Newsletter: April - May 2009
Working Together
April 2009
The monthly newsletter of
Common Pathways
A coalition of Greater Worcester's residents and organizations
working together toward a healthier community for all
Dear Greater Worcester residents:
Common Pathways is a five-year-old coalition of residents and organizations working together toward a healthier community for all in Greater Worcester. We proudly present the premier edition of our monthly newsletter, Working Together.
In the April 2009 edition of Working Together, we report on the following:
Community News: Healthy weight in children is a primary focus
Opportunities to Take Action
Snap Shot: Childhood Overweight & Obesity Trends
Profile in Collaboration: Worcester Community Housing Resources
Other Resources & Initiatives
Media Coverage
After reviewing significant amounts of data and completing the Worcester Community Indicators Report, we are ready to focus on "actions" that can move forward and improve the status of the identified indicators With this purpose in mind, Common Pathways has organized all its community partners into 10 Work Groups to plan, implement and evaluate specific initiatives related to the purpose of each group.
These times of difficult financial conditions make it more evident of the need to work together, innovate and maximize our efforts to improve the quality of our community life. Please review our Work and Governance Groups and their related activities, listed below in "Opportunities to Take Action," and let us know which are of interest to you.
If you would like to share your Worcester "healthy communities" news and information for use in the April edition of Working Together, or if you would like to serve on one of Common Pathways' Work or Governance Groups, please call us at 508-438-0515 x13 or e-mail us at commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com)
Sincerely,
Carlton Watson
Chair, Leadership Council
Clara Savage
Project Director
508-438-0515 X13csavage [at] commonpathways [dot] org ( )commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com)
www.commonpathways.org
Community News
Common Pathways takes healthy-community actions to benefit all Greater Worcester people. Healthy weight in children is a primary focus.
Common Pathways, Greater Worcester's healthy-community initiative, has completed a report on community-health data regarding several vital themes. As a result of this multi-year, community-based effort, Common Pathways is now focusing on actions to make progress on the community indicators contained in the report. This includes promoting and coordinating activities of many organizations and individuals seeking to improve health status, with a particular emphasis on impacting positively healthy weight in children.
With these goals in mind, Common Pathways has organized its partners into 10 Work Groups (click here, to learn about them) to plan, implement and evaluate specific initiatives related to the purpose of each group. We are inviting and welcoming citizens, residents and organizations of Worcester and its nine contiguous towns (Auburn, Boylston, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Paxton, Shrewsbury and West Boylston) to join us as we work together for a better Greater Worcester for all.
During this phase, Common Pathways is focusing on these four key activities.
1. Promotion of the actions of the five recipients of funding from the UMass Memorial Health Care & Common Pathways grant program, which that are addressing issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition in order to achieve healthy weight in children. The five recipients are:
Great Brook Valley Health Center
Plumley Village Health Services
Click here for more information on each of the five recipients.
2. Participation in the YMCA's Pioneering Healthier Communities events and activities. This community-leadership initiative aims to do the following:
Raise the visibility of lifestyle health issues in the national policy debate
Encourage and support local communities in developing more effective strategies to promote healthy lifestyles
3. Promotion and distribution of the printed summary of the Worcester Community Indicators 2008 report (shown here), which directs citizens and organizations to the full report on the Common Pathways website.
· For copies of the printed summary, call 508-438-0515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
· Click here to view and/or download the full report, in PDF format.
4. Promotion of actions by Common Pathways regarding its six action priority areas:
Economic Development
Education
Housing
Mental Health & Social Services
Public Health & Medical Services
Transportation
To learn more about Common Pathways, contact Clara Savage, Project Director, 508-438-0515 X13 or commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com), or visit www.commonpathways.org.
Opportunities to Take Action
Through Common Pathways, we have many ways for you as a Greater Worcester resident to get involved in the numerous healthy-community activities and events.
Whether you want to serve on one or more of Common Pathways' Work Groups and Governance Committees, and/or commit yourself to a particular project, event or activity, we at Common Pathways can help you to find just the right thing for your interests. Call us at 508-483-0515 x13, or e-mail us at commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Work Group & Governance Committee meetings
Click here to view Common Pathways' 10 current Work Groups and two Governance Committees. Shown, below, are the immediately upcoming Work Group and Governance Committee meetings that are presently schedule.
