Maternal Health and Breastfeeding in The Bronx

 

Evelyn Alvarez from Bx Rebirth Collective was one of the panelists that spoke at our March Coalition meeting. 

Given the high rates of poor maternal health and the relatively low rates of breastfeeding in the Bronx, Bronx Health REACH's March Coalition meeting focused on the importance of maternal health and breastfeeding. Ten panelists spoke on the work being done to improve the health and wellbeing of Bronx moms and their newborns.

Reverend Que English, Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spoke about strengthening the response of faith and community-based organizations to the maternal health disparities affecting black women. Rev. English stated, "Black maternal deaths in the US are 3 to 4 times higher than for non-Hispanic white women, but with our National Faith in Action on Maternal Health guide we are educating  and providing support to communities, and addressing barriers to breastfeeding, so that every person in the US can have a safe and dignified pregnancy and birth."

Erin Guero, a board-certified lactation consultant supervisor with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that offers lactation support to breastfeeding mothers, shared an analysis of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). The data reveals that a significant portion of mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to due to a perceived insufficient milk supply, highlighting the need for evidence-based information and support to help mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals. "Despite the fact that 95% of mothers can establish a full milk supply, many lack the necessary support and information to continue breastfeeding successfully," says Erin.

Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguro stated that maternal health is a central focus of the Bronx Borough President's agenda, particularly given the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates in the Bronx among Black and Hispanic women. Janet shared, "The Bronx Maternal Health Consortium has been established to drive change by advocating for funding, patient education, and reducing barriers to care, including stigma around breastfeeding."

The Bronx Baby Cafe, in partnership with Bronx Health REACH, provides valuable resources and support for breastfeeding parents, both virtually and in-person.

Theresa Landau, Program Director at the Morrisania WIC and a longstanding Bronx Health REACH partner most recently with our breastfeeding initiative, has been a staunch breastfeeding advocate over the years. Theresa pointed out that breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice; it's a critical public health measure that can yield significant cost savings and health benefits for both babies and mothers. She noted that with the Bronx continuing to have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in New York City, the need for initiatives to normalize breastfeeding in the community is critical. Adding that, "our Baby Cafe, offered in partnership with Bronx Health REACH, provides valuable resources and support for breastfeeding parents, both virtually and in-person. Efforts are underway to ensure diversity and inclusivity in lactation support, through training a more representative group of lactation consultants."

Samantha Hunt from A Better Balance spoke about her organization's mission to help workers understand their legal rights and provide support for pregnant mothers and nursing moms at their workplace. They offer a free and confidential legal helpline and advocate for stronger workplace laws, such as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which ensures reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related needs, as well as the Pumping Breaks Act (Pump Act) that mandates a private space and protected breaks for expressing milk at work, with guidelines ensuring appropriate facilities for pumping.

Nandini Shroff, Director of Applied Research and Project Management at The Institute for Family Health (IFH) shared results from the IFH Breastfeeding Workgroup that conducted a Breastfeeding Survey and Lactation Space Assessment among IFH employees in 2019 and 2023. Some of the findings from the surveys revealed that employees were allowed adequate time to pump during work hours and employees are aware of available spaces for breastfeeding and pumping. Areas for improvement included childcare policies and lactation space amenities. The lactation space assessment revealed that more locations offered private spaces for pumping, although refrigeration capacity remains a challenge. Some recommendations from the survey include: Funding all Institute Maternal Health Advocates to attend a Certified Lactation Consultant training and a breastfeeding course for the three residency programs; Explore opportunities for additional Breastfeeding Cafes at Institute health centers and provide hospital-grade breast pumps at all Institute sites for staff to use.

Paige Pinyerd is the Lead Maternal Health Advocate for The Institute for Family Health's Perinatal Care Navigators.

Paige Pinyerd, Lead Maternal Health Advocate for Perinatal Care Navigators at The Institute for Family Health's Stevenson and Walton locations, shared how they provide support for new and expecting moms focusing on personalized care and education, by promoting breastfeeding education from pregnancy through postpartum. Paige noted that, "with our one-on-one education sessions, our aim is to empower individuals, reduce barriers to care, and create a strong support network for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with the ultimate goal of improving maternal and infant health outcomes."

Evelyn Alvarez and Nicole Jean Baptiste are doulas with Bx Rebirth Collective, whose mission is to provide continuous support to birthing individuals and promoting breastfeeding peer counseling and training within the community. Nicole discussed the benefits of Doula care, resulting in lower rates of pre-term birth, increased breastfeeding success, and decreased rates of postpartum depression.  And, Evelyn shared that, "through our partnership with Bronx Health Link, we deploy doula support at Lincoln Hospital to ensure individuals receive critical support during labor and delivery, to empower birthing individuals and improve maternal and infant health outcomes in the Bronx."

If you missed the March Bronx Health REACH Coalition meeting, visit our YouTube page to watch the videos.

Boogie on the Boulevard Returns on Saturday, August 24th

 

After a four year hiatus, Boogie on the Boulevard returns on Saturday, August 24th.

After a four year hiatus, Boogie on the Boulevard returns Saturday, August 24th from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.  This year’s Boogie on the Boulevard will differ in one significant way from previous ones as it will now be part of the New York City Department of Transportation's Summer Streets. The event will be along the center lanes of the Grand Concourse, from East Tremont Avenue to 182nd Street which will be closed to cars and open to a world of fun, providing residents an open space to run, bike, walk and participate in music, art, dance and fitness programs. Other offerings will include yoga, Tai Chi, bicycle safety, live dancing and music performances.  

Food Education Roadmap: Building a Healthier Relationship with Food in Schools

 

This blog post was written by Diana Bernal, Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program at Bronx Health REACH.

When it comes to health outcomes, nearly 40% of New York City public school children are overweight or obese and this disproportionately affects Black and Latino students.  Children living in the Bronx have the highest prevalence of being overweight at 43% compared to 38% in Manhattan, 39% in Queens, 40% in Staten Island, and 41% in Brooklyn. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing chronic diet-related disease, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. 

