Anti-Obesity Push Revs Up

Children in the Hill and Fair Haven neighborhoods will get a a boost to make healthier food choices and to have a more active lifestyles.

The boost comes from a $120,000 grant to New Haven from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Association to help the city fight obesity.

Mayor Toni Harp announced Wednesday that her administration will use the money to target 240 public school children who live in the Hill and Fair Haven neighborhoods, and their families, through a ​“Health In Your Hands” anti-obesity program.

Working with community and faith-based partners, the Health in Your Hands program will train community chefs to provide workshops and demonstrations on how to prepare, fresh, healthy and culturally appropriate food. Members of these communities, including some of the youngest members, also will get help planting food in personal gardens and in neighborhood gardens.

The grant will be leveraged with resources from the city’s Health Department and the Parks, Recreation and Trees Department. Groups participating in the program include New Haven Farms, Cooking Matters, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center and the Urban Resources Initiatives. The facilities of faith-based organization also will have a role to play in providing demonstration and activity spaces.

Increasing access to more healthful foods is one component of the program. So is increasing physical activity.

City Community Services Administrator Martha Okafor said she has received community requests to incorporate different kinds of dance.

The city is partnering with Alisa Bowens (pictured) of Alisa’s House of Salsa to provide dance instruction and coaching, so that people can go back into their communities and share what they learn with their neighbors.