Earlier this month our Healthy Communities Director, Jonathan McNeice attended Career Explorations, a three-day event held on the Cornell University campus facilitated by Cornell’s 4-H Program. Local teens and members of our HYPE (Healthy Youth Positive Energy) youth group gained exposure to academic fields and career exploration, developed leadership skills, and learned about what it’s like to be on a college campus. Teens chose a specific program area (i.e. animal science, food science, physics, horticulture, human services and natural resources to name a few) and explored that area with college students and experts in the field.
Category: Healthy Communities
BNMC Fit on Tuesday, June 27
Join us for BNMC Fit, our annual health & wellness fair on Tuesday, June 27 from 11:30am-1:30pm in Colby Park at Buffalo General Medical Center (next to the Michigan Goodrich parking garage at 134 High St.). More than 15 local vendors in the healthy & active living arena will be at the event, providing information, fun giveaways and opportunities to get fit. Some of the vendors committed so far include:
- Bike MS
- BNMC
- Farmers & Artisans
- Fleet Feet
- GObike Buffalo
- GO BNMC
- Jewish Community Center (JCC)
- Kaleida Health
- KeyBank
- Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP)
- Mental Health Association of Erie County
- Reddy Bikeshare
- Roswell Park Donor Center
- Thrive Nutrition & Wellness
- Tobacco Free WNY
- UB Clinical & Translational Research Institute (CTSI)
- UBMD Physicians’ Group
- Unyts
- Walsh Duffield
- Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo
Health in all its forms – economic, environmental, personal – are essential for any community to thrive. Since the BNMC began, our team has worked to promote active living and a focus on access to healthy food and BNMC Fit is a fun and festive event that brings together health leaders in our community and employees from across the Medical Campus. This event is free and open to all who work on the Campus. Rain or shine! Download flyer.
Join Us for Dump the Pump Day 2017
On Thursday, June 15, Citizens for Regional Transit will be observing the 12th annual National Dump the Pump Day.
To spread information about public transit as well as other options such as biking, walking, and carpooling, CRT will join several local organizations in hosting Dump the Pump Day information tables:
- Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is at Allen/Medical Campus Station, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., with coffee and street musicians
- Go Buffalo-Niagara/the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council is at Lafayette Square Station, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., with breakfast, literature, and stickers
- GO bike Buffalo is at Hostel Buffalo Niagara, 667 Main Street, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, with breakfast followed by a ride
- Citizens for Regional Transit is at Church Street Station, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., with literature and maps.
Stop by at any of these events for more information about transportation alternatives. Sign the pledge to dump the pump on June 15 and do good for the environment, your budget, personal health, schedule, and regional traffic: https://goo.gl/DDJDTA.
Watch video to learn more.
Takeaways from CleanMed Conference
Ever wonder what your doctor eats for lunch? If they were one of the 800 professionals attending the CleanMed conference in Minneapolis this year, they probably ate a locally grown organic vegan meal using biodegradable plates and utensils – without thinking twice about missing out on meat and potatoes.
This year two members of the BNMC team, Jonathan McNeice and Beth Machnica, attended the CleanMed conference to advance their efforts in the BNMC Farm To Hospital Initiative. With 1.5 million patients and visitors annually at the Medial Campus each year, and even more coming with the opening of the UB Medical School and Oshei Children’s Hospital, having healthy food options on campus is a must. But CleanMed is about more than healthy food.
If you think about it, large institutions such as hospitals in many communities are the largest provider of healthcare, purchaser of goods, and employer of the local workforce. They also are typically the largest user of chemicals. As Gary Cohen, Co-Founder and President of Healthcare Without Harm stated at the conference, “Healthcare is decreasing its impact on people by making them more sick through the environment. If we embed environmental health into social strategy and healthcare we wouldn’t have disease tribes around the country – learning disability societies, cancer societies, diabetes societies, or constantly talking about ‘the cure,’ instead we’d be talking about prevention. “
With such power to impact the surrounding communities and environment, hospitals are critical players in taking the lead on healing people instead of polluting people. At one of the seminars the BNMC team attended, the speaker referred to “frogs on Prozac” in reference to medications going into the water system since clinical staff were trained to dispose of expired meds that way in the past. It represents the structural issues present in our current system, and is an example of the types of things that need to change. With the United States spending the greatest portion of its money on healthcare, and having the worst health outcomes of the top 50 industrialized countries in the world, we’re not very efficient when it comes to health.
The BNMC team is working on a series of sustainability initiatives on the medical campus – piloting a composting program in the Innovation Center, working on a Farm to Hospital Initiative with Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Kaleida, implementing a Community Supported Agriculture Program with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and a Farm-to-Work program at the Innovation Center. Stay tuned for additional updates on the blog!
~The 2017 Clean Med conference was the fourteenth convening held in the United States, and the eighteenth held globally. It is an annual conference put on by the nonprofits HealthCare Without Harm and Practice GreenHealth and has an international reputation for being the premier conference on environmental sustainability in the healthcare sector.~
Bringing Healthy Foods to Hospitals
Bringing Healthy Foods to Hospitals
We were so proud to work with Roswell Park as part of our Farm-to-Hospital effort, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Food Procurement Planning grant, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, University at Buffalo, Field & Fork Network, Healthcare Without Harm, and Timbre Consultants.
Among our key findings include:
- Local products are often assumed to be more costly, but seasonal local produce brings cost savings.
- Farm outreach and relationship building is critical
- Establishing institutional leadership is key for identifying project champions for change.
- Teach through experience – we brought a local delegation to the University of Vermont Medical Center to see a successful model
We hope to be able to implement many of the recommendations across the Medical Campus this year. Learn more about how the team at Roswell Park has already adopted some of these findings to provide even healthier options for their patients.
BNMC Kicks off “100 Days of Summer”!
As a Medical Campus, we strive to be a leader in promoting healthy, active living in our community. While people tend to think of this as a place to treat illness, we are actively engaged in creating a culture of health and wellness on our Campus and throughout our community.
