Dr. Megan Weis receiving the Gerry Sue Arnold Alumni Award during the annual hooding ceremony.
Wholespire Board of Directors Vice Chairman Dr. Megan Weis was recently awarded the Gerry Sue Arnold Alumni Award during the annual hooding ceremony at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health. The award is given to one alumni each year whose work has both made a difference to the public health profession and in the health of an identified community or population.
Dr. Weis has served on the Wholespire board of directors since 2017, and she has contributed vastly to the growth and sustainability of the non-profit organization. In the absence of an executive director, Dr. Weis was part of a team of board members who provided guidance and leadership to the Wholespire staff.
Dr. Weis is a two-time alumna of the Arnold School’s Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior – graduating with a Master of Public Health in 2002 and then a Doctor of Public Health in 2012. Between her degrees, Weis worked for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ‘s (SC DHEC) Pregnancy and Risk Assessment Monitoring System and Injury and Violence Prevention division.
In 2007 – the same year she began her doctoral studies – Weis co-founded the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, where she worked for more than 12 years. In 2020, she joined the UofSC School of Medicine as a research assistant professor and as director of community engagement with the SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare. In addition to serving on numerous committees and task forces to improve health throughout the state, Weis has taught many courses as an Arnold School adjunct faculty member.
For her efforts, Weis has been recognized with the Health Education Professional of the Year Award (South Carolina Association for the Advancement of Health Education, 2007), the President’s Award (SC Public Health Association (SCPHA), 2010) for establishing a student forum that later became the student section, and the Lucinda Thomas Award for Outstanding Contributions in Community Health (SCPHA, 2013). In both 2007 and 2017, Weis received SCPHA’s Michael D. Jarrett Excellence in Customer Service Award, and in 2019, she won the James A. Hayne Award and The Voice of Public Health Award from SCPHA.
Being inclusive means making everyone feel welcome and wanted. At Wholespire, formerly Eat Smart Move More South Carolina, it’s part of our work to ensure our work environments – both internal and external – are welcoming. We hope our efforts spill over into our personal lives, as well as into our chapter and partner environments too.
In our 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, in which staff spent days diligently developing together, we pinpoint the importance of inclusion by making it part of our first strategic intention. We even defined the word inclusion to help set the stage and explain to readers what we mean. In the strategic plan, we borrowed Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension’s definition.
Inclusion is an outcome to ensure those who are diverse actually feel and/or are welcomed. Inclusion outcomes are met when you, your institution, and your program are truly inviting to all, and to the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes and development opportunities with an organization, group, governing body.
In this not-so-new virtual working world of ours, we’ve all had to scramble to adopt new ways of doing things; new ways of communicating; new ways of engaging with each other – whether we liked it or not. While it’s easy for many of us to pivot and adopt new work habits, it isn’t easy for others, especially when technology is involved. But, through trials and tribulations, our Wholespire staff have come through with pointers on how to make virtual meetings welcoming to those who might need a little help understanding and communicating.
Providing automatic captions is a great way to be, as Tuskegee University says, truly inviting to all. Whether it’s the inability to use your computer speakers at the time of the virtual meeting, the lack of earphones or pods, or the inability to hear well, automatic captions are the new standard in this not-so-new time of working remotely.
Zoom was quick to ensure all user accounts, whether free or paid, had automatic captioning capabilities. That right. All free Zoom account holders can enable automatic captions. Plus, Zoom will provide a transcript of the meeting you attended.
We’ve pulled together instructions for enabling captions in Zoom, various internet browsers, and on MAC computers. Download How to Enable Automatic Captions. Note this document is not a comprehensive list.
You should also consider making your videos accessible to all viewers. YouTube, Venmo, and Facebook provide those capabilities.
So, as you can see, creating virtually- and digitally-inclusive environments for everyone has become a priority for many online tech service providers and organizations like Wholespire.
Eat Smart Move More SC, a statewide nonprofit leader in increasing access to healthy eating and active living choices in communities across South Carolina, announced today it is changing its name to Wholespire. The name change comes with a complete rebranding, including a new logo and tagline, and was unveiled to over 200 stakeholders and attendees during the organization’s annual leadership conference.
According to Meg Stanley, Eat Smart Move More’s executive director, the rebrand’s purpose is to more effectively illuminate its advocacy and support of local initiatives that inspire wellness in all communities.
“The name Wholespire reflects how coming together to increase access to wellness in communities creates unification and wholeness,” explains Stanley. “It conveys our work to inspire wellness across our state in an equitable manner.” “Our new name and look capture our efforts to bring about lasting and healthy change for so many who aspire to wellness but lack access to the key components of health. It’s a refresh on our goal to make whole health a possibility for all South Carolinians as we inform, engage and influence decision-makers to include health in policy decisions.”
