Bayview HEAL Zone is launched

Saturday, February 11th was a fabulous day to launch the Bayview HEAL Zone, a three-year Kaiser Permanente-funded grant which was officially kicked off at the MLK Pool complex.

The event featured many free and fun fitness activities with over 200 participating adults, children and seniors.  Forty walkers walked the HEAL Zone from MLK Pool to the SuperSave store along 3rd Street.  At the pool, much splashing, kicking and hitting (balls!) as well as shimmying and shaking were enjoyed by the young and older alike.

The crowd was energized by remarks from Kenneth Hill and Antonia Williams, Food Guardians, Tomas Aragon, MD,  DPH's Health Officer, and Neal Hatten from the Bayview Y.  HEAL Zone Coordinator Cheryl Davis emceed the program and six mini-grant recipients funded through UCSF's SF Health Improvement Project were announced  by Paula Fleischer.

Free produce from the SF Wholesale Produce Market preceeded a healthy meal prepared by Chef Kevin Tucker.  Advisory Committe member, Dwayne Robinson, Bayview Barber College, provided free hair cuts.  SF Parks and Recreation deserves a big splash of gratitude for offering FREE swim! The BVHP Y's Michael Bennett and the many volunteers did a great job organizing what was a healthy, fun day!

Related news: The Southeast Food Access (SEFA) working group - which is central to the HEAL Zone work - will be holding its February monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28th from 3:30-5 pm at the Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith St). All are welcome to join us!

In late January, the SEFA Food Guardians attended a 2-day peer education training led by Kaiser Permanente's African-American Health Initiative. After attending this training, the Food Guardians have become certified to lead "Caring for Your Family's Health" workshops, which focus on health inequities in the African-American community and ways participants can incorporate prevention to take charge of their family's health, particularly with diet and exercise.  

The Food Guardians finished compiling all the data gathered from the SEFA Retail Standards for Health and Sustainability assessment, which was conducted in 24 corner and grocery stores in late 2011.

They are currently organizing these findings to be able to provide each store owner with a feedback folder with their assessment results, a summary of store strengths and suggestions for improvement, tip sheets on purchasing and handling produce, and a list of products that meet nutritional standards.  more

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Bayview Footprints is grateful to Bayview HEAL Zone for underwriting the cost of this space, and looks forward to keeping our readers up-to-date about the program's successes.