Through our Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program, Bronx Health REACH works with Bronx schools to help improve their school wellness, nutrition, and physical activity. In doing so we learn the struggles schools face when it comes to the students’ health and nutrition. School leadership and teachers have told us that their students do not like the food being served to them during their school lunch period, and that many would rather eat chips, like Takis (spicy corn chips made of rolled tortillas, similar to taquitos), and other unhealthy foods. These are known as “competitive foods”, which includes all food and beverages outside of the reimbursed meals provided by schools. New good nutritious food changes, like Plant Powered Fridays, which is when students are served meatless meals, have been made in an effort to introduce more plant-based foods to children. Bronx Health REACH, through its CHSC work with schools, have discussed with school leadership  how to improve nutrition in schools. The leaders  shared, that  Plant Powered Fridays has not been well received in schools and that  the kids do not eat the food. Teachers pointed out that students are more likely to try new things when they are being engaged and taught about it, thus highlighting the need for food education. According to the Food Ed report: 

“Food education describes any combination of educational strategies, accompanied by environmental supports, designed to motivate and facilitate voluntary adoption of food choices and other food and nutrition-related behaviors that are conducive to the health and well-being of individuals, community, and the planet.” 

On June 6, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, along with New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Chancellor David Banks, and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy’s Executive Director, Kate MacKenzie, announced the Food Education Roadmap to promote healthier school communities across New York City. “Prioritizing Food Education in Our Public Schools: A Path to Developing a Healthy Next Generation” provides goals, strategies and key performance indicators to ensure that students have the tools and knowledge to lead healthy lifestyles. The Roadmap Goals and Strategies focus on building on the knowledge and accessibility of healthy eating and wellness among students, as well as for those in the community who serve as advocates.  

Food education takes a wider approach and focuses on more than what healthy and non-healthy foods are. It focuses on our relationship with food and how this relationship is connected to, and affected by, other influences such as culture, economy, and communities. By implementing food education in schools, students will be able to understand why certain foods are healthier than others which will enable them to form a better relationship with food, and in turn help to guide them to making healthier choices. 

Bronx Health REACH’s many years of experience working to change the food culture of schools helping children embrace new healthy food underscores the need for food and nutrition education in  making such a change happen.   There are many resources and organizations getting kids to try new foods that are introduced in the schools through the Farm to School program that the NYCDOE Office of Food and Nutrition Services participates in. 

References:

1. FoodEdReport_010.pdf (nyc.gov) 

2. databrief1.pdf (nyc.gov) 

Join us this FRIDAY SEPT 15 for Racism and Our Families’ Health: Connecting the Dots…Why the Conversation Matters from 10AM to 12PM

 

Join us this FRIDAY SEPT 15 for Racism and Our Families’ Health: Connecting the Dots…Why the Conversation Matters from 10AM to 12PM. The presentations and discussions will offer lessons in how to effectively respond to our most pressing social issues employing a lens of anti-racism. 

Click HERE to Register. 

Questions? imoronta@institute.org.

Click here to view Part 1 of a recent discussion with Stay Alive with Church Alive (hosted by Bishop Timothy Birkett) featuring Immaculada Moronta from The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Rev. Dr. Calvin R. Kendrick, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Bronx, and Father David Powers from RC St. Helena Church as they discuss the Racism and Our Families Health series of webinars as they discuss: What is racism? What are the types of racism? Where do we find racism? Why does the conversation about race matters to all?

Click here to view Part 2 of a recent discussion with Stay Alive with Church Alive (hosted by Bishop Timothy Birkett) featuring Immaculada Moronta from The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Rev. Dr. Calvin R. Kendrick, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Bronx, and Father David Powers from RC St. Helena Church as they discuss the Racism and Our Families Health series of webinars as they discuss the following: How is racism making us sick? How is racism affecting our wellbeing? How do you achieve equity goals as an organization and/or individuals?

Join Us 9/14 for The Bronx Responds: One Year After the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health from Local to National Policies and Back

You are invited to join us on Thursday, September 14th (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for a virtual conference with thought provoking and action oriented discussions about food and nutrition-related work happening in the Bronx and the policy implications of this work.  In 2022, the White House held the first Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in over 50 years and as an outcome, earlier this year, a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health was released.  The priorities of our national government and policymakers have implications for food access, affordability, and nutrition education in the Bronx and similar communities impacted by diet-related health disparities.

Topics include:

• Nutrition and Health Equity in the Bronx 

• Overview of the Farm Bill and Its Effects on Local Communities  

• Improving Food Access in Community Settings 

• Integrating Nutrition and Healthcare: Food as Medicine and Food insecurity screenings 

• Knowing What’s in Your Food: Bringing Nutrition Education to the Community

• Eating Soulfully 

• Reimagining your Local Bodega with Better Food 

• Envisioning the Food System of the Future 

Click Here to Register.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting via Zoom.

Speakers include:

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Christina Badaracco,  Healthcare Consultant, Registered Dietitian, and Co-Author of The Farm Bill: A Citizens’ Guide

Dr. Jen Cadenhead, Executive Director, Teachers College Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy  

Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, Author of The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, & Food Justice 

Ribka Getachew, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, Community Food Advocates 

Norma Gonzalez, Farm Share Manager, Corbin Hill Food Project 

Theresa Landau, Program Director, Morrisania WIC

Francisco Marte, President, Bodega and Small Business Group 

LaToya Meaders, Co-Founder and CEO, Collective Fare 

Dr. DeAnna Nara, Senior Policy Associate, Center for Science in the Public Interest 

Aleyna Rodriguez, Executive Director, Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center

Gladys Roman, Executive Director, Manna of Life Ministries

Ismail Samad, Interim Executive Director, Corbin Hill Food Project 

Chet Van Wert, Associate Research Scientist, NYU Stern School of Business

 

Bronx Breastfeeding Reconvening 2023 - Strengthening the Community for a Successful Breastfeeding Journey

 

On May 19th, Bronx Healthy Start Partnership along with Morrisania Diagnostic & Treatment Center WIC Program (Morrisania WIC), Bronx Health REACH and other Bronx-based supporters hosted the Second Annual Virtual Bronx Breastfeeding Reconvening 2023. Approximately one hundred participants including mothers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, came together to promote and advocate for breastfeeding within the Bronx community.

