– Photo courtesy of Oakland County
Healthy Pontiac, We Can! members celebrated the coalition’s achievements and five-year anniversary.
The Healthy Pontiac, We Can! (HPWC) coalition, facilitated by the Oakland County Health Division, released its five year report Tuesday highlighting some of its accomplishments in the city of Pontiac. These accomplishments include improving access to parks and healthy food for residents. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Health Division Manager/Health Officer Kathy Forzley, and Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman joined keynote speaker Sonia Acosta from Centro Multicultural La Familia and more than 50 HPWC members to commemorate the coalition's achievements and five-year anniversary.
"Healthy Pontiac, We Can! has brought together many diverse partners to improve access to physical activity and nutritious food for Pontiac residents," Patterson said. "The coalition has secured almost $2 million in state and federal funds and leveraged significant local resources to achieve this."
The HPWC five year report highlights its accomplishments in Pontiac which include:
- A partnership with the Friends of the Clinton River Trail and Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs to ensure the trail in Pontiac is maintained as a natural, local resource that inspires physical activity.
- Working with the Friends of Pontiac Parks Association and the city of Pontiac to make improvements that beautify and enhance the usability of Pontiac's parks.
- Supporting the Oakland County Sheriff Police Athletic League to make youth recreation leagues available to local youth.
- Improving healthy eating and supporting better nutrition within Pontiac, HPWC has worked with local churches, schools, and organizations to provide assistance with policy and environmental changes.
- Development of the bilingual Healthy Bites Campaign, using the "Go, Slow, Whoa" slogan, to direct shoppers at local grocery stores to healthier options.
- Increasing availability and affordability of fresh produce in Pontiac by encouraging innovative alternative healthy food retail models such as pop-up produce markets and Gleaners' Fresh Food Share program.
"Many partnerships have been formed and sustained over the last five years, and that is truly what keeps Healthy Pontiac, We Can! going strong," said Forzley. "We are all committed to addressing the city's most pertinent issues, using data to set and monitor progress towards goals, and engaging partners and residents in meaningful, decision-making roles."
"As a community striving toward encouragement of a healthy lifestyle and activities we can accomplish so much more from working with like-minded groups. No single group or agency can make a community healthy - so much more can happen by working together," said Mayor Waterman. "Partnerships help make our resources work smarter and are the backbone of how Healthy Pontiac, We Can! improves quality of life in Pontiac."
Several agencies and key members were also honored at Tuesday's celebration: All Saints' Episcopal Church, Baldwin Center, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, Centro Multicultural La Familia, Oakland University, and Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority received awards for five years of dedication to HPWC. Ten individuals, including Oakland County Commissioner David Bowman, were also honored for their leadership and assistance in furthering HPWC's mission.
The Health Division formed HPWC in 2011 to help Pontiac residents gain access to healthy food, become active, and live tobacco free. The coalition includes a diverse group of primary and preventative healthcare professionals, mental health experts, human service agency specialists, educators, clergy, government leaders, and local residents.
For additional information on Healthy Pontiac, We Can!, visit www.healthypontiac.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @HealthyPontiac.
Published: Thu, Jun 16, 2016