Monday, May 4 - MassCONECT meeting: This group coordinates all MassCONECT (Massachusetts Community Networks to Eliminate Cancer Disparities through Education, Research and Training) initiatives between Greater Worcester's academic and general communities regarding cancer prevention, community outreach, community-based participatory research and community discussion regarding the determinants of community health. This group meets from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Common Pathways, 44 Front St., Suite 280, in downtown Worcester. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Thursday, May 14 - Public Health & Medical Services Working Group meeting: This group is devoted to addressing the issues related to overweight and obesity in Worcester by promoting physical activity, wellness and healthy nutrition for children, youth, families, employees and the community at large. This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Common Pathways, 44 Front St., Suite 280, in downtown Worcester. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline@gmail.com).
Wednesday, May 20 - Education Working Group meeting: This group seeks to create and maintain a strong partnership between the public schools and surrounding community and to identify current challenges affecting children and youth through the Youth Behavior Risk Survey. It will promote community support in response to the survey's results by seeking initiatives that focus on youth academic success as well as physical and emotional development. This group meets from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Common Pathways, 44 Front St., Suite 280, in downtown Worcester. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Thursday, May 21, Steering Committee meeting: This group provides operational direction and oversight of Common Pathways activities within the context of the Common Pathways approved work plan. The committee is comprised of 12 to 14 members. Each member also serves as a member of the Leadership Council. This group meets from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at 44 Front St., Suite 280, in downtown Worcester. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Thursday, June 18: General Membership meeting: This annual meeting takes place from 7:45 to 10:00 a.m. a location to be determined. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Thursday, September 24: Leadership Council meeting: This group is responsible for the overall governance of Common Pathways as well as providing connection to resources to accomplish the mission of Common Pathways. The Council is comprised of 20 to 30 representatives of key community sectors with diverse representation from Worcester and the nine contiguous towns, which comprise Community Health Needs Area (CHNA) 8. It meets three times per year and each member is responsible to attend at least one General Membership meeting per year. This group meets from 7:45 to 10:00 a.m. at a location to be determined. For more information, call 508-438-01515 x13 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
Other healthy-community happenings
Shown, below, are those that are presently schedule.
April - Central Massachusetts Regional Employment Board to receive federal funds for summer youth jobs program: This program is for youth who are 16 to 24 years old and meet federal Workforce Investment Act income guidelines. The program will be managed by a yet-to-be-determined local provider. Employment sites in both the public and private sectors are being sought. A recruitment process for youth will soon be established and announced. For more information, call 508-799-1509.
Wednesday, May 6 - Worcester Police Department 5th Annual Youth Summit: This event takes place from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. Chief Gary Gemme invites all teens and parents in Worcester to participate. There will be information on summer programs, camps and resources, interactive activities and more. Discounted event parking is available in CitySquare's Commercial Street garage. For more information, call 508-799-8684.
Wednesday, May 6 - Worcester Community Action Council's Third Annual Action Hero Award Event: This event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in downtown Worcester. Dr. Melinda Boone, incoming superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $35, and seating is limited. To reserve a seat or for more information, call 508-754-1176 x128.
Friday, May 8 - From Data to Action: Sharing ways to maximize resources, talent and opportunities to reach healthy solutions for our community's benefit - This informational meeting for Greater Worcester communities takes place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Worcester Department of Public Health, 25 Meade St., Room 109, Worcester. For more information, call 508-438-0515 or e-mail commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (c)commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (ommonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com).
How to find and post calendar items
for free on SocialWeb.net
To learn of additional upcoming healthy-communities meetings, events and activities in Greater Worcester, visit SocialWeb.net and do the following:
1. On the left side of the home page, hit "Calendar of Events" and "Search."
2. On the Search page, enter your search criteria. Suggestion: Under "Event Topic," select "Health."
You can also post your own calendar items at SocialWeb.net.
1. If you are new to SocialWeb.net, hit "Get a Free Account" on the left side of the home page and register for a free account.
2. Once you have registered for a free account, return to the home page and hit "Calendar of Events" and "Add Event," on the left side of the home page.
3. Follow the "Add a New Event" instructions.
To learn more about Common Pathways, contact Clara Savage, Project Director, 508-438-0515 X13 or commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com), or visit www.commonpathways.org.
Snap Shot
Childhood Overweight & Obesity Trends
Click here to visit the National Centers for Disease Control web page containing an alphabetized list of the 50 states. Once there, click on a particular state's name -- i.e. Massachusetts -- to view information regarding that state's diabetes prevention and control programs.