This summer is a great opportunity to get active and engaged on the Medical Campus! With a different activity going on every day, there’s no shortage of fun and healthy events to participate in.
Walking on Wednesdays: The BNMC, in partnership with the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo, offers free walks led by Campus and community leaders every Wednesday from May 31-August 30. Walks are 12:10-12:40 PM and start & end at Roswell’s Kaminski Park (Elm & Carlton). Visit our website for a full list of walk leaders & routes in June.
Farmers’ Markets: Fresh, homegrown fruits & veggies are available at farmers’ markets in many locations on the Campus and in our surrounding communities.
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Market at the Park in Kaminski Park (Elm & Carlton) will be on Wednesdays at 11 AM-1:30 PM from June-September.
- MAP Mobile Market at the Moot Community Center (292 High St.) will be on Fridays at 11 AM-1 PM from June-October.
- Downtown Country Market hosted by Buffalo Place on Main St. between Court & Church is on Tuesday & Thursday from 10 AM-2:30 PM from May-October.
BNMC Fit: Join us on Tuesday, June 27 for our annual BNMC Fit wellness fair at Colby Park (next to the MiGo parking garage at 134 High St.)! This event is free and open to all employees who work on the Medical Campus and includes a variety of healthy & active living vendors.
Fitness in the Parks: Beginning June 8 and running through August 23, free yoga will be offered every Wednesday at 5:30 PM in Colby Park (next to the MiGo parking garage at 134 High St.) This program is sponsored by Independent Health & YMCA Buffalo Niagara.
Free Lunchtime Music: Enjoy lunch and music outdoors with your colleagues in the pocket park at Ellicott & Virginia Streets every Thursday at 12:30 PM in July. Stay tuned for the schedule!
As you can see, we have lots of fun events and programming planned for this summer. We hope you’ll join us at our upcoming events. Hwp-contenty summer!
Join Our Bike Trains and Bike to Work Breakfast with Your Neighbors on May 19th!
In an effort to encourage more people to try biking as a commuting option and to participate in Bike to Work Day on May 19, local commuters will have the opportunity to join “Bike Trains” to ride to work on the Medical Campus with a group instead of on their own.
The BNMC, in collaboration with GObike Buffalo, have designated four meeting locations for interested bicyclists to meet and ride a designated route with experienced riders in time to join the Bike to Work Day breakfast to be held on the Medical Campus on Friday, May 19th.
Where are the trains starting from?
- MLK Park at 7:45 am with Henry Raess, GObike Buffalo Event Manager
- LaSalle Station at 8:00 am with Bill Smith, Director of Access for Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
- City Hall at 8:15 am with Justin Booth, Director of GObike Buffalo
- Ferry and Richmond Avenue at 8:15 am with Jen White, Executive of Reddy Bikeshare
How do I participate?
Sign up at bit.ly/2paStPz and meet your group between 7:30 am and 8:30 am on the morning of May 19.
What if I don’t have a bike?
Riders can bring their own bikes or take advantage of the Reddy Bikes that will be available at each meet up location.
I’ve never commuted by bike, is that okay?
The bike trains are intended to encourage less experienced riders to try commuting by bike with others and to create a sense of camaraderie on Bike to Work Day.
What hwp-contentens at the breakfast?
The Bike to Work Day celebration will include a light breakfast, bike portraits, and short celebration at the pocket park located at Ellicott Street and North Oak Street on the Medical Campus beginning at 7:00 AM. GObike Buffalo will provide free minor bike repairs and adjustments for riders on site. Bike storage is available across the street at North Oak and Ellicott or at the many bike racks throughout Campus. Medical Campus employees are also eligible for free Reddy Bike share memberships and can sign up by emailing gobnmc@bnmc-old.local.
Bike to Work Day is just one of many Bike Month events and activities to celebrate and encourage biking. A full list of activities can be found at www.gobikebuffalo.org.
Medical Campus explores shuttle to connect commuters to Metro Rail
Medical Campus explores shuttle to connect commuters to Metro Rail
Catching that train to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus may soon have a silver lining, depending on where you live.
Those who commute to the Medical Campus and are looking to hop the Metro Rail, but live a good distance from it, may get some help to get to the train and back home so they don’t have to drive and search for parking.
The non-profit organization that coordinates transportation and other neighborhood initiatives on the Medical Campus is looking for ways to help smooth the way for would-be train commuters who don’t live close to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s Metro line.
“We’re trying to see if we can implement a shuttle service, bike share or van pool,” said Thea Hassan, BNMC’s newly hired transportation program manager. “It’s being considered.”
It all ties into the organization’s goal to encourage people working and studying on campus – and living near it – to choose healthier options and to help minimize parking crunches on the campus and neighborhood streets.
[Related: Medical Campus hires transportation program manager]
“Our goal is a new way of thinking. Instead of expanding the supply, we’re trying to reduce the demand,” Hassan said of BNMC’s transportation initiatives. “We’re trying to tackle from bottom up, top down, and all of our sides.”
Hassan has dubbed the shuttle idea “First mile, last mile.” The big focus is to help people who live a mile or so away from the Metro line. “How do we get them there and back home?” she said.
No decision has been made, but the organization is working on helping to make it easier for commuters to use the Metro Rail to get to the newly renovated Allen Street Medical Station, which is located inside the University at Buffalo’s new medical school building under construction at Allen and Main streets.
Active Living by Design
Active Living by Design/Episode 23/ Released March 28, 2017
Matt and Joanne Lee, Collaborative Learning Director for Active Living by Design, talk about keeping your feet on the ground while working on a national scale; local elected officials setting the tone to transform communities; social media lifting community voices; and the importance of carving out time to learn.
This podcast is available through iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher Radio.
Planning for Growth
Planning for Growth
With over $750 million of investment, three cranes in the air and 700 construction workers on the Medical Campus this past year, our growth is undeniable as we continue to build the New Buffalo! We’re celebrating these developments to our great city and are looking forward to future advancements in the years ahead.