The Breastfeeding Reconvening serves as a forum for open dialogue and collaboration, with mothers at the center of the conversation, providing their firsthand experiences, challenges, and successes to inform the direction of the initiative, and most important, to normalize breastfeeding in the Bronx.  Presenters at this year’s Reconvening included breastfeeding advocates; Karla Lewis, BA, IBCLC; Allison Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE, LLLL; Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC-RLC, ALC; Katie Kelter MD, IBCLC; Chelsea Thompson, JD among others from across the borough. 

The morning began with a warm welcome and overview of the day from Alma Idehen of Bronx Healthy Start Partnership. Bronx Healthy Start is a collaboration led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine that works towards reducing infant mortality and improving women's health among women and mothers through outreach and enrollment in health insurance coverage under the  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and connects families to medical homes.

Carla Lewis, facilitator of the Morrisania WIC Baby Café, kicked off the event with a conversation with Bronx mothers about their breastfeeding experiences including their challenges, successes, and needs. Carla asked each of the moms participating in the panel the following: ”What did you wish you had before and throughout your time breastfeeding” Three breastfeeding mothers shared that having a support system made a difference in their breastfeeding journey. It was an open and heartfelt conversation that allowed other mothers  to connect and share their own individual breastfeeding experiences. 

Dianne Cassidy, a lactation consultant, discussed research on how increased support for a breastfeeding mother leads to a longer duration of breastfeeding. Participants were asked to share positive ways someone can support a breastfeeding mother including family support, work accommodations, and high quality services from the prenatal period up to and beyond birth. A list was generated for supporters to use with their clients in the future. Allison Walsh’s presentation discussed communication to help families succeed during the lactation period. This included addressing conflicting information that hospitals, obstetrics, clinics, pediatricians, social workers, other Community Based Organizations and family members may provide, and how to communicate different norms, culture, and supports. The ultimate goal is to create a common language around breastfeeding that everyone can use to best support lactating mothers. Katie Kelter, MD, IBCLC discussed from a medical perspective how she is advocating for breastfeeding in the community. She provided recommendations such as starting breastfeeding education early by including it in K-12 school curriculums, providing more resources to families and supporters, increasing trainings for healthcare providers, offering more education on New York State Labor Laws in the workforce, and expanding funding for breastfeeding services. 

Chelsea Thompson from A Better Balance presented on back to work readiness for nursing mothers in NYC. She discussed the various work leaves for pregnant and lactating women and non-birthing partners such as the provisions of the Pump Act, the pending passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and the effect they will have on families. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an "undue hardship."

Bronx Health REACH’s Rachel Ingram led the final session of the day by highlighting resources that would be beneficial to families and new mothers. Bronx Health REACH (BHR) provides trainings to help worksites and community spaces become breastfeeding friendly spaces. BHR also provides funding for two baby cafes in the Bronx: Morrisania WIC Baby Café and Bronx Healthy Start’s Breastfeeding Support Group. The Chocolate Milk Café is a national network developed by Black breastfeeding advocates and professionals to provide culturally congruent care to families of the African diaspora through peer-led lactation support and professional development programming. Professional support mentioned included WIC Peer Counselors and Doulas. WIC Peer Counselors are mothers in the community with personal breastfeeding experience who are trained to provide support to new mothers/parents. Doulas are trained to advise, inform, and offer emotional and physical comfort to parents, before, during, and after childbirth. Finally, there is virtual support available through NYC Warmline and the Compass App. The NYC Breastfeeding Warmline provides FREE virtual breastfeeding support from a Certified Lactation Consultant. Compass is a new app that supports parents from pregnancy through postpartum. The Reconvening wrapped up with participants joining breakout rooms to discuss ways in which the resources could be used in promoting breastfeeding and for community members and families to access and use. 

Closing remarks were made by Theresa Landau, MS, RDN, CDN, Program Director for Morrisania WIC, who thanked everyone for their input and attendance and encouraged all to join the next Bronx Breastfeeding Coalition meeting to continue the conversation. A Lactation Resource Guide with contact information and types of services offered was shared with participants and is listed below.

We look forward to seeing breastfeeding work in action at next year’s Reconvening!

LACTATION RESOURCES:

Bronx Healthy Start Go To Lactation Resource Guide

Breastfeeding Disparities Qualitative Research Study

Paying it Forward – Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC,-RLC, ALC

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Doula Care

Bronx Doula Access Project

Improving School Physical Activity Access Through Open Streets

 

P.S. 32 teachers and students jumping rope at their Open Street event.   Photo credit: Street Lab

This blog post was written by Kelly Moltzen and Diana Bernal.

As part of the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program, Bronx Health REACH worked with Equity Design, Street Lab, P.S. 32 The Belmont School (P.S. 32) and P.S. 18 The John Peter Zenger School (P.S. 18) to activate the schools’ surrounding spaces to increase students’ physical activity and create spaces known as “Open Streets” that can be utilized by the schools and their surrounding communities, for movement and fitness.

For many children school is where they receive the majority of their meals and physical activity to keep them healthy. School-based physical activity, included as part of a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP), can increase the physical activity that students receive at school. However, for many students in the Bronx this is not the case.  Too many do not get enough physical activity because of limited indoor space, lack of open space/safe streets, and underutilization of nearby parks, many of which are in disrepair. Even though the Bronx is the greenest Borough with one quarter of its land area made up of parks, it is also a fitness desert. There are many inequities seen throughout the Bronx that limit the access and utilization of all this green space, contributing to the high rates of chronic illnesses in the Bronx.

In response to these challenges, Bronx Health REACH has been working with P.S. 32 to make the school a fitness hub for the community; and with P.S. 18 to expose the community to different forms of physical activity. The goals of these schools is to provide physical activity opportunities before and after school and in doing so  improve the school spirit and to engage more of the community in physical activity.