Click here to visit the Common Pathways web page containing a summary of the request for proposals for UMass-Memorial Health Care & Common Pathways obesity grants.
The trends
The problem of childhood overweight and obesity is a primary focus of many of Common Pathways' activities. The reason is the significant growth in the incidence of diabetes in our children
According to the National Centers for Disease Control:
Each year, more than 13,000 young people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Each year, more than 13,000 young people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes begins when the body develops a resistance to insulin and no longer uses the insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar.
Health-care providers are finding more and more children with type 2 diabetes, a disease usually diagnosed in adults aged 40 years or older.
The epidemics of obesity and the low level of physical activity among young people, as well as exposure to diabetes in utero, may be major contributors to the increase in type 2 diabetes during childhood and adolescence.
Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents already appears to be a sizable and growing problem among U.S. children and adolescents. Better physician awareness and monitoring of the disease's magnitude will be necessary.
Standard case definitions, guidelines for treatment, and approval of oral hypoglycemic agents (to lower blood sugar) are urgently required for children and adolescents.
Learn more
For more information regarding type 1 and 2 diabetes, visit these websites:
American Diabetes Association, which provides a Spanish-language option for each of its web pages.
Mass. Department of Public Health - Diabetes Prevention & Control Program
To lean more about either childhood overweight and obesity trends or Common Pathways, contact Clara Savage, Project Director, 508-438-0515 X13 orcommonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com ( commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com), or visit www.commonpathways.org.
Profile in Collaboration
Common Pathways celebrates the great partnership of the City of Worcester and Worcester Community Housing Resources to make Worcester a healthier city
The Harrigan family poses outside their home at
5 King St., an affordable-rental property managed
by Worcester Community Housing Resources.
At a glance:
Healthy-community partner: Worcester Community Housing Resources Inc.
Location:11 Pleasant St., Ste. 300, Worcester, MA 01609
Phone: 508-799-0322
E-mail: mwally [at] wchr [dot] org (mwally [at] wchr [dot] org)
Website: www.wchr.org
Mission: To help create and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and individuals and to initiate and support neighborhood revitalization in the greater Worcester area.
Description of healthy-community work:
1. Operates the Community Loan Fund: Comprised of investments from socially responsible individuals and organizations, the Community Loan Fund provides underserved families with financing to do the following: complete necessary home repairs, addressing health- and safety-related items; prevent foreclosures through catch-up loans and assistance with refinance; and purchase their first home with down-payment and closing-cost assistance loans. The Community Loan Fund also provides financing for predevelopment activities and interim construction financing to developers of affordable housing in Worcester County. The loan distributions are as follows: affordable housing loans, 56%; housing loans to individuals, 38%; Neighborhood business loans, 5%; and Non-profit facility improvements (non-housing), 1%. The investor composition is as follows: foundations, 30%; religious institutions, 28.7%; credit unions, 20.3%; individuals, 11.2%; social investments/trusts, 7.3%; and colleges/universities, 2.5%.
2. Administers the Receivership Program: The Worcester receivership program, funded in part by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership and in collaboration with the City of Worcester is designed to help stabilize troubled properties and prevent the displacement of tenants when property owners have reneged on their responsibilities. Worcester Community Housing Resources provides technical assistance and provides financing to local agencies in order to preserve tenancies and stabilize properties going through foreclosure.
3. Manages Rental Property: WCHR owns and manages 90 affordable rental units, ranging from single room occupancy rooming houses to four bedroom family apartment housing,. For many, WCHR housing is the first decent, safe, and stable home they have ever lived in.
Results of healthy-community work:
1. Community Loan Fund: Has distributed more than $8.6 million to accomplish the following: provide more than 200 families in greater Worcester with home improvement, down-payment and foreclosure-prevention loans; and facilitate the construction and renovation of more than 225 affordable-housing units in Worcester.
2. Receivership Program: Has stabilized living arrangements for 32 Worcester families to date and, by extension, the neighborhoods in which they reside. The initiative has inspected 19 residential properties, totaling 71 housing units, as potential receivership cases. Receivers have been appointed for five of those properties and the owners of five other properties, when faced with potential receivership, have made repairs to their properties.
3. Property Management: Provides 90 units of affordable rental housing in Worcester, including 55 units of single room occupancy homes. We house 37 children under 18 years of age in our family housing units. For many of our tenants, WCHR housing provides the most safe, stable, and affordable option our clients have ever experienced.
