ANNOUNCEMENT: 2019 Healthier JC Mini Grantees!
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop just sent out this press release about our 2019 Culture of Health Mini-Grantees! Congratulations to you all, and we look forward to featuring you on this very blog in the near future!!! PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHIER JERSEY CITY ANNOUNCES 2019 CULTURE OF HEALTH MINI-GRANT AWARDEES JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the Partnership for a Healthier Jersey City, an Office within the Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services, are proud to announce the complete list of 2019 Culture of Health Mini-Grantees. This year’s grant recipients are part of the largest ever group of awardees, with a total grant funding of nearly $100,000. The 2019 Culture of Health Mini-Grants are the final major expenditure of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health grant that was awarded to the City of Jersey City in 2014. Since then, the City has been [...]
Jersey City will shine on June 20—World Refugee Day
By Mike McLean, Immigrant Affairs Division Director World Refugee Day will not only show who we are, but what we can become. As millions around the globe recognize World Refugee Day, Jersey City will shine on June 20, showcasing community action, public and non-profit partnerships, and the resilience of our newest refugee and asylee neighbors. • The Division of Immigrant Affairs will publish a comprehensive study of refugee and asylee resettlement in Jersey City. Conducted by Church World Service, the report informs how our collaborative public health strategy can better address short-term resettlement needs to ensure long-term citywide gains. According to the New American Economy, refugees make enormous economic contributions, become citizens, and consistently engage in democracy. • Mayor Steven M. Fulop will sign a Mayoral Proclamation on Jersey City’s commitment to refugees and asylees. Himself a decedent of Holocaust survivors, the Mayor will highlight Jersey City’s role in welcoming [...]
4th Annual Keep Jersey City Beautiful Day: A Recap!
On Saturday, April 13th, Jersey City celebrated the fourth annual “Keep Jersey City Beautiful Day.” Each year, this day brings thousands of Jersey City residents together to focus on litter reduction, recycling, greening initiatives, and neighborhood beautification. Clean up activities took place across the City, including at Adopt-A-Lot (AAL) community gardens. This program allows residents to transform vacant City-owned properties into community gardens. During Keep Jersey City Beautiful Day, AAL gardens held open hours for the public to stop by, learn how to become a member, and get their hands in the soil. Riverview Community Garden is one of Jersey City's longest-running Adopt-a-Lot Gardens For more information on how to become a member or volunteer, contact Carena Miles, Healthy Food Access Coordinator, at 201-547-5289. Make sure to visit any of our five Adopt-A-Lots including: Brunswick Community Garden (174-176 Brunswick St) The Children’s Garden (280 Grove St) Mandela Lot [...]
All About: Mental Health First Aid!
Imagine you are in your local grocery store, and you see a fellow shopper who appears to have trouble breathing. She cannot seem to catch her breath, looks troubled and scared. What do you do? Call 9-1-1? Keep Shopping? Alert another shopper? Ask her if she needs help? This is a disturbing situation, and one that can happen almost anywhere. There is help available. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a wonderful resource that can help provide answers. What is Mental Health First Aid? Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an 8-hour course that gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, helping the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. What do people learn in a Mental Health First Aid course? Just [...]
Convening on Violence Prevention
Mayor Fulop announces the formation of a Violence Prevention Task Force When people say “there is an epidemic of violence,” they recognize that violence is like a contagious disease. As such, public health strategies are effective ways to treat and prevent violence in ways that law enforcement cannot. On May 8, Mayor Steven Fulop announced an executive order establishing a Violence Prevention Task Force to develop a community and health-based plan to reduce violent deaths and injuries in Jersey City. “Violence has terrible effects on individuals and communities,” Mayor Fulop said. “No level of violence is acceptable in our community.” The executive order was signed as part of a gathering of people and organizations involved in violence prevention work in Jersey City. In addition to Mayor Fulop’s announcement of the task force, the group received a completed Community Violence Needs Assessment. Jennifer Jones gave a presentation on Jersey [...]
Featured Mini Grantee – Samuel R. Shelton VFW Post 2294
Tony Goodson, Commander of VFW post 2294 The Samuel R. Shelton VFW Post 2294 has been serving Jersey City's veteran community since its establishment in 1931. Funding from the HealthierJC initiative has enabled VFW Post 2294 to continue its hands-on approach of providing for their brothers and sisters in arms. We asked them the same five questions as all of our 2018 Mini-Grantees, and here are their answers: What does building a Culture of Health mean to you? The Samuel R. Shelton VFW Post 2294 is a staple of the community that has steadfastly maintained assistance and readiness programming for local veterans. What would you identify as your most significant accomplishment so far towards building a greater culture of health? The Post runs a monthly program called Feed The Vets, where Jersey City veterans, regardless of their eligibility to enroll in VFW, are welcome to enjoy food, fellowship, [...]