New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s CHALK (Choosing Healthy & Active Lifestyles for Kids) is a community-based childhood obesity prevention program working with a coalition of over 50 businesses, organizations and community leaders to promote healthy lifestyles to families in the Washington Heights/Inwood community. CHALK is funded by a New York State Department of Health grant. NewYork-Presbyterian is one of only three hospitals to receive this grant and be recognized as a “Center for Best Practices in Childhood Obesity Prevention and Reduction.” The CHALK program helped First Lady Michelle Obama develop her own community-based childhood obesity strategy, Let’s Move. CHALK also helped introduce the area’s first hospital-based farmers’ market.
Who was there? The president & CEO of the hospital, Dr. Herbert Padres, the senior vice president, Ambulatory Care & Patient Centered Services at the hospital, Jaclyn A. Mucaria, M.P.A., as well as community organizations, elected officials, and local businesses. The event also worked with local supermarkets, restaurants, and after-school programs to promote healthy products and lifestyles, develop healthy menu options that represent the neighborhood’s culturally diverse cuisine, and eat healthy foods and exercise.
Photos by Rene Perez