P.S. 32 students utilized equipment provided by Street Lab to create their own soccer arena to play.   Photo: StreetLab.

Bronx Health REACH partnered with Equity Design and Street Lab to assist P.S. 32 and P.S. 18 in hosting their own Open Street events  during the 2022-2023 school year. In preparation for these events, P.S. 32 closed down Beaumont Avenue, between 183rd Street and Grote Street, and hosted Open Street events after school on two consecutive Tuesdays in October 2022, and on three consecutive Tuesdays in May 2023. Seven “WalkShops” were held with P.S. 32 second grade students, where they learned about what makes an Open Street. Students shared their themes of World Cup (soccer), Celebration of the Arts, and a Beaumont Avenue Waterpark at P.S. 32’s Spring Open Streets. Equity Design also led a walking group of students that would walk around the outside perimeter of the school. At P.S. 32's Open Streets events, school and community participation increased every week through word of mouth. During the 3 consecutive Tuesdays in May 2023, participation increased from about 100 participants on the first Tuesday to 200 by the third Tuesday. Parents and community members participated in the Open Street events and everyone expressed how great it was to see a safe place where students can have fun. 

 

Cyclists from Major Taylor joined P.S. 18’s Open Street events teaching community residents how to ride a bike. Photo: Equity Design.

P.S. 18 closed down 148th Street between Morris Avenue and College Avenue, and hosted Open Street events on 3 consecutive Saturdays in October 2022 and one in May 2023. P.S. 18 was gifted 65 bikes and helmets by USA Cycling and Major Taylor Development, an inclusive national cycling club. Thanks to this partnership, P.S. 18 was able to realize their vision of introducing students to other forms of physical activity, starting with biking. Major Taylor Development also provided a biking clinic during P.S. 18’s Open Street events. Students learned how to ride a bike safely at the Open Street events. In the Spring P.S. 18 held a Teachers’ Appreciation Open Street event providing teachers with an opportunity to experience the Open Street and connecting with one another through games and bike riding. P.S. 18 students and community members from the nearby NYC Housing Authority development who had never been on a bike were able to learn how to ride and practice on the closed street. During their 3 consecutive Saturdays in October 2022, registration on the first Saturday had only 15 students, but by the third Saturday over 90 students registered to ride a bike.

Bronx Health REACH will continue working with P.S. 32 and P.S. 18 providing the necessary support so that each school’s Wellness Council takes ownership of the planning and organization of Open Streets with the goal of sustainability. Our hope is that these Open Street events demonstrates the need for cleaner and safer streets for the schools and the community so elected officials and other community leaders become more active partners so community members have increasing access to physical activity. By supporting the schools in implementing Open Streets, this is a step towards implementing permanent infrastructure changes and “Complete Streets” - thereby realizing the vision of the schools and meeting the needs of the community.

Fresh Food, Fresh Attitude! Increasing Access to Healthy Grab-and-Go Items at Bronx Bodegas

William is the owner of Makey Deli, located at 2704 Third Avenue in the Bronx.

This post was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities.

On average, Americans eat more than 3,400 mg. of sodium daily – more than double the American Heart Association’s recommended daily limit of 1,500 mg. 77% of the sodium that Americans consume comes from processed foods and food served in restaurants.

In the Bronx, items that people often buy at bodegas are processed foods high in sodium, including chips, deli meats, and cheese. Bronx Health REACH, Montfiore Medical Center and City Harvest are part of the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup, offering healthy food retail initiatives to encourage stores to stock healthier items, such as low-sodium deli meats and healthy snack alternatives. The Workgroup launched the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh healthy bodega marketing campaign to increase awareness of these healthier options throughout the Bronx community.

Bronx Health REACH, with support from the American Heart Association’s NYC Community Impact Grant, is collaborating with the Bronx healthy food advocate, Shen’naque Sean Butler and his “FRESCH” campaign to expand the number of bodegas selling healthy grab-and-go items. To date, Sean has organized taste tests at bodegas, schools, and in the community, offering hummus, three-bean salad, a vegan salad, and pico de gallo. Future taste tests include cut vegetables with dip, fruit cups, and overnight oats. We hope the combination of taste tests and increased access to these healthy items for sale in the community, coupled with the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh healthy bodega marketing campaign will offer Bronx residents new items they will get excited about and support their health!

Montefiore Medical Center is collaborating with the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID)  to support bodega owners selling healthy foods such as The Bronx Salad and other healthy grab-and-go items. By partnering with NYC Small Business Services, the Jerome Gun Hill BID offers bodegas compliance consultations, financial education, trainings, advertising and promotional support, and other business support resources.

City Harvest has established a relationship with Fairway to get healthy grab-and-go items sold in supermarkets and corner stores in the Bronx. After an initial pilot phase, the following seven Bronx stores are participating in the grab-and-go program:

1. Borinquen Supermarket, 436 Brook Avenue
2. Met Food Supermarket, 649 Jackson Avenue
3. Real Supermarket, 795 Prospect Avenue
4. Makey Deli, 2704 Third Avenue
5. D & D Deli, 100 West 168th Street
6. Moe’s Quick Deli, 469 Brook Avenue
7. Wanda’s Deli, 104 Elliot Place

Consuming less sodium and more fruits and vegetables – including the items promoted through the grab-and-go program – are part of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan, and is an important step in reducing the risk of diet-related diseases such as hypertension and stroke.

For more information, contact Kelly Moltzen via email or call (212) 633-0800 x 1328.

Men’s Health Workshop Debuts at the Institute for Family Health Stevenson Family Health Center

Eight men attended the Men’s Health Workshop at the Institute for Family Health’s Stevenson Family Health Center. Joseph Ellis, author of this article, is fourth from the left.

This post was written by Joseph Ellis, a Community Health Worker at Bronx Health REACH.