We’ve been planning and coordinating with our member institutions for many years to accommodate the influx of patients, visitors, employees and students on our transportation system and infrastructure. As the Campus grows, our Transportation Management Association (TMA), a collaboration of the BNMC, our member institutions, and regional transportation-related entities, continually monitors, plans for, and manages parking and transportation options.
We adhere to smart growth principles as we seek to build a dense, walkable urban environment that is attractive to local employers and companies outside the region looking for a wonderful place to relocate and grow. We work with a number of stakeholders to develop better options for the people who work on this Campus, as well as patients, students, and visitors, and our overall community and region.
Here’s a brief overview of our recent transportation planning efforts:
- We continue to enhance options for people traveling to the Medical Campus, through the NFTA Metro rail and bus, carpooling, ride-matching, pedestrian & bicycle infrastructure and communicate these options as a part of GoBNMC, our campus-wide initiative to create a more sustainable and active transportation system for employees.
- We are increasing our on-Campus parking supply with a new garage located at 854 Ellicott St., which will double the number of parking spaces at that location and provide a connector bridge to Children’s Hospital. We are also adding nearby surface lots to our system.
- Through GO Buffalo Niagara, a region-wide community outreach program, we continue to identify and address transportation and mobility issues in surrounding neighborhoods and to share job and transportation information with residents.
- We’re working together with the city and state to implement multi-modal streetscape enhancements that improve Campus access, promote health and safety, and support our overall placemaking efforts.
Planning for parking and transportation has been a critical component of our work for our 15 year history. Learn more about transportation and parking plans for the Medical Campus on our website.
Medical Campus aims to be regional beacon of wellness
Medical Campus aims to be regional beacon of wellness
Almost 15 years ago, as leaders in the Western New York health field began to hatch ideas for a new medical campus in the Buffalo Fruit Belt, a tiny nonprofit designed to help nurture the effort got its first wellness grant.
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc. has been working behind the scenes in the years since as cranes have come and gone on the 120-acre swath north of downtown, and the number of buildings has grown.
Its charge: Turn the Medical Campus into a model for healthy living across the region – and support similar efforts elsewhere.
“The campus is becoming more of a neighborhood than a medical community,” said Jonathan McNeice, who is helping plan the transformation. “Neighborhoods have people who want active things to do. They want access to food and healthy lifestyles. So the bigger picture is that we see the campus as a place of wellness and not just a place you come to for sick care.”
If the Medical Campus is to become a microcosm for a healthier Buffalo Niagara, its leaders must be able to answer key questions, including:
- Can I walk or bike or take public transit to work?
- Where can I find healthy food in the neighborhood?
- Are there places to get some exercise?
Fueled by more than $7 million in grants – starting with a $200,000 Active Living by Design grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc. (BNMC) and its like-minded partners have begun to change the campus in the following ways.
1. TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE
Justin Booth, left, and Thea Hassan, both of GObike Buffalo, helped get bike lane markings on Ellicott Street on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and continue to work to make the campus more bicycle friendly. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
One of the largest challenges the Medical Campus faces is that almost everybody who steps foot in the neighborhood takes a car to get there.
“I think for the revitalization of any city, you need a critical mass of people so that the transit options, the bike options, the car share options will be successful,” said McNeice, a healthy communities planner on the Medical Campus. “To be a modern urban city, you want to be multi-mobile. Maybe you want to take the subway part of the way and take your bike on the subway so that if you want to ride it the rest of the way to work, or run an errand or go to lunch, you’ve got that option.”
Work has begun to double the size of a parking ramp to 1,800 spaces behind the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, which is expected to open late this year.
Parking for patients and visitors will continue to be paramount, but the more than 12,000 people employed on the campus are encouraged to find other means to get to and from their workplaces, McNeice said. They can visit gobnmc-old.local to learn how.
“You’re looking at a dense urban core, where people want to live and want to work because it’s exciting,” said Kari Root Bonaro, BNMC communications director. “We really would like to get more employees to take transit, to walk, to bike, to live closer to campus. There’s both the healthy living aspect as well as building community.”
Reddy Bike Share plans to boost the number of rental bikes on the Medical Campus this year. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
The nonprofit also is working with others on a larger effort, gobuffaloniagara.org, to encourage alternative transportation across the region, BNMC Planning Manager Jamie Hamann-Burney said.
The organization helped secure $8.4 million in federal, state and local funding to upgrade Ellicott Street – the spine of the Medical Campus street grid – into a linear park with bike lanes, wider sidewalks, benches and improved lighting. Nearly $7 million more has been allocated for the Allen Street stretch that will connect Allentown to the UB medical school and rest of the campus. Pocket parks – BNMC staff likes to call them “parkettes” – also have been sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.
Reddy Bike Share provided more than a half dozen rental bikes on the campus last year and will return with more bikes in the spring, along with a free trial membership to encourage employees to take advantage of the service. The nonprofit BNMC, which is housed at the Thomas R. Beecher Jr. Innovation Center on Ellicott Street along with nearly 100 health-related startup businesses, put a shipping container in a nearby parking lot for safe, indoor bike storage.
“We’re a medical campus where we offer health care, and a great way to be healthy is by actively commuting,” McNeice said. “Part of that is having the infrastructure.”
2. FOOD
Jonathan McNeice, left a healthy communities planner with Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc., works last fall with Rosemary Wilson, a senior volunteer, in the garden at The Moot Community Center in the Fruit Belt. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)
The Moot Community Center sits five blocks east of Buffalo General Medical Center. It participates in a countywide Stay Fit Dining Program but that doesn’t serve all the nutritional needs of seniors in the Fruit Belt, many of whom have limited financial means, transportation and access to healthy foods. Four of every five seniors who use the High Street center have Type 2 diabetes, said Daysi Ball, its assistant director of development and senior services.
“We get the breads, the desserts, all of the wonderful stuff that we love to eat but aren’t necessarily the most healthy, or the best for our seniors,” Ball said. “We wp-contentreciate everything – it’s very helpful – but we wanted to figure out ways to get more fresh foods and vegetables here.”
