Physical Activity and Nutrition News

Spring 2024

Spring has arrived! While the winter was mild and had much less snow than we would have liked, spring is still a welcome visitor, even with the two snow storms that arrived after the equinox.

April started with an extraordinary total eclipse to remind us of nature's power and beauty. "Awe", "amazing", "incredible", "unlike anything you can describe" are a few of the things people texted me in the hours after the totality. I felt all those things and mostly found it hard to describe how moving it was for me. I hope you enjoyed this special day.

Through it all we have been busy collaborating on nutrition security initiatives and facilitating communities' access to technical assistance to build spaces for all their community members. Read more below, along with a reminder of the annual Corporate Cup and information about Vermont Department of Health's health equity efforts.

As always, I feel blessed to live in beautiful Vermont. I hope you are looking forward to more spring weather welcoming us outdoors to prepare for planting in May and getting out to walk, run, bike or otherwise enjoy the beauty around us.

Sue Kamp

Debuting Food Security in Vermont: Roadmap to 2035

Cover photo of Food Security in Vermont Report; farmland

· The State guarantees Vermonters have the necessary financial resources to meet their basic needs.

· Create a food security emergency response system in Vermont.

· Ensure consistent, dignified access to nourishing, adequate, and culturally responsive food today and in the future.

These are a few goals from Food Security in Vermont: Roadmap to 2035, developed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in partnership with private and public organizations, and derived from the voices of Vermonters.

Beyond Funding: 21 Communities Create Equitable Public Spaces

Community members and leaders across Vermont want to create spaces and places that are accessible and welcoming to all. Read more about the TA Pilot sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health that helped 21 communities successfully achieve this goal.

Rendering of potential Eagle Park project.

Office of Health Equity Integration Grantee Highlight

SUSU commUNITY farm (SUSU) is an Afro-Indigenous stewarded farm that began in October 2020, when co-founders amber arnold and naomi doe moody took the initiative to address the food access needs in their community in southern Vermont. They recognized that access to fresh, local food was an advantage, and Black, Indigenous, and People of color in Vermont were being disproportionately affected by food shortages and decreasing resources.

Basket of red and pink flowers. Source: https://www.instagram.com/susucommunityfarm/

Poster advertising Corporate Cup Challenge and State Agency Race

Learn More

41st Annual Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge & State Agency 5K Race

Thursday, May 16^th, 2024 in beautiful Montpelier, the capital of Vermont

The Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge and State Agency Race is a 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) team running/walking event open to businesses, government and non-profit organizations in Vermont.

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Vermont Department of Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8380.

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