As a Community Health Worker for Bronx Health REACH and the Men’s Department Coordinator for my church, Bronx Deliverance Center of Faith, I have been working and communicating with men in the community and the churches for several years. Our conversations have been on various subjects such as spiritual growth, finances, community involvement, and health.

I’ve noticed that when we begin to talk about our health, we come up with many reasons why we are not giving our health top priority in our life. For example, we work, we are tired when we get home, we have no desire, we are not interested in exercising because it takes too much time, we eat whatever our partner cooks, or we do not have time to go to the Doctor.

Normally men have a difficult time discussing issues concerning our health. Our perception of ourselves is often: whatever we face, we can handle. Irrespective of the challenge, men believe they are indestructible, and can address any issue on their own, even if it’s a health one. But this is not always the case.

Many of the men I have spoken with mentioned having struggles with health concerns like diabetes, being overweight and losing the weight, being stressed about work and providing for their families. As a Community Health Worker, I wanted to do something to address these concerns. If I could get them all together in a workshop and have their health concerns addressed by a doctor, maybe they would be more receptive to opening up about the challenges they have as men regarding being healthy.

With the help of Ms. Tabasa Ozawa, one of the interns at Bronx Health REACH, we created a Men’s Health survey that we distributed to men to get a broader idea of the other health topics they are concerned about. Using this survey, I was able to outreach to 160 men from different ethnicities and ages in the community, churches, and masjids. It took a couple of months to gather all this important information together.

From the information gathered, I organized a Men’s Health Workshop at the Institute for Family Health’s Stevenson Family Health Center in the Bronx. Dr. Eric Gayle, the NYC Regional Medical director for the Institute for Family Health, led this first Men’s Health Workshop on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Dr. Eric Gayle led the workshop and answered questions about Men’s health.

Several health topics were chosen that we felt would encourage a dialogue among the men.
Those topics were:

a. Age Dependent Preventive Health
b. Health
c. Wellness
d. Interacting with your Primary Provider
e. Cancer Screenings


The interaction between the men and Dr. Gayle was dynamic. He talked to them and not at them. As they warmed up to him, the questions just kept coming. This workshop was designed to get the men to open up about their health concerns, and they did. Scheduled for two hours, the workshop easily went another half an hour.

Questions were addressed about diabetes, family history, discussing your health concerns with your doctor; (the doctors are here to help you but need you to communicate to them what is bothering you), sexual health, prostate growth and cancer, what are the options to combat these concerns and more.

The workshop hit home for the men and they wanted to know when we would be holding the next one. When the workshop ended, a couple of the men hugged Dr. Gayle and prayed for him. Wow! What a positive response to a dynamic workshop.

Attendees were encouraged to be proactive in managing their health.

As a Community Health Worker, I am encouraged that having these Men’s Health Workshops will be a tremendous help in assisting the men in our communities to take charge of their health and become more proactive. With the help of Dr. Gayle and other providers at the Institute for Family Health, we will continue to organize more workshops to provide a forum where men can have an open discussion about their health.


If you would like more information about the Men’s Health Workshop, contact Joseph Ellis at (212) 633-0800, ext. 1341.

Bronx Health REACH Meets with Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Left to right: Maxine Golub from the Institute for Family Health; New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi; Kelly Moltzen and Moria Byrne-Zaaloff from Bronx Health REACH; Jacqueline Chiofalo from the Institute for Family Health.

On December 12th, Bronx Health REACH's Kelly Moltzen and Moria Byrne-Zaaloff from our Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program, along with Maxine Golub and Jacqueline Chiofalo from the Institute for Family Health met and spoke with State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. Kelly and Moria discussed the WELL Campaign (Wellness, Equity & Learning Legislation) which asks for a New York State model school wellness policy, and funding to go to the New York State Education Department for school districts to develop and implement wellness policies based on the model state wellness policy.

As a supporter of the WELL Campaign, she was surprised to learn that even though other states have school wellness statutes in place, New York does not. Senator Biaggi is also a sponsor of the New York State Health Act [A.5248, S.3577], and was pleased to know that Institute for Family Health and Bronx Health REACH staff testified at hearings in the Bronx and in Kingston, NY, in support of the Act.

Yo Bronx! Eat Fresh Events held at Two Bodegas

In November, Bronx Health REACH held two Yo Bronx! Eat Fresh Bronx Bodega tasting events. The events took place at G Deli, (551 East 178th Street) and Green Earth Food Deli Grocery (382 East 205th Street). The Fresch team, partners in this effort which is partly funded by the American Heart Association (AHA) Community Impact Grant awarded to Bronx Health REACH in the Fall, offered healthy food samples to bodega customers. Many customers answered surveys on the taste tests at both events. 36 surveys were collected from both events. Results from the surveys will determine which food items will be sold at our partner bodegas. At the Yo Bronx! Eat fresh event at G Deli, customers reported that they found the samples very delicious. "This is my third sample of the three bean salad," said Jonathan. 

Bronx Health REACH Video Shown at American Public Health Association's 2019 Global Public Health Film Festival

Bronx Health REACH will be showing our video, "Bronx Health REACH: 20 Years of Making Health Equality a Reality," at the 2019 APHA Annual Meeting and Expo as part of the American Public Health Association's 2019 Global Public Health Film Festival. If you are attending, you can view our video at at 9 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center-114 Michael Nutter Theater. If  you are not attending the Expo, you can view it here.

CMSP 327 Students Illustrate How to Win Against Competitive Foods

Fifteen students from Comprehensive Model School Project-M.S. 327 participated in a five week course with Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) this summer sponsored by Bronx Health REACH. Susanna Arellano, a teaching artist at CUP, led students through an exploration of the power structures and systems within the NYC Department of Education and an individual school building that impact nutrition and wellness in NYC schools. The students illustrated the main themes of each lesson using art techniques such as print making, photography and infographics. Their art was used to create an educational booklet on how students can make healthy snack choices in schools.

