In 2017, Bronx Health REACH Director Charmaine Ruddock presented an award to Pastor Robert Lewis Foley, Sr., D. Min, D.D. Pastor of Bronx Health REACH Coalition partner church Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus for his commitment to making health equality a reality in the Bronx. The award was presented at a ceremony commemorating his many years of service as pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus.

Remembering Pastor Robert Lewis Foley, Sr.
 

With the sudden and untimely death of Pastor Robert Lewis Foley, Sr., D. Min, D.D. Pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus in the Bronx on Friday, April 26th, Bronx Health REACH lost one of its founding leaders and a giant in the effort to make the Bronx a place of health, and wellness and justice for all. Pastor Foley had been a partner with Bronx Health REACH for almost twenty years, since its start as a small community coalition led by the Institute for Family Health with the goal of eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in the South Bronx.

Pastor Foley's exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to making health equality a reality in the Bronx was rooted in his early history of civil rights activism in the South. Coming to the Bronx in the 1970’s, he continued his efforts on social and racial justice advocating for long term sustainable change to the conditions that contribute to Bronx residents living sicker and dying younger than they should.

In addition to his work with Bronx Health REACH, he had been a leader and founding member of the Black United Leadership in the Bronx (BULB) and served as a member of the Community Advisory Board of Montefiore Hospital, the Advisory Board of the Bronx Region of the American Cancer Society, the New York Yankees Community Relations Council, and the Police/Clergy Liaison for the 52nd Precinct in the Bronx.

On Sunday, May 5th, hundreds gathered for his funeral service at Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus to pay homage to him. Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush, Sr., Pastor of Walker Memorial Baptist Church, and a longtime partner of Bronx Health REACH remembered this amazing man and his many contributions to the community he served so faithfully.

You can read a profile of Pastor Foley by clicking here, and view Pastor Foley in a recently completed video and a 2009 CNN segment. 

New York City Council Member Andrew Cohen visited Tita Mini Market, a partner bodega in the Healthy Bodega program. (Left to right)  Ariana Cipriani from Jerome-Gun Hill BID, Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, Council Member Andrew Cohen, Hakeem Al Hariri owner of Tita Mini Market, Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore’s Community and Population Health Department and Frank Marte from The Bodega Association.

'Don't Stress, Eat Fresh' Bodega Marketing

Campaign Receives Funding

from City Council

The 'Don't Stress, Eat Fresh' Healthy Bodega marketing campaign has received $2500 funding from the City Council. Funding was part of the allocation for the Bronx Delegation. In February, members of the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup met and spoke with six members of the Bronx Delegation at City Hall about the marketing campaign. At the meeting, some of the Council Members expressed interest in visiting our partner bodegas located in their districts. 

On Thursday, April 4th, Council Member Andrew Cohen visited Tita Mini Market. He was joined by Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup members Bronx Health REACH, Montefiore Medical Center, the Bodega Association, and staff from the East Gun Hill Business Improvement District.

Justin Cortes, Budget Director for Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson visited Aqui Me Quedo. (Left to right)  Frank Marte from The Bodega Association (ASOBEU), Justin Cortes, Maria Morales from Montefiore, Juan Romeo-owner of Aqui Me Quedo, Chris McKay from Church of God of Prophecy, Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore’s Community and Population Health Department.

Justin Cortes, Budget Director for Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, paid a visit to partner bodega Aqui Me Quedo to learn more about the Healthy Bodega Program. Mr. Cortes was joined by Workgroup partners from the Bodega Association, Bronx Health REACH and Montefiore Medical Center. Bishop Earl McKay and son Chris McKay from Church of God of Prophecy, who will be doing a program with the bodega and the Church Youth Group, also joined the tour. News12 The Bronx was there and did a feature on the program. 

Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, David Diaz from the Bodega Association USA, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Frank Marte, owner of Green Earth Grocery.

Council Member Fernando Cabrera visited Green Earth Grocery, and Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. visited La Mina Mini Market. Both bodegas partner with Bronx Health REACH in its Healthy Bodega Initiative. Council Member Diana Ayala visited Los Hermanos, a partner bodega of BronxWorks. Bodega tours were also planned with Council member King but because of unforeseen circumstances they did not happen. We strongly encourage all members of the Bronx Delegation to visit participating bodegas in their districts.

Funding for the 'Don't Stress, Eat Fresh' marketing campaign would help create more consumer awareness of bodegas selling healthy food. The hoped for result would be an increased demand for healthy food in our partner bodegas. To publicize the importance of the campaign, Workgroup members have successfully submitted Op-Eds to various Bronx community newspapers and posted on social media tagging Bronx Council Members. 

Click here to find a partner bodega in your neighborhood.

Charmaine Ruddock and Rachel Ingram in front of "Food as Medicine" at the Research & Innovation Symposium.

