creating a healthy environment with clean air and water
- Health Access: Increasing access to a better health care system
- Recreation: Improving recreational activities, facilities and parks
|
We have the power to build healthy communities for the next generation.
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE: Live the Challenge Kick-Off, Jan. 28
We will be kicking off this years Live the Challenge January 28 at our Central Table meeting!
During the meeting we will also review BHC-SK's promises and goals for the coming year.
Click
here to learn more about Live the Challenge 2016!
Thursday,
January 28
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sunset School
8301 Sunset Blvd.
Weedpatch
|
|
|
|