They created a 16 page booklet, Snack Attack, How Can Students Make Healthy Snack Choices in Schools? The information in the booklet was informed by student research. Students took surveys of fellow students and community members to better understand what they consider to be healthy versus unhealthy foods, and which snack options should be available at school. They also photographed paper cut-outs of healthy food pasted onto bodega shelves next to junk food, showing what a healthy bodega would look like.

Students interviewed Stephen O'Brien, Director of the Office of School Food and Nutrition Services, Department of Education and Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager of the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Program at Bronx Health REACH to gain insight into where the food that is sold in schools comes from, how much does the food change between the farm and the student consumer, and who decides what foods get sold in schools.

“I would make sure that there are no copycat snacks [in schools]," said student Nikosi Whyte. "I would make the food healthier and unprocessed.” 

The booklet will be distributed to community schools in the South Bronx to promote healthy snacking in schools.

Bronx Residents Get Boogie’ing at 6th Annual Boogie on the Boulevard

This post was written by Rachel Ingram, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH.

On Sunday, September 15th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the middle lanes of the Grand Concourse from 162nd to 170th Street were closed to cars and open to a world of fun and free music, dance, fitness, art, fresh food samplings and more! Boogie on the Boulevard “Boogie,” a NYC Department of Transportation Weekend Walks program, is a one-of-a-kind community event that reimagines the streets as a public space where the many diverse cultures represented in the Bronx can be active and celebrate.

This year at Boogie, nearly 5,000 Bronx residents enjoyed a one-mile stretch of interactive healthy living activities based on themes such as Arts, #Not 62, Fresh and Healthy Eating, Back to School, Fitness and Wellness, Dance, Active Transportation, Baby Oasis, and Street Games. “Every year we get together as community residents, local community-based organizations, healthcare partners, transportation advocates, and we celebrate who we are as the Bronx,” said Bronx Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, a long-time supporter of Boogie on the Boulevard. “We recognize health and wellness and achieving a healthier, brighter, and stronger borough.”

Participants engaged in fitness and wellness activities such as Hoola Hoop classes, Zumba dancing, Kickboxing, Hip Hop Fitness, and various obstacle courses. Over seventy Bronx Runners showed up to participate in a 5K timed run along the Grand Concourse. To celebrate, runners received refreshments and sunglasses with the “Boogie” logo on them. Tai Chi, guided meditation, medical massages, and yoga for adults and kids were available to those looking for a mind and body experience.

Local food vendors and organizations prepared fresh and healthy snacks and gave out samples like hummus with pita bread, shredded carrot salad, apples with sunflower butter, lightly sweetened chocolate covered nuts made by Sustainable Snacks and other goodies for participants to taste on the Fresh Food Block. The “Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh” Games Challenge, hosted by the Institute for Family Health’s Bronx Health REACH, provided a fun way to highlight all of the healthy options that are offered at partner Bronx bodegas participating in the Healthy Bodega program. Participants refreshed themselves with fruit infused water- the perfect alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.

 

On the Arts Block, families took part in the creative process together. Community artists worked with community members to guide them through various arts and crafts projects like button making, card making, live painting, printmaking, and ceramics. At one point during the day, a large audience gathered around some of the local artists as they took part in painting live action pictures of Boogie on the Boulevard. Participants walked away with beautiful sand-art necklaces, drawings, paintings, and handmade cards.

People-powered vehicles was the theme of the Active Transportation Block. Participants learned how to roller skate, skateboard, and enjoyed free bike rides. Many, and took advantage of free bike parking and bike repairs. The big hit of the day were the adaptive bicycles used for mobility, therapy, and recreation. Everyone loved learning about the freedom that these bikes provide for individuals who otherwise would not be able to ride. They liked trying them out too! 

The Boogie Down block featured Bronx-based music and performances, salsa dancing, hip-hop, and music creation workshops for participants to dance and get moving. There was also silent disco for those thatwho wanted to “boogie” in a unique way! A regular at previous Boogie on the Boulevard events- BombaYo- engaged community members in drum circles to raise awareness of Afro Puerto Rican culture and to connect Bomba to the vast traditions of the African Diaspora.

There were no shortage of activities for folks with infants and children! Those with babies visited the Baby Oasis Block for all their parenting needs including breast-feeding tents, parent resources, and for some, mommy and me yoga. The big kids got to enjoy face painting, balloon making, a bouncy house, Euro Bungee jumping, obstacles courses, back to school giveaways, and streets games galore!

For the civic-minded Bronxites, the #Not62 Block showcased efforts to lift up the Bronx from its ranking as the least healthy county in all of New York State. On this block, people were involved in activities for the whole self - social, emotional, psychological, and physical. They also had the opportunity to help improve the health of the Bronx by signing up to join the #Not62 campaign.

 

Undoubtedly, Boogie on the Boulevard was a huge success! As one participant said, “This is a great event to get families and kids out, to get them active in arts, nutrition, the culture of the Bronx and being from the Bronx.” The 2019 Boogie on the Boulevard was made possible by NYC Department of Transportation Weekend Walks program and the Boogie on the Boulevard -Steering Committee comprised of the Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, BronxWorks, Montefiore Medical Center, and Uptown Boogie & Bicycle Advocacy in partnership with a volunteer committee of Bronx residents. Thank you to our sponsors Amida Care, SBH Health System, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx Museum, the Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Health First, New Settlement Apartments, and Union Community Health Center.

Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega Campaign was at Boogie on the Boulevard

Participants exercising with low sodium bean cans purchased from a local partner bodega. 

On Sunday, September 15th, the center lanes of the Grand Concourse, from 162nd Street to 170th Streets were closed to vehicles and open to a world of fun for the 6th Annual Boogie on the Boulevard. The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH was one of the sponsors of the event that featured music, art, dance, fitness programs and healthy food samples for Bronx residents to enjoy.

Bronx Health REACH showcased the Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega campaign as part of its Healthy Bodega block. There were delicious healthy food samples from Sustainable Snacks, Cabot Cheese and partner bodega Aqui me Quedo. The Healthy Beverage Zone distributed fruit infused water. Partners in the Fresch Grab & Go! Bodega initiative offered healthy food samples.