Bronx Health REACH Wins Two Awards at

the Institute’s Annual Research &

Innovation Symposium

Bronx Health REACH won first place in two categories at the Institute for Family Health's Eighth Annual Research Innovation Symposium held in April. 

The poster, “Faith-Based Intervention to Control Hypertension Among African Americans and Latinos in the Bronx” won first place in the Innovative Projects category, and “Food as Medicine: Vegetable & Fruit Rx Program (VFRx) at Walton, Mt. Hope & Stevenson Health Centers” took first place in the Research category.

Charmaine Ruddock and Immaculada Moronta.

“Food as Medicine: Vegetable & Fruit Rx Program (VFRx) at Walton, Mt. Hope & Stevenson Health Centers” by authors Rachel Ingram, MSW, Emma Rodgers, MS, Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din, MPH, Charmaine Ruddock, MS, Neil S. Calman, MD, FAAFP, and Margaret Paul, PhD, MS, was a partnership between Bronx Health REACH and three of the Institute for Family Health’s Bronx health centers that implemented a "Vegetable and Fruit Prescription" program. Medical providers 'issued' Vegetable and Fruit prescriptions to obese patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. Patients 'filled' their prescription by purchasing fruits and vegetables at a supermarket, bodega and farmers markets.

“Faith-Based Intervention to Control Hypertension Among African Americans and Latinos in the Bronx” by authors Immaculada Moronta, MIM, Charmaine Ruddock, MS, Emma Rodgers, MS, and Neil S. Calman, MD, FAAFP highlights the Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH’s Faith Based Hypertension Initiative. Funded in 2018 by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the initiative focused on preventing and controlling high blood pressure. It was modeled on the Fine, Fit and Fabulous (FFF) program Bronx Health REACH developed and led several years ago.  We will present this work at the 2019 American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Annual Conference in November.

Eight faith based organizations will be participating in the Healthy Children, Healthy Families program.

Largest Group Yet for Healthy Children

Healthy Families Training
 

18 people representing eight faith based organizations attended a Healthy Children, Healthy Families program orientation in March. Three mosques: Masjid Makki, Masjid Rahmah, and Masjid- Ibadu Raman were also part of that orientation.This session had the largest number of attendees to date. 

"St. Augustine Our Lady of Victory Church, one of the participating faith based organizations had participated in previous Bronx Health REACH nutrition programs, and one of the congregants remarked, “when I heard about the Healthy Children, Healthy Families program I told my pastor that this would be a great program for the families at our church." Maria Peguero, the congregant and a liaison between the church and Bronx Health REACH went on to say, "as the health coordinator, I would like our participants to learn more about nutrition and physical fitness by the end of the program."  

Since December 2018, eight faith based partners have run the eight week program for children (ages 8-12) and their parents/caregivers, to increase healthy eating and active living and reduce high rates of obesity in the Bronx.

If you are part of a faith-based organization that would like to participate in Healthy Children, Healthy Families, email Yolanda Benitez or call (212) 633-0800 ext. 1344.

Last October more than 60 Bronx Health REACH Coalition members and community residents held a Not62 Rally on the steps of the Bronx Supreme Court calling on the Mayor, the Governor and all elected leaders to make the health of the Bronx a priority. They chanted, '62 will not do! We can do better! We must do better!'

Health Disparities Workgroup Update

Earlier this year the the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation along with the University of Wisconsin released the 2019 County Health Rankings Report. And, as in past reports, the Bronx was ranked the unhealthiest county in New York State, i.e. 62 out of the 62 New York State counties. To address the Bronx being the unhealthiest county, the Bronx Health REACH Coalition through its Health Disparities Workgroup took action in March and April to determine the best ways to engage New York elected officials to make the health of the Bronx a policy priority, and a funding priority.

New York State Assemblymember Victor M. Pichardo attended the March 2019 Health Disparities Workgroup meeting (see below for more details) as well as leaders from Bronx Community Boards #5 and #7. The representatives from the Community Boards shared with the Workgroup the challenges they faced including informing Bronx residents of the various services that are available to improve their health. The Community Boards would like to partner with other stakeholders to address health disparities in the Bronx and will work with the Health Disparities Workgroup to get more community participation at community board meetings.

In April, Baretto Bay Strategies, an urban solutions consulting firm that provides strategic advice to public agencies and community development organizations, led an interactive workshop to help the Workgroup create a better strategy to engage elected officials in the #Not62 - The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx. Baretto created an Action Agenda to determine which issues should be addressed and how to identify those individuals who would be allies in addressing the health challenges faced by Bronx residents. A draft SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis was created to help members determine if our target was too big and develop a time frame for reaching our goals. The Workgroup will use the Action Agenda in the coming months to determine the best strategy to promote health equity in the Bronx. 