Learn more:
Click here to listen to a 30-minute interview with Matthew Wally, executive director of Worcester Community Housing Resources, in March 2009 for The Business Beat on WICN/90.5 FM.
Click here to view an article titled "Friends in Need: Low-income homeowners rescued by a low-key corporation," in the April 12, 2009 Telegram & Gazette, which highlights the work of Worcester Community Housing Resources.
To learn more about Common Pathways, contact Clara Savage, Project Director, 508-438-0515 X13 or commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com), or visit www.commonpathways.org.
Common Pathways has access to a wealth of information and data regarding healthy-community initiatives
Click here for healthy-community resources and initiatives in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the U.S.
Click here for a summary of the request for proposals for UMass-Memorial Health Care & Common Pathways obesity grants.
Click here for the Massachusetts Office of Healthy Communities website.
Click here for the Central Mass. Center for Health Communities web page.
Click here for the Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission website.
Click here for the Worcester Regional Transit Authority website.
Click here for the City of Worcester website.
Click here for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.
Click here for the United States Government website.
Click here for the Disabled American Veterans website.
Click here for the DataPlace.org website, where you can research and download, at no charge, housing and other demographic data compiled by KnowledePlex regarding Greater Worcester (Worcester, Auburn, Boylston, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Paxton, Shrewsbury, West Boylston) -- plus all other Mass. and U.S. cities and towns.
Click here to view the trailer for the PBS documentary Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
Click here to learn more about the Worcester County premiere of Unnatural Causes.
For additional healthy-community information and data resources, or to learn more about Common Pathways, contact Clara Savage, Project Director, 508-438-0515 X13 or commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com), or visit www.commonpathways.org
Media Coverage
Common Pathways is actively telling its story to the Greater Worcester community
Soapbox interview, now online 24/7 in MP4 format: Clara Savage (center), project director of Common Pathways, and Dawn Clark (left), community-advocacy coordinator of the Center for Living & Working are interviewed recently by Mauro DePasqale (right) for a 30-minute Soapbox episode on WCCA-TV/Channel 13. They talk about healthy weight in children plus Common Pathways' Transportation Forum for Greater Worcester Employers in June.
Click here to watch this 30-minute Soapbox episode 24/7 in MP4 format.
Let's Talk interview, now online 24/7 in MP3 format: Clara Savage, project director of Common Pathways, and Dawn Clark, community advocacy coordinator of the Center for Living and Working and a member of Common Pathways' Leadership Council, Steering Committee, and Transportation Work Group, are interviewed by Troy Tyree on Let's Talk on WCUW/91.3 FM. They talk about healthy-children efforts, this May's From Data to Action meeting for Greater Worcester communities, this June's Transportation Forum for Greater Worcester employers, and this summer's Worcester Youth Jobs program.
Click here to hear to this 30-minute Let's Talk interview in MP3 format.
On Sunday, May 3 at 10 p.m., Clara Savage, project director of Common Pathways, and Dawn Clark, community-advocacy coordinator of the Center for Living & Working, will interviewed by Steve D'Agostino for a 30-minute The Business Beat episode on WICN/90.5 FM.
Click here to hear a 2 minute 56 second audio highlight of this Business Beat interview 24/7 in MP3 format.
Click here on Sunday, May 3 at 10 p.m. to hear this 30-minute Business Beat interview in streaming audio.
Click here as of Monday, May 4, to hear this 30-minute Business Beat interview 24/7 in MP3 format.
To arrange a media interview with Common Pathways representatives, contact Steve Jones-D'Agostino at 508-930-8675 or steve [at] bestrateofclimb [dot] com (steve [at] bestrateofclimb [dot] com).
Story & Profile Ideas: We are always looking for inspirational and motivational healthy-community stories and profiles for upcoming editions of Working Together. The deadline for story and profile ideas for the May edition of Working Together is Friday, May 1. Please send your ideas to Clara Savage, project coordinator, at commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com). Or, call her at 508-438-0515 x13.
News, Activity & Event Tips: Have healthy-community news you'd like to share? Planning a healthy-community activity or event? The deadline for news, activities and events for the May edition of Working Together is Friday, May 1. Please send your information by then to Clara Savage, project coordinator, atcommonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com ( commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com). Or, call her at 508-438-0515 x13.
Common Pathways, 44 Front St., Suite 280, Worcester, MA 01608
508-438-0515 commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com (commonpathwaysonline [at] gmail [dot] com) www.commonpathways.org