So the community center’s leaders – with help from McNeice, Grassroots Gardens, the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the Mulberry Street and Friends Block Club – decided last year to start a community garden and host a weekly farm market at Moot.
The efforts are part of a larger strategy to bring healthier food options to those who will live, work and visit the Medical Campus and surrounding communities in years to come.
McNeice – who grew up in Canada and whose family owned the Lakeside Marketeria in Oakville, Ont. – is the point person in the effort to more meaningfully connect the campus with farmers in the region.
“I got to see the industry changing” in 1990s, when supermarket and hardware chains drove many mom and pop shops out of business, and often bypassed small local suppliers, he said.
McNeice, 38, first came to Buffalo to get his master’s degree in urban planning. He left to work on food policy and wellness planning in Toronto and Edmonton before returning to the city three years ago. While at UB, he worked in the university’s Food Lab, the key player in efforts that have begun to bear fruit on the Medical Campus when it comes to helping forge stronger bonds between hospitals, schools, retailers, community centers and farmers.
“We were fortunate to get Jonathan to come and bring a totally different perspective,” said Matthew Enstice, president and CEO of the BNMC.
Medical Campus planner Jonathan McNeice has worked in Toronto, Edmonton and Buffalo. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
McNeice and others are at work on a Healthy Corner Store Initiative that looks to bring fresh produce into convenience stores not only on the campus but in neighborhoods across the city where access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited.
Farmers’ markets have been established at the Salvation Army branch and Buffalo Place along the ring of campus, as well as the Moot Center. The BNMC also worked with Farmers & Artisans last year to set up a “farm-to-work table” that offered regional goods on Wednesdays at the Innovation Center.
The resurgent and growing “farm-to-table” attitude in the region helped spur six community gardens on the Medical Campus, including two fostered by Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc.
Ball is among those who have seen the planning pay dividends.
Grassroots Gardens worked with Moot Center staff and volunteers to clear a patch of land off the back parking lot last spring, plant a strawberry patch and fill nine raised garden beds with vegetables that included heirloom tomatoes, broccoli, squash, kale, cucumbers “and all sorts of peppers,” Ball said. “It really was wonderful. We were not only able to harvest the vegetables here at the center – for use in our kitchen to supplement the lunches – we also were able to distribute the harvest to the seniors.”
Some seniors canned collard greens and Swiss chard, Ball said, and “there were a number of opportunities for them to learn more about the foods and how to incorporate them into their diets.
“Historically, we’ve been more of a social center where you come for social activities,” she said. “The seniors wanted health-related, tangible outcomes. We wanted to provide more preventative programs. We’ve done that.”
3. FITNESS
Attendance at yoga classes in the Innovation Center have been strong, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus officials say. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)
David Longhini took his first yoga class on the Medical Campus in January, two days after he started a new job with BlueWolf, a medical sales force consulting company in the dig, or Design Innovation Garage, inside the Innovation Center on Ellicott Street.
“I was definitely down for it,” said Longhini, 24, a Dansville native who lives in the Elmwood Village. “I love everything about what’s hwp-contentening here. One of the top reasons I took the job – I left Rich Products – was to be closer to downtown, the dig and the Medical Campus. It’s very important for me to see this area thrive.”
On the fitness front, the BNMC supported a “100 Days of Summer” last year that brought the Independent Health Fitness in the Parks program onto campus for the first time. It helped throw a fitness festival last June. And the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo led a weekly Walking on Wednesday sojourn starting and ending outside Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
The nonprofit also has been a consistent supporter of the Buffalo Green Code, advocating for more bike lanes across Buffalo, including on the Medical Campus.
McNeice, Hamann-Burney and others have worked with GObike Buffalo as they have eyed future transportation in the neighborhood and beyond, and both nonprofits recently were among the organizations to receive a five-year, $250,000 Creating Healthy Schools & Communities grant from the state Department of Health. Among other projects, the grant will provide Healthy Workplace assessments and programming support for businesses on and off the campus.
“Broadly speaking, active living is very important,” McNeice said.
That becomes even more true, he said, on a medical campus that aspires to lead by example.
“Neighbors and communities go up and down with the times but anchor institutions can withstand that,” McNeice said. “Largely, the role we play is that steady force behind the scenes. We’re looking for gaps in how we bring things together.”
Part of the job is asking, “What if?” “How do we help improve our community?”
“What if a medical campus was a place of wellness? What does that look like?” McNeice said. “Maybe it’s a place where you’re not just coming when you’re sick but you go there to get physically active, get fit, learn to cook from scratch. That’s where our head is at going forward.”
email: sscanlon@buffnews.com
Twitter: @BNrefresh, @ScottBScanlon
BNMC Launches New GO BNMC Website
Get Going in 2017 with GO BNMC
With 2017 upon us, the BNMC is rolling out several exciting tools with employees in mind. The front of these changes is a new GO BNMC website where employees who work on the Medical Campus can learn more about our program that encourages smart and healthy commuting options; get introduced to the carshare and rideshare options and discounts available; and sign up for your parking pass with ease. Let’s celebrate a healthy lifestyle this year, starting with taking a deeper dive into all that the GO BNMC program has to offer!
Local Chefs Compete to Create Healthy School Lunches for Buffalo Farm to School Initiative
Contact: Susan Kirkpatrick
716-866-8002/SKirkpatrick@bnmc-old.local
Local Chefs Compete to Create Healthy School Lunches for Buffalo Farm to School Initiative
Buffalo Bill Thurman Thomas, along with student, chef, farmer and administrator representatives to judge offerings
What: The first-ever Buffalo Farm to School Chef Challenge, a competition to develop new menu ideas for the Buffalo Public School’s Harvest of the Month initiative that introduces and encourages healthy food choices for students.
Local chefs from some of Buffalo’s favorite restaurants and a team of Buffalo Public School students will compete to develop recipes for student lunches that conform to USDA standards and that incorporate local, seasonal food. Participating students have trained with Chef Bobby Anderson, Executive Director of F Bites, a program, which uses culinary instruction as a vehicle to develop leadership, professional skills, college and career readiness. Winning recipes will be highlighted on the December school menu in participating Buffalo Public Schools. Preparation, judging and sampling will be included in the event.