At the May meeting many long time Health Disparities Workgroup members reflected on the loss of Pastor Foley, but found a renewed sense of commitment to keep his legacy alive. Workgroup members vowed to continue to keep the pressure on our elected officials to improve not only the ranking of the Bronx, but the health and well-being of all Bronx residents.

These two workshops were the last efforts of Pastor Foley’s work with Bronx Health REACH before he died.  His leadership will be sorely missed. 

If you would like to attend our next Health Disparities Workgroup meeting, join us on Friday, July 12 at 1:30 p.m., at Mt. Zion CME Church, (1148 Elder Avenue), Bronx NY 10472.

New York State Assemblymember Victor M. Pichardo attended March's Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup meeting. 

Assemblymember Pichardo Visits

Health Disparities Workgroup

Partner Bodega and School

 

In March New York State Assemblymember Victor M. Pichardo (86th District) attended several Bronx Health REACH events, including: our March Health Disparities Workgroup meeting, a visit to a  Bronx Health REACH partner bodega, G Deli; and a visit to PS 58, one of our partner schools. 

At the Workgroup meeting, the Assemblymember provided insight in ways the Workgroup could create more awareness about the  #Not62 campaign, especially with elected officials. He also shared how important it is for Bronx residents to register to vote, and then to vote. "Until more Bronx residents get out and vote, the Bronx will continue to remain the unhealthiest county," noted the Assemblyman.

Marquis Garcia, owner of G Deli, a partner bodega in the Healthy Bodega Program spoke with New York State Assemblyman Victor M. Pichardo.

His visit to one of our partner bodegas in the Healthy Bodega program, G Deli, located at 551 East 178th Street, gave owner Marquis Garcia the chance to tell the Assemblyman about the 'Don't Stress, Eat Fresh' healthy bodega campaign. Mr. Garcia spoke of his and the Bodega Association’s commitment to offering healthy foods to customers who ask for them.

At PS58 the Assemblymember spoke with Principal Gunn, Assistant Principal Ramdas, PE teacher Mr. Judson, and Parent Coordinator Ms. Harris about the work they have been able to put in place for physical education and promoting healthy eating with existing resources. The school’s physical education teacher was brought on as a result of the PE4ALL Coalition’s successful campaign to the New York City Council which resulted in more certified PE teachers for more schools. Unfortunately, Ms. Gunn related, with the funding running out, she fears she will no longer be able to keep the teacher on staff. She worries, as many school administrators do, that cuts to the PE funding for her school will have negative implications for her students’ overall wellness.

In May, Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities Program spoke at a press conference hosted by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto who is sponsoring a bill to create a model school wellness policy in New York State.

School Wellness Event Held for

New York State Legislators
 

In March, Bronx Health REACH and the WELL Campaign, an advocacy effort to improve student health and well-being in New York, partnered with Assemblymember Michael Benedetto and the American Heart Association to host a ‘School Wellness Policy Lunch & Learn’ in Albany for New York State elected officials. Those attending included Senators Shelley Mayer, John Liu, Alessandra Biaggi, and Jen Metzger. Also attending were Assemblymembers Felix Ortiz, John Salka, Al Taylor, Donna Lupardo, Karines Reyes, Victor M. Pichardo, Michael DenDekker, Walter Mosley, Nader Sayegh, Marianne Buttenschon, and Kimberly Jean-Pierre. The event included a panel discussion focused on the importance of school wellness policies.

Bronx Health REACH's Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities was one of the panelists. She noted, “In light of the fact that healthier students are better learners, it is imperative that New York State place greater emphasis on implementing policies and practices that create educational environments promoting healthy lifestyles.” The WELL Campaign is urging legislators to create a New York state model wellness policy that can be shared with schools; invest $10 million to support target school districts with wellness policy implementation; and create an online hub to centralize district wellness policies and reports. Click here to read more about the WELL Campaign.

The Grand Concourse will be closed to cars between 162nd to 170th streets for Boogie on the Boulevard on Sunday, September 15.

Boogie on the Boulevard Happens

Sunday, September 15th
 

Get boogie’ing at Boogie on the Boulevard on Sunday, September 15th from 2 to 6 PM! The center lanes of the Grand Concourse from 162nd to 170th Streets will be closed to cars and open to a world of fun. Boogie on the Boulevard provides Bronx residents with an opportunity to experience the Grand Concourse in a whole different way. There will be so many fun activities for all to enjoy - fitness classes, yoga, biking, live music, arts, healthy eating and much more! We are looking for organizations and community groups from across the borough to help us highlight the best of the Bronx in arts, culture, fitness, active transportation, and creative uses of public space by being a sponsor or volunteer for Boogie on the Boulevard. Visit the Boogie website for more information and we' ll see you at Boogie on the Boulevard on Sunday, September 15th!