One mom pointing to the Rethink Your Drink! display with the large, sugar filled bag beneath the Arizona Iced Tea can, warned her son that if he continues to drink it everyday, he will suffer from diabetes and other health complications as he gets older.

In addition to all the food sampling, there was the Healthy Bodega challenge games led by  Maurelhena Walles and Talik Norman of Equity Design. Participants had fun using cans of low sodium beans as weights to exercise. There was also a relay race to gather as many healthy food items as you would find in a bodega.  To cap off all the activities at the Healthy Bodega Block there was a raffle and four lucky winners each received a Healthy Bodega Bag stocked with all kinds of goodies. Fun was had by all.

Bronx Health REACH Awarded Community Impact Grant from the American Heart Association

Members of the Fresch team offered healthy food samples at Boogie on the Boulevard.

The American Heart Association (AHA) awarded Bronx Health REACH a Community Impact Grant. Funding from this grant will support the Fresch Grab & Go! Initiative that will develop and promote healthy food items at 3-5 Bronx bodegas in partnership with the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup, Bascom Catering and City Harvest. Taste tests and surveys will be conducted at bodegas, schools and other community organizations to determine which food items will be sold. Since 2009, the AHA Community Impact Grant has given more than $1 million to 42 recipients.

Loyce Godfrey's Commitment to Health, Nutrition, and Faith Based Organizations in the Bronx

Bronx Health REACH (BHR) faith and nutrition consultant, Loyce Godfrey, has been working with faith-based participants in the Healthy Children, Healthy Families program over the past two years. The Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health funded initiative aims to reduce childhood obesity. Loyce developed the curriculum and trains faith-based leaders to teach the nutrition program. She has a long history working with Bronx Health REACH as a faith-based community leader and creator of the Fine, Fit and Fabulous program, one of our most successful health promotion programs. BHR’s Healthy Children, Healthy Families Program Manager, Emily Oppenheimer spoke with Loyce about her commitment to health, nutrition, and faith based organizations in the Bronx.

How did you get your start in health and nutrition?

I attended Tuskegee University and studied nutrition. It took me a while to graduate from college because I got involved in the civil rights movement. Before graduation, I was hired for a job in New York City. I started my first job as an assistant manager at Chock Full o’ Nuts. I was the first African American woman hired there in a management position. At the time there were no explicit policies addressing sexual harassment in the workplace when I was sexually harassed by some of the male colleagues there. It became uncomfortable for me to work there, so I left the company.

From there, I got my start with community-based jobs. I went into child daycare dietetics. I even owned my own daycare center for a while. Then I got involved with seniors. Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council decided they wanted to start a catering service, so I worked with them to get that up and going. 

I worked on opening the first SAGE Center in New York. (SAGE Center is the first full-time LGBT senior center in the country that offers services and programs related to arts and culture, fitness, food and nutrition, and health and wellness). I wrote operating nutrition services procedures, led trainings, secured permits, found a caterer to comply with requirements for meal serving, established record keeping, etc. I have also worked with City Meals on Wheels creating a healthy heart kitchen for seniors and have just completed a project for seniors who may have oral health challenges.

At one point you co-owned a store that featured arts, crafts and clothing imported from Africa.

Yes, I was a partner. It was a very healing, holistic experience. I have always liked to explore and visit faraway places. It may have come from growing up in a small town. I was interested in other parts of the world where black people lived. I liked some of the cultural aspects that were so authentic, like the wood-carved furniture. There were lots of cultural activities in NYC, and through that network I met a woman from West Africa who needed help with her store.

How did you connect with Bronx Health REACH?

Joyce Davis (one of the early leaders of BHR) and I worked together at Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council. During one of our conversations, I told her about a new ministry I had started at my church around healthy topics and nutrition. She told me that she was involved in a similar project with churches and BHR. She invited me to attend a BHR meeting. At the meeting church leaders were sharing updates on their work. When I spoke about what I was doing, Charmaine (Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director of BHR) said, “That’s exactly what we are trying to do!”

For me, this was my first time hearing about government funding opportunities for these projects. I knew health was a major concern in the Bronx so I would share my work at these meetings. I began consulting with BHR by providing workshops and assistance. I discovered that people who attended my church meetings would go eat at Popeyes afterwards. That felt so disconnected from the program I was leading with them. I bet that most of the women who attended the meeting had diabetes, heart disease or some other chronic disease. I was very concerned, so I thought, how could I get my point across so that those attending would no longer go to Popeyes afterwards? How could I combine the faith-based piece with the health behavior to change motivations? How could we align these two key principles? This led me to work on Fine, Fit and Fabulous.

What is a heritage food?

All of the heritage foods are real foods. All come from plants, from the ground. None of them were processed. After being brought to this country, many of those foods are still used in their original natural form.

The aim of our Healthy Children, Healthy Families program is to get families to eat more nutritious foods. What kinds of changes have you seen so far?

One of the barriers to eating healthier is the disconnect people have between real foods/heritage foods and processed junk foods. We are looking to show Bronx families that food, in its natural form, has not changed over the years. It is still the best nourishment for them. These real foods were so important for many generations. These foods sustain people and promote health. The goal is to get people to eat more real, healthy foods. For the families that have participated in the Healthy Children, Healthy Families programs, we are seeing more interest in eating vegetables and fruits. I am optimistic about seeing more of these positive changes. The excitement, cooperation, and passion of the churches is inspiring. Helping these churches to keep that energy alive after the program ends is so important and I think we can do it. For example, one of our church partners has a garden and I see that as a way for them to continue this work to grow and eat God’s real foods.

Helping Bronx Seniors Eat Healthier through Healthy Food Demonstrations

This post was written by Olivia Wurgaft, an intern at Bronx Health REACH and student attending Washington University.

As a Global Health major at Washington University, I would like to pursue a career in public health after I graduate. It is one of the reasons I was so happy that, as part of my internship at Bronx Health REACH, I got to work on their Food Service Guidelines initiative with meal serving sites in the Bronx. Specifically, I had the privilege of leading two healthy food demonstrations.

