HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign 
for the Mid-Atlantic Newsletter
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Important News
Spotlight Cities & Towns
Featured Article
Tools & Resources
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HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign for the 
Mid-Atlantic is an initiative of 
in partnership with

and with generous support from Kaiser Permanente, founding partner
 June 2017 Edition

O ur HEAL Cities & Towns are in full bloom as spring rushes towards summer in the Mid-Atlantic. We've had an active spring season as we welcome Julia Groenfeldt, Program and Communications Associate, as the newest member of our HEAL team. Julia has experience working with community-based nonprofits to build healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems in Worcester, Massachusetts and Washington, DC. Julia is excited to be joining the HEAL Campaign where she will be working with HEAL staff on Campaign activities and communication strategies. 

HEAL has been working hard to bring our HEAL Leaders Club new resources and ideas for action. Please be sure to check out our website for news and updates.

Also, did you know HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic is on Twitter? Follow us @HealMidAtlantic, and be sure to tag us for all your healthy eating and active living activities, news, and events. We love hearing about what you've been up to in your communities! 
Important News! 
It's time for our Maryland Cities and Towns to apply to be recognized for their HEAL activities at the Maryland Municipal League conference in June.

Complete the application HERE to advance to a higher recognition level. Please see the recognition level criteria below.  The application deadline is Wednesday, June 14th .

For questions about applying or more information, please contact HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign Manager, Susan DeFrancesco at sdefrancesco@institutephi.org or at 240-252-2016.

Recognition level criteria: 

Spotlight Cities & Towns
We are excited to announce our  Spotlight Cities & Towns series  where every month the HEAL website will feature a City or Town from MD or VA. This will help YOU learn about what other Mid-Atlantic cities and towns are doing to bring Healthy Eating and Active Living to communities throughout our region.  Please be sure to check out our website for the latest features! 

The June 2017 Spotlight Cities & Towns is now featuring:

Hyattsville, MD
  • Hyattsville was the first city in the Mid-Atlantic to achieve the Platinum HEAL recognition level - HEAL's highest recognition. 
  • Read how the City passed its Healthy Meeting and Events Initiative, Movin' with With the Mayor program, Green Streets Policy, and more! Find the article HERE
Warrenton, VA
  • Warrenton achieved Gold Level recognition status at the 2016 Virginia Municipal League annual conference. 
  • Find out how Warrenton is creating healthy options for its workforce and residents by bringing a farmers market to the Town's Recreation Center, conducting a walkability audit, and passing Commit to be Fit and Healthy Meeting Policies. Find the article HERE
Featured Article
HEAL Featured in Virginia Town & City

Under the leadership of Mayor Bob Coiner, this year's Virginia Municipal League President, VML cities and towns are focusing on "Building Healthy Communities." To support that theme, HEAL has had the opportunity, in the last few months, to submit articles to VML's monthly magazine, Virginia Town & City, about various healthy eating and active living topics. The articles feature the HEAL activities of some of our VA HEAL cities and towns - it's another opportunity to learn what other HEAL cities and towns in the region are working on and achieving!
  • April 2017: Read about how city planners and local officials play a vital role in designing a community that supports healthy lifestyles. Read HERE
  • March 2017: Read about how how municipalities can create healthier food environments for their residents and employees through food procurement polices and practices. Read HERE
  • January/February 2017: Read about workplace wellness policies and practices that make healthier choices easier choices. Read HERE
  
Tools & Resources
Farmers Market Food Education Program (FEd)
  • Do you have a farmers market in your city or town? If so, check out the Maryland Farmers Market Association's new Food Education Program (FEd) that provides online resources to educate farmers market customers on how to select, store, and prepare local, seasonal produce.
May is National Bike Month
Creating Active Communities Through Environmental Design
  • The Community Preventative Services Task Force recently released recommendations to create built environment interventions to increase physical activity.
  • The Task Force recommends strategies that combine one or more interventions to improve walkability or bikability with land use and environmental design interventions.
  • Check out the Intervention Summary and Built Environment One-Pager
  
For questions or comments, please visit our   website  or email Susan DeFrancesco at Sdefrancesco@institutephi.org or 
Julia Groenfeldt at Jgroenfeldt@institutephi.org.