Admission is free and open to parents, staff, students of Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) and some limited public tickets for non-BPS community members. Non-BPS families and community should reserve tickets at: http://bit.ly/2d4cbfD.
Special thanks to the American Dairy Association North East for partnering with the Buffalo Farm to School program on this event.
When: Tuesday, October 4 at 4 PM.
Where: Southside Elementary School at 430 Southside Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14210.
Who: Janet Snyder of Kiss 98.5 will act as Master of Ceremonies and Brian Higgins, U.S. Representative will make short remarks regarding the impact of the Farm to School Program.
Participating Chefs include:
- Bobby Anderson of F Bites
- Clyde Chaplin, Owner of the Wecken Wagen, a German culinary experience; and Baker at The Fire Spot
- Jim Guarino of Oshun and Shango
- Ross Warhol of Oliver’s
Recipes will be prepared on site and judged by a panel including:
- Thurman Thomas, former running back for the Buffalo Bills, advocate for healthy eating and breakfast in the classroom!
- Chef Steven Binks, entrepreneur and “Buffalo’s celebrity Chef”
- Caleb Graham, senior at PS #198 International Prep High School, HYPE member, and Buffalo and Erie County Food Policy Council member
- Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold, President and At-Large-Member of the Buffalo Board of Education
- Daniel Oles, farmer from Promised Land CSA and Oles Family Farm
- Yourlisa Stinson, BPS Food Service Pre-Pack Leader at Early Childhood Center #82
About: The Chef Challenge is part of Buffalo Farm to School, a pilot program for 12 Buffalo Public Schools that have introduced locally grown, seasonal produce to school lunch menus. The program highlights seasonal offerings, encourages student trial and asks for feedback. The Buffalo Farm to School program’s goals are to introduce more fresh, locally grown produce in school lunches and to encourage healthy eating habits in students.
Buffalo Farm to School is an initiative of the Buffalo Public Schools Food Services Department, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC), Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, Grassroots Gardens of WNY and the Massachusetts Avenue Project. For more information go to http://buffalofarmtoschool.org
Buffalo Public Schools Seeks Local Chefs to Participate in Buffalo Farm-to-School Chef Challenge
Buffalo Farm to School Chef Challenge
Press Release/August 10, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Kirkpatrick
skirkpatrick@bnmc-old.local 716-866-8002
Buffalo Public Schools Seeks Local Chefs to Participate in Buffalo Farm-to-School Chef Challenge
Challenge Issued to Develop New Menu Ideas to Take Advantage of Local, Seasonal Food that Conform to USDA Standards
Buffalo, N.Y., August 10, 2016 – Buffalo Public Schools is seeking local chefs to participate in the Buffalo Farm-to-School Chef Challenge as a means to seek input on recipe development for student lunches that conform to USDA standards and that incorporate local, seasonal food. Participating chefs will compete against one another as well as against a team of Buffalo Public School students. Winning recipes will be highlighted on the December school menu in participating Buffalo Public Schools.
The student team, made up of 8-10 students in grades 7-12 will be led by Chef Bobby Anderson, famed Chef recognized for his role in the Season 4 Fox television series Hell’s Kitchen, where he finished 4th place out of 17 contestants under the fiery tutelage of Gordon Ramsay. Chef Bobby now serves as the Executive Director of F Bites, an organization that uses culinary instruction as a vehicle to develop leadership, professional skills, as well as college and career readiness in youth and adults.
Interested chefs will be challenged to prepare a complete school meal that meets the nutritional requirements as mandated by the USDA Child Nutrition Meal Requirements. Meal preparation, judging and sampling will take place on October 4 at an event to kick off the 2016-2017 Farm-to-School Program at Southside Elementary School. The event is intended to engage and educate the school community about local farms and the importance of eating healthy fruits and vegetables. Interested chefs can learn more and download the wp-contentlication form HERE. All wp-contentlications must be received no later than August 25.
The Farm-to-School program began last year and is a pilot program for 12 Buffalo Public Schools that have introduced locally grown, seasonal produce to school lunch menus. The Farm-to-School program highlights seasonal offerings, encourages student trial and asks for feedback. The program’s goals are to introduce more fresh, locally grown produce in school lunches and to encourage healthy eating habits in students.
On-site meal preparation and cook time will be held from 2 pm – 4:30 pm and judging and public sampling will take place between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm at the October 4th event. The school district will provide all ingredients for the meal preparation. Meals will be judged on meeting USDA criteria including the use of 2 ounces of protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and how successfully the meal meets the nutritional guidelines of less than 30 grams of fat, less than 10 grams of saturated fat, less than 640 milligrams of sodium and be between 550-650 calories.
Bridget O’Brien Wood, Food Service Director Buffalo Public Schools commented, “The Buffalo Farm to School, Harvest of the Month pilot program has really afforded our students the opportunity to have a voice in their school nutrition program. These students are trying locally grown foods and learning about New York State agriculture, and they get to tell us what they think about the new menu items. This Chef Challenge is another way to engage our youth in a fun, friendly competition with local area Chefs who can help create wp-contentealing recipes that will be incorporated into the school meal program! We can’t wait to see what they cook up in October!”
Chef Anderson added, “Both the Buffalo Public Schools and our team at F Bites see the importance of engaging kids in the power of their own future. This Chef Challenge allows them to use their creativity and explore new opportunities while having a role in creating healthier schools. By creating menus for their classmates, we hope to further their engagement and their understanding of healthier food choices.”
The winning meal will be chosen based on the highest number of points awarded for meeting nutritional standards, as well as for taste, visual presentation, ease of replication, and other factors.
Partners in the Farm to School Program include the Buffalo Public Schools, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP), Grassroots Gardens, and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc (BNMC). Pilot schools encompass grades Kindergarten through 12 and include Buffalo Public Schools #27, #32, #33, #43, #54, #64, #94, #195, #198, #81, #93, and #301.