During the month of June, Bronx Health REACH held healthy food demonstrations at the Presbyterian Senior Services Parkside (PSS Parkside) and Presbyterian Senior Services Jackson (PSS Jackson) sites in the Bronx. PSS is a nonprofit agency with nine community centers that strive to strengthen the capacity of older New Yorkers, their families, and communities to thrive. PSS Parkside and Jackson clients receive meals, exercise classes, technology training, group trips, and a multitude of other services. These food demonstrations are part of Bronx Health REACH’s efforts to help sites serve healthier meals to their clients.

Earlier this year, Bronx Health REACH collaborated with Lenox Hill Teaching Kitchen to provide trainings for PSS Jackson and PSS Parkside staff. Lenox Hill Teaching Kitchen designed a daylong food business training to help nonprofit organizations prepare and serve institutional meals that increase fresh, healthy, and local foods to support their clients’ health. The outcome of this training was to gain a better understanding of how to serve meals with more scratch cooking with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less sugar, fat, and salt. At the end of the training the goal of the kitchen staff from PSS Jackson and PSS Parkside is to increase their use of fresh, healthy and local food.

 In addition to the training, Bronx Health REACH has been providing PSS Jackson and PSS Parkside with technical support to achieve these goals including food demonstrations. These demonstrations are to introduce healthier food to clients through tastings, give them a say in what appears on their menu, and show them that healthy food can be tasty and inexpensive. Both sites chose “Olga’s Bulgur with Chicken” as the recipe for their demonstration because it includes more vegetables and whole grains and less meat.

Before the demonstration, I went to a supermarket close to the site, to make sure the ingredients were easily available for clients to make the dish themselves. I also made sure to price out the recipe to make sure it was affordable.

At both sites I arrived around lunchtime to prepare for the demonstration. While I was chopping and measuring out the carrots, celery, peas, and garlic, some clients came up to ask what I was doing, which told me they were interested in learning about what they were going to eat. Some were also apprehensive of trying something new, but promised they would keep an open mind. I started each food demonstration with a discussion about the nutritional benefits of each ingredient. I emphasized how the fiber in the bulgur wheat improves digestion, the vitamin A in carrots improves eyesight, and how low sodium soy sauce reduces salt intake, which is particularly beneficial for people with high blood pressure or diabetes.

I sautéed the chicken, added the vegetables and mixed them in with the bulgur wheat, explaining the process as I went along. Before adding it to the pan, I brought the pot of bulgur wheat around to each participant, explaining that it can be used similarly to rice and showing them what it looked like. When the dish was finished, I distributed samples for everyone to try. Participants filled out surveys about the recipe and the demonstration. At PSS Parkside, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Most of the participants enjoyed the recipe and wanted it on the menu. One client said that the “dish was filling, [and had] nice and crunchy vegetables.” Another loved how it was “economic and easy to make at home.”

 At PSS Jackson, the participants were more wary to try a new dish. However, after watching the demonstration and becoming more comfortable with the ingredients, not only did they try it, but they really liked it. One client explained, “I liked this activity because it allowed me to try new and interesting foods that I could possibly have more of in the future.” This comment reaffirmed for me the benefits of food demonstrations and similar programs that expose participants to healthy and tasty options. Without this demonstration, many clients would never have tried bulgur, and now, after liking it, wanted it in their meals. After these successful food demonstrations, I am both excited and hopeful that PSS Parkside and PSS Jackson can easily add healthy, tasty, and economical recipes to their menus to increase the health and well-being of their clients.

This interactive and fun activity was extremely useful in keeping clients educated and involved in menu planning at their sites. Many told me that they wanted to eat healthier, but did not have access to the right ingredients or the knowledge of how to do it in an inexpensive way. Through the food demonstration, they were able to learn about this recipe that will help them do just that. From this experience, I learned that sometimes all it takes to open people up to new ideas, such as eating healthier meals, is the opportunity for them to try it. My internship enabled me to help Bronx Health REACH provide this opportunity.  I believe both sites will have an easier transition to a healthier menu.

PSS Jackson Clients Discover Menu Improvements are Delicious

Clients enjoy samples of Olga's Bulgar and chicken.

As part of Bronx Health REACH's Food Service Guidelines Initiative, we are working with partner Presbyterian Senior Services (PSS) at their Parkside and Jackson locations in the Bronx to improve their menus by incorporating more fresh vegetables, reducing meat and serving healthier homemade salad dressings. In March, Lenox Hill Teaching Kitchen provided  training for Presbyterian Senior Services kitchen staff on how to create more healthy, fresh, locally sourced and sustainable foods to improve their seniors’ overall health and well-being.

To date, two tastings have been held at each senior center. Seniors enjoyed samples of “Olga’s Bulgur and Chicken” at one tasting, and were offered Chicken with Butternut Squash Stew at another. At the first tasting, they learned about the benefits of eating more whole grains and were given copies of the recipe to prepare at home. At the second, many enjoyed the stew despite it having less meat and more veggies in it. One client said, "I have high blood pressure so I have to be careful of what I eat. This tastes delicious. I would make this at home." Another client added, "This was so delicious, I had two servings!" In the future, Bronx Health REACH looks forward to working with the PSS sites on improving the healthy meals served daily and engaging new sites with this initiative.

Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock Selected as CDC's Office of Minority Health Equity Champion

Congratulations to BHR's Project Director Charmaine Ruddock who was selected as the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity Champion. Leandris C. Liburd, Director, Office of Minority Health & Health Equity (OMHHE) commented, "Our Health Equity Champion is one of the pioneers who has contributed significantly to the implementation of REACH and its branding as CDC’s flagship health disparities program.  We are honored to recognize Charmaine Ruddock who leads the Bronx Health REACH program. I can personally attest to her tireless commitment to reducing racial and ethnic health disparities in the Bronx and her sustained efforts to support REACH nationally."

Great job Charmaine. We are proud of your leadership!