February 1, 2010
Building a Healthy Community Opa-Locka
War on Poverty – Florida partners with Florida Memorial College to announce the beginning of a three-year campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity in Opa-Locka.
Through community gardening and urban agriculture, healthy food preparation demonstrations, advice on shopping for healthy foods on a budget and other community initiatives, the goal is to increase access to healthy foods, promote physical activity and provide nutrition education in the community.
(pictured - Dr. Sandra Thompson, Florida Memorial University; Karen Landry, War on Poverty-Florida; Dr. Karen Edwards)
January 1, 2010
Banyan Award Recipients
Miami Community Board member Cornell Crews receives Banyan Award from War on Poverty-Florida. The Banyan Award is WPF's highest honor, given to a member of the community that has demonstrated exemplary service and volunteerism - truly making a difference.
Jacksonville Community Board members Sheri Thomas and Felicia Alston also received Banyan Awards for their dedication and commitment in the northwest Jacksonville community.
December 15, 2009
B.O.L.D Project Honors
New Town Success Zone, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the B.O.L.D. Afterschool Project recognized those students who made the honor roll and those students with perfect attendance. An awards program was held in their honor and presented in part by NOBLE (The National Association of Blacks in Law Enforcement).
S.P. Livingston Elementary
Six students on Honor Roll
Two students with Straight A’s
Seventeen students with Perfect Attendance
Eugene Butler Middle School
Twenty students on Honor Roll
Four students with Straight A’s
Three students holding Perfect Attendance
All straight A students were treated to tickets for them and a parent to the Jaguars Colts football game.
November 5, 2009
Holiday Art Contest
In October 2009, WPF launched an art contest open to youth up to age 16 with the theme "Home for the Holidays". Students across northwest Jacksonville submitted drawings of their favorite scene for the holiday season. Two students from Brentwood Elementary won 1st and 2nd place in the contest and their entries were made into greeting cards and made available for purchase as a fundraiser for the War on Poverty.
(pictured above are Aiyanna Wooten & Preslen Alteus; Tia Stroy, Principal Brentwood Elementary; Debra Whitehead; Karen Landry, Executive Director WPF)
September, 21, 2009
Building A Healthy Community Pilot Education Program
The War on Poverty-Florida, Commit 2B Fit, Chartwells-Thompson School Dining Services, Duval County Public Schools, Brentwood Elementary and the Jaguars Foundation rally together to encourage students to live healthy and productive lives during a special assembly at Brentwood Elementary, on Tuesday September 22, 2009.
The pilot nutrition education program at Brentwood is an extension of War on Poverty-Florida’s Build a Healthy Community Childhood Obesity Prevention Project (BHC), funded in part by grant from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Embrace a Healthy Florida initiative. The BHC Project is an awareness campaign designed to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating habits for youth and their families.
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August 6, 2009
The Brentwood Residents Council hosted a Community Garden Clean-up Day in partnership with the War on Poverty-Florida and the Student Conservation Association, Thursday August 6, 2009 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Community Gardening is an initiative of the War on Poverty's "Building a Healthy Community - Childhood Obesity Prevention Project" aimed to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating in northwest Jacksonville. The Brentwood garden is one of three community gardens in northwest Jacksonville. Donations are also being accepted to support the garden.
July 7, 2009
War on Poverty-Florida along with community partners propose to become part of the City of Jacksonville Stabilization Program, for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
May 12, 2009
War on Poverty-Florida Partners with the U.S. Treasury and Community Organizations for the Community Financial Access Pilot Jacksonville, Florida is one of 8 national cities targeted for a Community Financial Access Pilot. The pilot seeks to address the need for financial education, second chance checking opportunities and alternatives to payday lenders in low-to-moderate income communities across the country. Best practices from this pilot program will be shared and implemented in other cities and states. Community Partners for the Jacksonville pilot include; War on Poverty-Florida, The Urban League, the Duval County Extension Center, NE Florida Community Action Agency, Wachovia Corporation, Regions Bank, and Community First Credit Union.