Blog

  • AHA Digs in at Run for the Oaks

    Last Saturday was a great day to be in downtown Raleigh. In addition to St. Patrick's Day festivities, the City of Raleigh's Run for the Oaks at Moore Square. AHA partner, Raleigh Parks & Recreation invited us out to let the community know about DIG IN! on April 17th at Marbles.

     

  • Fresh Local Produce in Downtown Raleigh

    Today's post was written by Downtown Living Advocates member Caroline Hope Griffith. Check out the DLA website!

    When St. Saviour’s Center, a community outreach ministry in Glenwood South, asked me (as a volunteer) to help them strengthen their connections with the surrounding community, I immediately thought of Britt Farms and their fresh produce delivery service. What better way to bring people together than through food, which nourishes bodies and relationships? Saint Saviour's, 616 Tucker Street, RaleighTogether, we decided that a local produce delivery service could be just the right solution. Fresh fruit and vegetables delivered weekly would support local business, promote healthy eating, and build the relationship between the Center and its neighbors.

  • Healthy Active Communities

    Today's blog post was written by Sheree Thaxton Vodicka, MA, RD, LDN. Sheree is the Communications Manager for the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch at NCDPH. Sheree not only talks the talk when it comes to healthy living, she sets a great example on how to live well for those who surround her.

     

     

     

  • AHA Needs Your Help!

    Many times I am asked how folks can get involved in the work of AHA. The answer varies depending on the projects we are working on and the interests of the volunteer. In addition to specific opportunities, I always provide the standard answer of "help us change our culture." People often ask me what that means.  Simply put- walk the walk, and talk the talk. Don't expect anyone to do anything you would not do yourself.  Lead by example and show others the way to good health through your actions.

  • Community Gardens--DIG IN!!

    Today's blog entry was written by Caroline Um and Christina Wyatt, nutrition students in the School of Public Health at UNC.

    Community gardens are a growing trend across the nation and they are quickly making their way into Wake County! Join AHA partners at Marbles Kids Museum (Downtown Raleigh) Saturday April 17 from 9 am - 12:30 pm to learn the down and dirty on community gardening.  The summit will provide participants with the knowlege to start, maintain, manage and enjoy the wonderful benefits of building a sustainable garden in the neighborhood, workplace, school or worship group!Participants will also be provided with the skills to engage the community in the work of community gardening. The event  will include interactive breakout sessions led by community gardening experts, educational booths, and optional offsite community garden tours.

  • School Foods Could Soon Get Make-Over; How YOU can help!

    The foods children are exposed to at school make a significant difference in their eating behaviors and subsequently their overall health. With childhood obesity rates skyrocketing, the time to get healthier foods in schools is now.

  • Wake County Medical Society Gets Serious About Employee Wellness

    This entry was written by Tami Hilton from Community Care of Wake and Johnston County.  She shares with us how the Wake County Medical Society has created an extremely successful (and fun) employee wellness program.     

    I have never blogged but am so excited about what the Wake County Medical Society has offered their employees this year... an Employee Health Promotion Plan!!!! It works like this:  If you choose to participate you can receive up to $200 for agreeing to incorporate some healthy lifestyle choices into your life.

  • Resources for Physical Activity in Wake County

    If you are anything like me, the short burst of warm weather gave you a bit of spring fever.  We are fortunate in Wake County that we have an extensive trails and greenways system that can be used both for physical activity and transportation. Exploring our greenways system is a fun way to be physically active. Don't forget to check out our Wake County Greenways Maps to find new parks and trails! Some of us prefer to mix some classes into our fitness routines to provide motivation and new ideas. Don't forget to check out the AHA Resource page for a list of places to be physically active. If you live in the western part of the county, the Town of Cary has several classes for both youth and adults you can try! No matter how you like to be active, we have many options in our community! Get out and use them!

  • The Food Dude and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

    Hi there all you Advocates for Health in Action,

    We mentioned previously how the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and AHA share a desire for healthy communities and that we work together on making it happen. For example, our Director of Nutrition Katherine Andrew and our Director of Programs Tonya Post both work on AHA committees. Katherine Co-Chairs the Community Garden Workgroup and Tonya chairs the Engagement and Inclusion Workgroup.  In honor of all the ways we work together, we created a short video to celebrate being healthy. Check out the Food Dude starring in“Energy Boost”.

     

  • Become a part of protecting our greenways

    Within several years, your greenway system in the Triangle will soon span hundreds of miles from the Falls Lake Dam through Raleigh or down the Neuse River to Umstead Park, Cary (and many more towns and cities) connecting up to the American Tobacco Trail and then to Durham. AMAZING!!!! But now the greenway system is under threat of being severed by a small group of VERY vocal neighbors in Summerfield North subdivision, (North Raleigh off Strickland Rd.) who are literally objecting to signage directing users through their subdivision on public streets and sidewalks for the 2 ½ blocks to where the greenway restarts heading south towards Shelly Lake. Staff has said they have never seen such a rude and vocal group of citizens at a public meetings shouting down our supporters and basically making a spectacle. They proposed two alternate routes that would add unnecessary time, cost and distance to a direct link though the neighborhood. (You might be reading the ongoing battle in the N. Raleigh News) They are making the same old tired arguments about crime, vandals and property values; all of which is totally untrue and in fact, the opposite is true.