“Tunes in the Tent” Resumes on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus July 7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/July 5, 2016
For more information, contact: Susan Kirkpatrick, skirkpatrick@bnmc-old.local
MEDIA ALERT & PHOTO OP
“Tunes in the Tent” Resumes on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus July 7
BNMC Presents Free Lunch Time Concert Series Featuring Local Musicians Employed
on the Medical Campus
What: The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. will resume “Tunes in the Tent,” its popular lunchtime concert series, each Thursday at noon in the heart of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The 6-week concert series will feature local bands, all of which include at least one Medical Campus employee. The free concert is open to the public and all are encouraged to grab lunch and enjoy these talented employees and other local musicians performing original music and popular favorites every Thursday this summer!
Where: At the corner of Ellicott and Virginia Streets on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, (across from Hauptman Woodward Institute at 700 Ellicott Street)
When: Every Thursday at noon, beginning July 7th and running through August 11th
Who: Medical Campus employees, visitors and any one who lives or works near the Medical Campus is invited to join the fun! All are encouraged to bring lunch or take advantage of local food trucks that will offer lunch options on-site to enjoy with the tunes!
Line Up: The Larkin Plan/July 7
The Wilde’s/July 14
Rick Jameson/July 21
Ten Cent Howl/July 28
Nelson Rivera & Jazz Conception/August 4
Theresa Quinn Trio/August 11
Visit Facebook.com/BNMCSummer to stay up to date on all upcoming events!
About the BNMC
The BNMC is a self-sustaining social enterprise successfully combining innovation, job creation, and urban revitalization. It serves as the umbrella organization of the anchor institutions that make up the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus located within the 120-acre campus bordering Allentown, the Fruit Belt and Downtown. The BNMC fosters conversation and collaboration among its member institutions, its partners and the community to address critical issues impacting them, including entrepreneurship, energy, access and transportation, workforce and procurement, neighborhoods, and healthy communities, with the goal of increasing economic development and building a strong community. bnmc-old.local.
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Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) named a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Business by the League of American Bicyclists
GO BNMC Program has championed biking and other alternative transportation options for over a decade
Buffalo, N.Y., February 18, 2016 – The League of American Bicyclists has recognized the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) with a Gold Bicycle Friendly Business (BFBSM) award, joining more than 1,100 visionary businesses from across the country. The City of Buffalo is recognized as one of only three bicycle-friendly communities in New York State by the League of American Bicyclists and the BNMC is the only organization to be honored with a Gold designation in Western New York.
With the announcement of 73 new and renewing BFBs today, the BNMC joins a cutting-edge group of 1,132 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in 49 states and Washington, D.C. that are transforming the American workplace.
“The business community’s investment in bicycling is playing a central role in making the country a safer, hwp-contentier, and more sustainable place to live and work,” said Amelia Neptune, League Bicycle Friendly Business Program Manager. “We wp-contentlaud this new round of businesses, including the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, for leading the charge in creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”
The BNMC has been an active advocate for alternative transportation options including biking through its GO BNMC program. The non-profit organization, in partnership with GObike Buffalo, has worked for over a decade on increasing active living opportunities throughout the City of Buffalo, promoting biking to work, and ensuring infrastructure on the Campus and within the surrounding neighborhoods supports and promotes alternative transportation options. In addition to carpooling, transit and walking, the BNMC encourages bicycling as an easy option for transportation to and from the dense urban campus to promote active living, ease parking congestion and improve the environment by lessening pollution from motor vehicles.
The BNMC provides amenities such as ten dry, secure bike storage options throughout the Medical Campus, and incentives such as the Secure Bike Parking Bundle that includes access to a dedicated Bike Storage facility, the Guaranteed Ride Home program, and a GObike membership. Buffalo BikeShare is also available on the Medical Campus as an amenity for employees and visitors who may want access to a bike for short-term use. Moving forward, the BNMC will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.
William Smith, Director of Access and Planning for the BNMC commented, “We are thrilled to join our partner, GObike Buffalo as a Bicycle Friendly Business in Buffalo. Over the past decade, our efforts to promote biking and build necessary infrastructure on Campus has resulted in a strong biking culture among employees. When our employees and visitors bike, great things hwp-contenten including a decreased carbon footprint, reduced health care costs, and an active and healthy work culture. We are proud to set an example for our community on the benefits of biking, alternative transportation, and the benefits of active, healthy living.“
To wp-contently or learn more about the BFB program, visit the League online at www.bikeleague.org/business. To learn more about GO BNMC, visit www.gobnmc-old.local.
About the Bicycle Friendly AmericaSM Program
The Bicycle Friendly CommunitySM, Bicycle Friendly StateSM, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly UniversitySM programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle Corp and Silver-level BFA Sponsor Planet Bike. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA.
The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders, our commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.
About the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC)
The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) is a self-sustaining social enterprise successfully combining innovation, job creation, and urban revitalization. It serves as the umbrella organization of the anchor institutions that make up the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus located within the 120-acre campus bordering Allentown, the Fruit Belt and Downtown. The BNMC fosters conversation and collaboration among its member institutions, its partners and the community to address critical issues impacting them, including entrepreneurship, energy, access and transportation, workforce and procurement, neighborhoods, and healthy communities, with the goal of increasing economic development and building a strong community. bnmc-old.local.
BNMC Fit
This year’s BNMC Fit event will feature health enhancing activities, raffle prizes and giveaways.
Don’t miss this fun event on Thursday, August 20, 2015. All BNMC employees and neighboring community members are encouraged to attend.
The purpose of the BNMC Fit event is to motivate, inform, and empower employees by offering knowledge and support of eating healthy, active living, and making small steps towards success in building a healthy future. The event will feature displays and demonstrations related to fun and active exercise options as well as demonstrations related to bike and pedestrian safety and education and transportation demos.
The event is scheduled to between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with an intended audience of 1000 employees from our nine member institutions.
Walking on Wednesdays is Back!
