TIME magazine recently wrote, “Unlike any other downturn since the 1930s, this one has affected everyone, either the fact of it or the fear of it.”  From what I have seen and heard over the past year, that is true.  Somehow, my perspective started changing this week and I actually feel encouraged and grateful for how the recession has affected our values.

As restaurants raise their prices, people are cooking at home more.  As we hear about salmonella outbreaks, people are starting their own gardens.  Since paying for entertainment is more painful now, playing at the park is not such a crazy idea anymore. 

This recession might just be the push America needs to get back to a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle.

APIOPA’s mission is to make these healthier, happier lifestyles more attainable for the Asian and Pacific Island communities.  As you read about the updates on our Community Action Groups (CAGs), I hope that you will feel some of the encouragement that I have been experiencing.  These projects are driven by community members like you, so if you want to be part of the change in your neighborhood, call and ask how!

- Jessica Lim, Project Director

Pilipino American CAG update: Pilipinos Empowering Pilipinos (PEP)

The PEP CAG launched the Food Cooperation Project at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles, California last Sunday, May 22, 2009. The goal of PEP CAG food cooperation project is to encourage the Pilipino parishioners to engage in a healthier eating lifestyle.

At the event, they offered fresh produce in four church services. More than 100 people came and purchased fresh produce such as baby bananas, chayote, ampalaya (bittermelon), eggplant, labanos (daikon) and sitaw (long beans) at a very affordable price.

The PEP CAG is now working to expand the Food Cooperation project in other Pilipino local churches in Los Angeles and will continue to support the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. PEP CAG desires to establish a network of Pilipino local churches to adopt the Food Cooperation Project and to create an opportunity for the Pilipino community to increase their consumptions of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The proposed fitness trail route

Japanese American CAG update: GetFit

GetFit has been busy these past few months! In the last quarterly bulletin, GetFit was reevaluating its objectives, holding focus groups, doing interviews, and brainstorming to figure out how they could best promote physical activity in Little Tokyo. After much research and discussion, they settled on two main projects: 1. To advocate for an urban fitness trail in Little Tokyo, and 2. to advocate for health and fitness as new planning priorities in Little Tokyo development.

GetFit is developing its relationship with the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA LA) and recently joined the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) as an official member organization.

GetFit plans to present its ideas to LTCC in the June monthly meeting. Throughout this period of research and relationship building, GetFit has learned more about the complexities of planning and development, as well as the priorities and culture of the Little Tokyo community. GetFit foresees a long road ahead, but is excited at the prospect of participating in the shaping of Little Tokyo’s future.

Stay updated on GetFit’s work by visiting their website, www.getfit.blogspot.com.

Pacific Islander CAG: SAFE (Safe and Active Family Environments)

As mentioned in previous quarterly bulletins, SAFE (Safe and Active Family Environments) is developing a park safety project to increase physical activity opportunities in Carson. In February, SAFE was considering adding more parks to its project. Because of project time constraints however, SAFE will focus on Victoria Park, and come back to Lennox, Scott, and MacArthur at a later date. SAFE is advocating for lights to be left on until at least 11pm, extended staff/security hours till at least 11pm, and a program to keep the park sidewalks clean and litter-free.

SAFE!

They are also working within the community to encourage park programs to provide families with more opportunities to visit a safer Victoria Park.

Over the past couple months, SAFE has been researching the various government/decision-making structures for Victoria Park (run by the county), crime statistics regarding the park and the surrounding area, and the cost of extended lights and staff hours. They are currently preparing a packet to facilitate their meetings with Carson City officials, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and possibly Los Angeles County District Supervisor, Mark Ridley-Thomas. The packet will include a needs assessment report on Victoria Park, organizational brochure, fact sheet on Pacific Islander health and what is needed in a healthy community, letters of support from community organizations and businesses, and other supporting documents.

More than recess

Increase low-income families’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables!

Sponsored by the Agriculture and Land Based Training Association (ALBA), Assembly Bill 537 will allow redemption of all nutrition program forms of payment at farmers markets. Nutrition programs include WIC (Women, Infant Children) and EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfers payment). Visit the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPHEN) site to send a letter of support to your Representative!

2009 Childhood Obesity Conference:
Creating Healthy Places for All Children
June 9-12, 2009
Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.

The 5th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference will provide an overview of the most pressing childhood obesity issues, including structural issues that impact food access, nutrition, physical activity and the physical environment.

It will showcase presentations on topics of national interest including research and evaluation; community and family perspectives; pre-school, schools and after-school programs; nutrition and physical education; policy and environmental change strategies; and clinical management and resources.

To find more information and register, visit http://www.cce.csus.edu/conferences/childobesity/09/

APIOPA Quarterly Meeting

Come to APIOPA's Quarter Meetings to discuss hot topics in the field of API Obesity, hear guest lecturers, get an APIOPA update, and dialogue on how government and community based organizations can address the issue of API Obesity. More info to come.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
10am-12pm
The California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities
1000 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

RSVP with Jessica Lim at jlim@ltsc.org or 213-473-3022 by July 9, 2009.

2009 CA REACH US Conference
"REACHing Ahead, REACHing for Change:
Redefining the Health Landscape for 2010 and Beyond"
Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health

Conference Goal: To continue to build and strengthenpartnerships, identify opportunities and effective strategies to improveaccess to health and achieve health equity for racial and ethniccommunities.

September 23-24, 2009: Long Beach Hyatt Hotel
200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802

For additional information about the conference, please contact Lupe Rivas-Lopez at (323) 757-7244 ext 233. For Abstracts please contact Jonathan Nomachi at (323) 295-9372.

“Making Health Happen,” a quarterly bulletin produced by the Asian & Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA), provides the latest APIOPA project news. Please send “Making Health Happen” comments and questions to msakata@ltsc.org. Your feedback and input is greatly appreciated!

APIOPA is a collaborative of community-based organizations, county, state, and federal health agencies.

Our Mission: To empower the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) community to improve their health by recognizing health disparities and to improve/address social, cultural, environmental, and political factors that contribute to the growing rates of obesity among API residents in Los Angeles County.

APIOPA is fiscally sponsored by the Little Tokyo Service Center, CDC.

APIOPA is funded by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and The California Endowment