Press Releases: Georgia
March 27, 2009
Kaiser Permanente Helps Neighborhood Create a Culture of Healthy Eating and Active Living
DECATUR, GA — Belvedere Park and White Oak Hills, located in southeast DeKalb County, are joining forces to host an innovative Neighborhood Summit. The event will bring together nearly 200 residents and community stakeholders.
The summit will focus on the “Healthy Eating and Active Living” program and will be held on Saturday, April 4, beginning at noon in the Family Life Center at Saint Philip AME Church, on the corner of Candler Road and Memorial Drive.
The HEAL program is part of the Healthy Belvedere Community Health Initiative, a neighborhood effort to reduce health disparities associated with chronic illnesses through environmental and policy changes. The initiative is a partnership between Kaiser Permanente, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and Belvedere community stakeholders.
Ann Brown, co-chair of the Healthy Belvedere initiative, is inviting residents in the Belvedere community to the event. “Come join your neighbors to make ‘the healthy choice the easy choice’ in their home, on your block, in our neighborhood,” she said. “Help shape the future of the neighborhood.” She added that local officials, including District 3 County Commissioner Larry Johnson, will be at the summit.
Ms. Brown explained that plans are underway for community gardens, walking clubs, a HEAL summer camp, sidewalk improvements and much more.
State-of-the-art technology will be used at the Summit to give participants a chance to “vote” on important topics using a wireless keypad. Questions will be projected on a large screen, participants will send in their votes with the keypad and the results will be displayed instantly. “We’re using innovative approaches to involve residents and to create a culture of Healthy Eating and Active Living,” added Ms. Brown.
Kaiser Permanente is investing more than $1 million in Belvedere over a five- to seven-year period and the Community Foundation manages the initiative. Healthy Belvedere is based in southeast DeKalb County. The service area is formed on the north by Memorial Drive, Columbia Drive to the east, Glenwood Road to the south and Candler Road to the west.
Residents of all ages who live within the boundaries of Memorial Drive, Columbia Drive, Glenwood Road and Candler Road are welcome. Free lunch, childcare and transportation will be provided, and all participants will receive a t-shirt, bag and have a chance to win an iPod Shuffle. In addition, the first 50 people to arrive by noon on April 4 will receive a $20 gift card.
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FACT SHEET:
WHAT: Belvedere Park Neighborhood Summit
WHEN: Saturday, April 4, 2009
TIME: Noon – 3 p.m.
WHERE: Family Life Center at Saint Philip AME Church
Located at the corner of Candler Road and Memorial Drive
(Park and enter off Memorial Drive at Richard Allen Drive)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Residents of all ages who live within the boundaries of Memorial Drive, Columbia Drive, Glenwood Road and Candler Road are welcome. Young people age 17 and below must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Childcare is available for children ages 0-14.
- Those who RSVP online by Monday, March 30, will be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift card.
- FREE lunch, childcare and transportation will be provided.
- In addition, the first 50 people to arrive by 12 p.m. on April 4 will receive a $20 gift card.
- All participants will receive a t-shirt, bag and have a chance to win an iPOD Shuffle.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente of Georgia is the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, serving the health care needs of Atlanta metro area residents since 1985. The health plan currently provides comprehensive health care services to approximately 265,000 members through 17 medical facilities in a 28-county service area and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. For more information, visit www.kp.org.