Walk during your lunch hour with your co-workers! Walking on Wednesdays (W.O.W.) , a great mid-day break walk, will get you back to work refreshed and ready to tackle the afternoon.
Join us at the RPCI Kaminski Park every Wednesday on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Walks are wp-contentroximately 1.5 miles. All walks begin at 12:10 p.m. and end at 12:40 p.m. Be sure to dress for the weather as walks take place whether it rains or shines, except if there is lightning.
Stop by the RPCI Farmer’s Market beginning June1 every Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. before or after each walk to get some fresh vegetables, fruits, jams, baked goods and more.
For your comfort and safety, please remember:
- Wear proper, comfortable footwear
- Watch for eye-level bushes and trees
- Watch for broken concrete, potholes and uneven surfaces
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
- Alert walk leaders and other walkers of unsafe conditions
- Walk leaders have cell phones and should be notified of any incidents so they can summon help if necessary
- Sun protection: sun block, (should be wp-contentlied a half hour before exposure) sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat
- Adequate hydration before, after and during the walk.
- Have fun!
BNMC Fit
This year's BNMC Fit event will feature health enhancing activities, raffle prizes and giveaways.
Don't miss this fun event. All BNMC employees and neighboring community members are encouraged to attend.
The purpose of the BNMC Fit event is to motivate, inform, and empower employees by offering knowledge and support of eating healthy, active living, and making small steps towards success in building a healthy future. The event will feature displays and demonstrations related to fun and active exercise options as well as demonstrations related to bike and pedestrian safety and education and transportation demos.
The event is scheduled to between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with an intended audience of 1000 employees from our nine member institutions.
First NYS Food Policy Council Formed to Improve Erie County Food System
The Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership, a national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation administered by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc., is thrilled to be a part of forming the first food policy council in New York State. This has been a goal of the HKHC partners for several years and we are so hwp-contenty to see our work come to fruition, thanks to the hard work of many within the City of Buffalo and Erie County. Below is the press release issued by Sean Mulligan in Councilmember Rivera's office.
To increase access to nutritious and healthy foods, the Erie County Board of Health has formed the Food Policy Council (FPC) of Buffalo and Erie County. Through a unanimous vote, the Board established the FPC in May 2013. The first of its kind in New York State, the FPC will act as an advisory resource for the implementation of innovative wp-contentroaches to establish better food systems for all municipalities throughout Erie County.
Advocating for the need of such a Council, food system partners garnered additional support from local policymakers and other stakeholders at the 2011 Buffalo Food Policy Summit. When national food policy experts attended the Summit to assess the state of and make recommendations on how to improve the area's food system, one of the recommendations was to create a food policy council. As a subcommittee of the Board, the FPC is a direct result of the work done by the food policy council steering committee put together by city of Buffalo officials in 2012.
The expertise of the FPC will advise decision makers on issues ranging from obesity and limited food access to economic development options. It will also help to establish local food procurement requirements and increasing opportunities to purchase food grown right here in Erie County.
There are many processes, stakeholders, regulations and resources that are involved with the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food. Policies can address regulation, sustainability and physical environment challenges that many residents face, preventing them from having healthy food options. Policies also help to establish healthy communities.
Members of the FPC will be named later this summer. The FPC will most likely comprise of experts from the food system, including farmers, distributors, retailers, consumer advocates, and representatives from government departments that have the potential to impact the food system, which typically include the departments of health, economic development, and planning.
The FPC was created after much preparation and support by many contributors, including the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo; W.D. Henry & Sons Farm; University of Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning; Good Earth, Inc; Healthy Kids- Healthy Communities Partnership, a program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Oles Family Farm; Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc.; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County; Buffalo City Councilmembers Michael LoCurto and David Rivera; Be Healthy Institute; Dash’s Market; Erie County Department of Environment and Planning & Department of Health; and the Massachusetts Avenue Project.
The FPC looks to convene its first meeting later this summer. If interested in participating, please contact: Sean Mulligan, 716-851-5125, smulligan@city-buffalo.com
May = National Bike Month
A number of events are lined up to celebrate National Bike Month here in Buffalo. Created to promote bicycling as a way to have fun, exercise and get from one point to another, National Bike Month is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. As a way to celebrate ways to preserve your health and the environment, enjoy the community at large and join a nationwide movement connecting bike-riders everywhere, this month is sure to offer frequent cyclists and those who just ride for fun the opportunity to help promote active and healthy lifestyles.
Join cyclists in your community by biking to work, school, destinations, and to various events in Buffalo to bring awareness to the importance of bicycle-friendly communities and the benefits that come with biking on a regular basis.
Events:
National Bike to School Day: Wednesday, May 8th
Bicycle Commuter Breakfast: Friday, May 17th 6:30 a.n. – 10 a.m. on the BNMC @ 929 Washington Street
National Bike to Work Day: Friday May 17th
National Bike to Work Week: Monday, May 13th – Friday, May 17th
Download the GObike Buffalo Bike Month events poster for an additional list of events around Buffalo. Visit GObike Buffalo for more information about creating sustainable transportation communities.
Play Streets® Comes to Buffalo
Play Streets® was created to help prevent and combat childhood obesity by the Partnership for a Healthier America and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Just like in various cities across the country, Play Streets® will come to Buffalo beginning Sunday, May 5th.
Select streets will be closed to cars and opened to the community to walk, ride bikes, skate and participate in physical activities like dancing, jumping rope, hula-hooping and even climbing a rock wall!
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Buffalo helped to shape the development of Play Streets® in Buffalo by providing concrete evidence of growing obesity trends and direct feedback from youth in our city regarding the impact of the environment on their health and well-being, as well as what they'd like to see to improve.
To continue collecting that important evidence, Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities partners are being summoned to assist with data collection at the Buffalo Play Streets® events.
Volunteers Needed!
- Volunteer teams of 2-3 people are needed to engage youth and adult participants.
- The volunteers will also need to make sure a survey is completed by the participants which should take no more than 10 minutes.
