AHA Communications

Health in Action: Monthly Enewsletter
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Social Media
Plug into AHA's social media for timely updates on AHA projects and news, as well as partner and Wake County information on improving access to healthy foods and physical activity. AHA is on Facebook and Twitter--friend us and follow us! We would love for you to share our FB posts and retweet our messages as well--we are working to make the healthy choice the easy choice!

AHA Work Groups

There are 5 work groups comprised of AHA partners who carry out AHA's work:

Local Foods and Community Gardens
Access and Environment
Engagement & Inclusion
Public Relations
Western Wake AHA

Local Foods and Community Gardens

The Local Food and Community Gardens group works to educate Wake County citizens on the value of consuming locally grown foods. The group identifies and promotes resources on community gardens, farmers' markets, CSAs and pick-your-own farms in Wake County. Additionally, the group works to educate the community about growing their own healthy food and buying locally grown seasonal foodss.

The Local Food and Community Garden work group has successfully advocated for changes such as the acceptance of EBT cards at 3 local farmer’s markets and zoning changes in the City of Raleigh to support community gardens. AHA is the lead community partner in Wake County supporting the 10% Campaign to build a local food economy.

Learn more »

Community Connections (formerly Access and Environment

The Community Connections work group focuses on initatives that increase access to healthful foods and physical activity for everyone in Wake County. Initiatives of this work group include the Wake County PTA Brains and Bodies workshop series aimed at enforcing the local wellness policy, working with child care centers on healthy food and physical activity policy, advocating for healthy snacks at youth sporting events through the Sports Snack Game Plan, and the Wake County Healthful Eating and Physical Activity Asset Map.

Get involved »

Check out the Wake County GIS map with access points to food and physical activity in Wake County (including but not limited to: sidewalks, grocery stores, bike lanes, community gardens, food pantries, greenways, parks, and schools).

Engagement and Inclusion

This work group ensures that there is appropriate community and organizational representation on AHA to fulfill its mission. Get involved »

Public Relations

This work group seeks to ensure that the work of AHA is communicated effectively to AHA members and the community at-large. Contact Us »

Western Wake AHA

The Western Wake AHA Work Group emerged to engage partners and individuals in the western part of the county and supports the work of AHA in a variety of projects. To date, this work group has launched the Brains and Bodies Award program and developed a "Thank You" card for farmers with CSAs and other local farmers at area markets in support of the 10% Campaign.
Get involved »

Work Plan:

AHA: Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

How:

Partnership development activities.
Clinical-related activities such as the continued engagement of physicians to support AHA’s advocacy agenda.
School-related activities such as the Brains and Bodies workshops with PTA councils.
Built environment and local food-related activities such as zoning and land use policy advocacy to support community gardening.
Early childhood-related activities such as changing policies and environments in child care centers.
Community-related activities such as working with afterschool programs to adopt Eat Smart Move More Standards.

Outcomes:

Strong community collaborative that is well suited to respond to community needs related to access to healthful food, physical activity, and obesity prevention.
Changes in policies and environments that support access to healthful food and physical activity

Volunteer Opportunities in Partner Organizations

YMCA of the Triangle
www.ymcatriangle.org
(919)719-9622

Help schedule volunteers for program nights and assist in volunteer recruitment. Be a Health Assessment Facilitator, which includes performing strength and flexibility assessments and taking body measures on participants. Be a Health Support Volunteer, which includes reminding participants of appointments, follow-up with participants about progress with wellness goals and advise participants on barriers concerning wellness goals.

YWCA ENCOREplus Program
www.ywcatriangle.org
919-256-8102
The YWCA ENCOREplus Program has mammogram screening events in partnership with Rex Healthcare every month. We need volunteers to assist with administering a pre/post test and participant questionnaire, showing an educational video, and handing out educational materials and incentive gifts to the women who participate in the program. It's a wonderful program and it's fun. There's a lot of social contact with the participants. This would be a good fit for a people person who is passionate about breast health!

Intrer-Faith Food Shuttle
www.foodshuttle.org
919-250-0043 ext 2906
Food Rescue: Need drivers and assistants to help with recovering food from donor sites and deliver to recipient agencies. Farm and Community Gardens: Volunteers plant, mulch, weed and harvest on our 6 acre farm. Operation Frontline: Volunteers prep for, assist at, and if qualified, teach nutrition classes to low income families, kids and teens.

Marbles Kids Museum
www.marbleskidsmuseum.org
919-857-1025
We have volunteer opportunities for those individuals with an interest in working with children and families. We have opportunities for teens and seniors and everyone in-between. For more specific and detailed information, please contact Liz McKee at lmckee@marbleskidmuseum.org.

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