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And the Oscar® for the best video goes to…
…the University of South Carolina Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health's GoodBodies program for its "We Can MOVE IT!" video! Okay, so the Columbia-based program that has been spreading the We Can! word since September 2007 didn't exactly receive an Oscar: instead the fact that they won the most public votes in the program's first video contest is winning them recognition for their local We Can! programming; and to support those programs. The minute-long video was shot at USC's Blatt Physical Education Center and features siblings Brooks and Grant Burdette, and Rebecca Cuevas (the daughter of GoodBodies program coordinator Barbara Cuevas)! The video was just one of several Summer 2010 activities applauding the efforts of an array of We Can! supporters—including community sites, partners, and supporting organizations—to spread the program's message and help whole families stay at a healthy weight. The contest launched in early July and voting closed on July 20. Over the course of 19 days, some 1,500 people logged on to the We Can! Facebook page and voted for their favorite video. It was a hard call because the videos were all creative and unique, but in the end "We Can MOVE IT!" won by approximately 280 votes. Check out all nine finalists on Facebook if you haven't already. Don't go anywhere yet, though, or you'll miss exciting updates on other summer events. Not only did the video contest spread awareness of the program: We Can! posters that ran in over 4,000 buses and subway cars in 13 different cities around the country brought the program to the attention of approximately 335 million people. The latter of these highly visible activities promoted the program's three key behaviors—eating right, moving more, and spending less time in front of the screen. Smaller, downloadable versions of these posters are available on the program's Web site in English and Spanish. There are now over 1,400 registered community sites, including 29 We Can! Cities/Counties. This marks a big change from five years ago, when the program launched with 14 Founding Intensive Sites! With all these community sites in the mix, it's no surprise that there are We Can! activities ongoing in so many different states: In Georgia, We Can! Cities, Counties, and community sites along the coast have received plenty of media coverage for their efforts.
In Maine, We Can! activities have run the gamut from a regional training, to using program curricula in schools, to family cooking classes and other events.
In Maryland, a new partnership has led to
We Can! successes in events, curriculum implementation, and local media coverage.
It's not just community sites who are working to spread the We Can! word… the program's national and corporate partners are getting in on the action as well! In Pennsylvania, UPMC Health Plan hosted a regional training, attended a Strategy Workshop, and entered a submission in the We Can! video contest. Now they have their sights set on new classes and partnerships to keep up their We Can! work. And, they've been getting media coverage for their efforts!
In Kentucky, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is using partnerships in their local community to host We Can! classes and other events. They will also be encouraging locals to step away from the screen and get outdoors by incorporating We Can! into upcoming events, including festivals, a 5K, and a Family Nature Club.
We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition, We Can!, and the We Can! logos are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). | | In New York, a community site is partnering with local organizations to disseminate We Can! messages and materials at local events.
A new We Can! City in Georgia is working with partners to change local food policy.
In Florida, a community site made a splash with We Can! at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day.
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Ensuring that you and your family eat healthy, stay active, and keep away from the screen can be challenging with less daylight. To help relieve the stress of it all, check out We Can!'s latest materials, which offer guidance and provide strategies to help families maintain healthy lifestyles. With these tips and materials, you and your family can be living healthier than ever… especially in the cooler weather! Learn all about the new matte articles, fact sheets, and bus and transportation ads… and how you can use them to aid in your We Can! programming! |
With the weather getting colder and school schedules making your lives busier, you might be wondering how and where to fit in time for healthy food choices and physical activity. But don't worry… We Can! has lots of tips to help you keep making healthy decisions, year-round. Tip #1: If you want to get some exercise indoors without joining a gym, consider setting up your living room to resemble a yoga studio. Set up yoga mats—or towels—in a cleared space and have a family yoga night. Encouraging youth to try new exercises keeps physical activity interesting for the whole family! Tip #2: To pack a lunch that your children won't trade with their schoolmates, consider keeping things interesting with a bento-style lunch box that offers a whole variety of healthy foods in one meal! Cut sandwiches into interesting shapes, add colorful fruits and vegetables in different sizes, and pack yummy dips such as fat-free or low-fat yogurt or hummus. Tip #3: Take advantage of the crisp fall air to step away from the screen and into your local community! It's likely that your area has lots of outdoor fall activities going on… and a lot of them might even be free of charge! Keep an eye out for harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, and hayrides as a way to get your family out of the house and into the fresh air. |
| How Communities can get involved | | How Organizations can get involved | | Visit http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov | | Call 1-866-35-WECAN | |
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