In order to reach the evaluation goal, 20 adult and 30 youth surveys need to be completed at each of the 5 events. People who complete a survey will receive an incentive, probably a frisbee. Of course, before and after the surveys have been completed, volunteers are free to hang out and enjoy all of the Play Streets® activities.
Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, clean-up and assisting event participants.If you'd like to volunteer or if you have any questions, please contact Henry Raess, Play Streets Coordinator by e-mail at henry@gobikebuffalo.org or by phone at 716.218-7161.
Events
People are encouraged to walk and bike to the events and throughout the events, where there are a number of activities to get you moving.
- Sunday, May 5th, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Manhattan Avenue (north of East Amherst Street, behind Bennett High School)
- Sunday, June 2nd – Hamlin Park
- Sunday, July 7th – Seneca/Babcock
- Sunday, August 4th – Allentown
- Sunday, September 1st – West Side (Rees St./Buff State/Richardson Complex)
Want to know more? Play Streets features a number of fun activities, including dance workshops, zumba, line-dancing, yoga, bike repair workshops, bike rodeos, a climbing wall, sports and games. Information on nutrition, health and wellness will be available. Buffalo Play Streets partner BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York will have their Healthy Zone Cruiser at each event, providing jump ropes and hula hoops for kids to play with and information on healthcare. In addition, Massachusetts Avenue Project’s Growing Green mobile market will be at several Play Streets, providing information on gardening and urban farming, growing seasons, recipes for preparing and cooking various vegetables and selling their fresh, locally-grown produce.
For more information, go to www.gobikebuffalo.org/programs/play-streets.
National NAACP Director of Health Programs Comes to Buffalo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Contact:
Kari Root Bonaro, BNMC, Inc.
716.218.7157, kbonaro@bnmc-old.local
MEDIA ALERT
National NAACP Director of Health Programs Comes to Buffalo
Shavon Arline-Bradley will talk about health equity, power and privilege
WHAT: “An Evening with Shavon Arline-Bradley, Director of Health Programs, NAACP” is a free event, open to the public, featuring a presentation by the nationally-renowned, dynamic speaker. The discussion will focus on empowering community members to advocate for healthier communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear about present and prevailing health disparities, socio-economic barriers and ways to combat each by using power, privilege and knowledge to help make decisions to increase individual and community health equity.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 24th at 6 p.m.
WHERE: WNED Studios – 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14202 (free parking available)
WHO: Shavon Arline-Bradley, MPH, Director of Health Programs, NAACP
Shavon Arline-Bradley is the national director of health programs for the NAACP where she is responsible for coordinating and planning the Association’s health agenda and program implementation efforts. Ms. Arline has over 11 years of public health experience in the areas of health disparities, federal and state government health program management, and community and stakeholder collaborative relationship building. The New Jersey native is a public health advocate and former track and field athlete. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ms. Arline is currently serving on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Childhood Obesity advisory board and was asked to serve on the expert advisory panel for the CDC’s Division of Physical Activity and Nutrition to address health disparities. Ms. Arline is also a member of the AIDSVu national advisory committee.
Ms. Arline is a sought after public speaker and has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Caribbean. She has been invited to national and regional conferences to present on disease prevention, exercise physiology, minority and women’s health issues as well as social justice. She also ministers to congregations as an advocate for faith based health, social justice initiatives and spiritual development.
Ms. Arline was awarded Young Leadership and Excellence honors and co-authored “The Queens Legacy” in 2009. She is a member of the Columbia (MD) Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and serves as the co-chair physical and mental health subcommittee of the national program planning and development committee. She is also a member of the Columbia (MD) chapter of the Links Inc. Shavon is also the former health committee chair for the Washington DC branch of the NAACP.
Prior to joining the NAACP, Ms. Arline served as the health programs coordinator of REACH 2010 at the Heart of New Orleans focusing on the heart health of over 1,300 African American women. At the Crater Health District (VA) she was the Community Health and Prevention Supervisor and public information officer and coordinated community health education and outreach programs, administrated grant funding and contractors, and served as the community liaison to the health district.
Ms. Arline served as Health Program Manager with the Black Women’s Health Imperative overseeing community outreach and program implementation for African American women and their families. She was also the Health and Wellness Manager for the National Recreation and Park Association in Ashburn, Virginia where she managed the Action Communities for Health Innovation and Environmental Change (ACHIEVE) program funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. and the Buffalo Branch of the NAACP
The event is free, but RSVP’s are requested. RSVP online at bnmc-old.local/events/health/or by phone at 716.854.2662.
About the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc.
The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC, Inc.) is the umbrella organization created in 2001 by the anchor institutions located within the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The BNMC, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that fosters conversation and collaboration among its member institutions, the 55+ private sector companies on the Medical Campus, 12,000 employees, and the community; coordinates activities related to sustainable planning, development and enhancement of its 120-acre space; and works to create a distinct, innovative environment that provides opportunities for entrepreneurship and active and healthy living. The BNMC, Inc. also works with partners throughout the community to develop healthier, greener, and more economical solutions to meet the needs of our growing urban campus and the region as a whole. bnmc-old.local
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NAACP Director of Health Programs Comes to Buffalo for Health Talk
Partnering with the Buffalo Branch of NAACP, the BNMC will welcome Shavon Arline-Bradley, MPH, Director of Health Programs for the NAACP, to Buffalo. On Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. at WNED Studios (140 Lower Terrace), Arline-Bradley will talk about power and privilege – and how to use both – in advocating for healthy communities.
Arline-Bradley received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and her Master Public Health degree in Community Health from Tulane University. Having participated in research examining minority health disparities, she has also led numerous community outreach initiatives to promote wellness and healthy communities. With 10 years of experience in public health, Arline-Bradley now focuses on promoting NAACP's national four-tiered wp-contentroach health agenda to improve the health and well being of communities of color. She is passionate about public health, healthy eating and physical activity and dedicated to providing local NAACP chapters with the resources they need to be successful.
Learn more about Arline-Bradley and NAACP health programs here.
RSVP to attend here. This free event is open to the public.