Eat Smart Move More SC worked with Trio Solutions Inc., a Mount Pleasant-based marketing agency, to conduct research to evaluate and launch its new brand. The new brand project was one of five key initiatives in the nonprofit’s strategic plan and focuses on the organization’s evolving public health work and leadership position as an advocate for collaborative initiatives that change the makeup of South Carolina for the better.
Since 2007, Wholespire, formerly Eat Smart Move More SC, has brought lasting and healthy change to communities across South Carolina through advocacy, youth engagement and community action. Wholespire, a statewide nonprofit, focuses on inspiring wellness through its 26 chapters across 31 counties, collectively impacting 93 percent of South Carolina’s population.
On March 8 2021, South Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan advanced to Phase 1b. One of the qualifying criteria for those eligible to receive the vaccine during this phase is, “People with increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease”. This includes people with high-risk medical conditions ranging from cancer to Down syndrome to pregnancy. An obesity diagnosis is also one of the high-risk medical conditions listed as an eligible factor to receive the vaccine. To understand whether you qualify as someone with obesity, you need to know your Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as how to calculate it.
So what is BMI and how do you calculate it?
BMI is the acronym for Body Mass Index. It is a long-standing screening method to determine whether someone is a healthy weight. Knowing your BMI is important and there are three relatively simple methods one can use to determine this:
Use an automated calculator to determine your BMI, such as this: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html
To calculate BMI using a calculator, divide weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and then multiply by a conversion factor of 703. For example, weight (lb) / [height (in)]² x 703
To calculate without a square function on your calculator, divide weight by height twice and then multiply by 703. For example, calculate as follows: [weight (lb)/ height (in)/ height (in)] x 703
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines any adult with a BMI exceeding 30 to be obese. In South Carolina, approximately 35% of South Carolinians are eligible for the vaccine based on BMI exceeding 30kg/m².
It has become increasingly obvious throughout the last year of this pandemic that each individual has a very different physical response to contracting COVID-19. Based on a diagnosis of obesity, the risk of contracting the virus and showing very ill-inducing symptoms is high. Click here for more information on the risk of COVID-19 for those with an obesity diagnosis.
Let’s come together as a community and do what we can to limit the further spread of COVID-19 and improve the health outcomes for those who do contract the virus.
Wear a mask, keep your distance from others, and get vaccinated.
Wholespire, formerly Eat Smart Move More SC, and the South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH) received a grant from the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, for a collaborative project to improve the health of South Carolina’s economically vulnerable citizens.
The project will expand upon the current work of both agencies to address the root causes of poor health outcomes across the state. Wholespire and SCORH each have a strong track record of using a coalition-driven approach to effect health transformation in local communities. The two agencies collectively work with coalitions in 38 counties across South Carolina.
“We know that the health of a community is about more than the medical care received in a doctor’s office or hospital. The social determinants of health – food access, opportunities for recreation and exercise, safe housing, employment and other factors – also play a role in the well-being of a community,” said Darlene Lynch, SCORH’s director of community health transformation. “SCORH and Wholespire are excited to deepen our partnership and serve rural communities as they work to elevate their overall health status.”
The grant will support this work for four years across the state. The primary components of this project will be the creation of a technical assistance model that includes scalable training and coaching, and capacity building and financial support for urban and rural coalitions across the state to improve population health.
“Over the years, our organizations found that our work increasingly overlapped, so in 2020, Wholespire and SCORH began conversations to create a formal partnership and establish a collaborative project,” said Wholespire’s Executive Director Meg Stanley. “We both view this as an opportunity to leverage the expertise and resources of Wholespire and SCORH to create greater impact and to be a model of collaboration for local communities and state partners.”
This initiative will build off the successes of SCORH’s Blueprint for Health program and Wholespire’s Let’s Go 3.0 mini-grant initiatives that also were funded by the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation.
Blueprint for Health allowed SCORH to offer funding of up to $25,000 to 12 communities to bring together rural community leaders from multiple sectors to collaborate on solutions to the root causes for poor health and build capacity at the local level to solve community health issues.
Let’s Go 3.0 mini-grants offered funding of up to $5,000 each for projects that increased access to healthy foods and safe places for physical activity through policy, systems, and environmental change projects.
The Leadership Summit is back after a one-year hiatus and Eat Smart Move More South Carolina (ESMMSC) staff couldn’t be more excited! The planning committee and staff have been working diligently to learn best practices related to hosting a virtual conference, brainstorming some fun factors, and taking on the Youth Edition, formerly known as the Youth Summit.
The Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities + Youth Edition will be May 12-13 on your computer. You can kick back, relax, and take in the valuable information our speakers will present to you. This year’s Summit is focusing on historical and cultural influences that impact perceptions on healthy eating, active living, and health. This annual event is also focusing on the importance of cross-collaboration between community coalitions and youth advocates. Youth may just be the key to unlocking local initiative success!
Going Virtual Virtual conferences aren’t optimal but given the continued risks of spreading and contracting COVID-19, it’s the best choice for ESMMSC. “We just couldn’t go another year without providing an outlet for our community and state partners to network and learn best practices and lesson learned around the latest initiatives happening in the state,” says Kelsey Allen, manager of community initiatives.
The virtual Leadership Summit will provide opportunities for attendees to network through the virtual platform. There will also be pre-conference networking opportunities focused on specific topics scheduled for May 10-11.
+ Youth Edition In the past, ESMMSC hosted the Youth Summit, a one-day conference for youth from HYPE teams and youth-serving organizations to convene and learn about HYPE projects, social justice, and youth advocacy. The 2020 Youth Summit was live streamed on Facebook over four weeks and drew a good crowd of youth and adults. Rather than hosting separate virtual events, staff thought combining the events would increase interest across both audiences.
“I’ve always wanted to find a way to get youth to the Leadership Summit to network with and learn from community coalitions and public health professionals,” says Trimease Carter, manager of youth engagement. “The virtual Summit is the perfect opportunity to make that happen. My hope is that youth will participate in the Leadership Summit and coalitions and public health professionals will participate in the Youth Edition.”
Three Keynote Speakers Building on the theme of Understand. Influence. Change.: Understanding yesterday to influence today for a better tomorrow, the Summit Planning Committee approved three keynote speakers. Queen Quet, Dr. Kathryn Silva Hyde, and By the Hand Club for Kids/Austin Harvest will provide inspiration for youth and adults to engage with each other and make a healthy difference in their communities.
Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State of The Gullah/Geechee Nation Wednesday, May 12 | 1:10 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. For centuries, the Gullah/Geechee people have endured inequities and unfair treatment that have negatively impacted their quality of life. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, will present on how her people live an active life that supports overall healthy living. She will reveal how public health advocates and community coalitions can work with the Gullah/Geechee people to increase access to healthy eating and active living resources and improve health outcomes.
Dr. Kathryn Silva Hyde, Chair and Assistant Professor of History in the Department of Humanities at Claflin University Thursday, May 13 | 1:10 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Why are African Americans skeptical about health and healthcare? How does African American history and culture influence today’s perspectives? Dr. Kathryn Silva Hyde will explore the history and treatment of African Americans over the course of centuries. She will provide insight into why, in today’s world, African Americans are hesitant to trust, not only healthcare providers and public health professionals, but also leadership, new ideas, new initiatives, and new resources implemented to help shape health outcomes.
By the Hand Club for Kids and Austin Harvest Thursday, May 13 | 4:40 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Austin Harvest is a youth-led open-air fresh market that provides fresh produce to the residents of the Austin neighborhood in the far west side of Chicago. Austin Harvest grew out of a desire for youth to lead the way for positive community change. Due to decades of racial inequities highlighted by the killing of George Floyd and the COVID-19 crisis, By The Hand Club for Kids youth gathered in healing circles with local police and athletes to process recent violence and brainstorm solutions for their community in June of 2020. The students challenged the stakeholders to think about systematic reform but also expressed the need to do something now. This led to the idea of Austin Harvest and the transformation of a looted liquor store into a fresh market. More than providing fresh food to a neighborhood that historically lacks access to healthy and affordable produce, the aim of Austin Harvest is to bring people together and bring hope not only to their neighborhood but to inspire other communities that they too can make change.
Pre-Conference Activity In-person networking is a major part of the Summit, and ESMMSC staff were concerned about attendees missing out those opportunities. That’s why the planning committee agreed to offer Pre-Conference Networking. Like a Zoom meeting, participants will be able to logon and see each other as they interact around specific topics:
Chapter Chairs Best Practices, Lessons Learned, and Future Directions
Challenges & Best Practices for Project Implementation During a Crisis
Legislative Update
Capacity Building: Creating Strength and Sustainability for Your Coalition
Collaborating with Local Youth Leaders
How can our work be more intersectional?
All of the sessions are optional registration items and will be moderated by ESMMSC staff.
In addition to Pre-Conference Networking, an optional Pre-Conference Workshop will be available to anyone interested in learning more about disability inclusion. Inclusive Strategies for Working with Individuals with Disabilities: Empowering Equal Access, produced by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability and the University of South Carolina, provides instruction on the rights of people with disabilities, how to include people with disabilities in your work, and the etiquette you need to consider. This training has a pre-test that will be emailed to registrants prior to the training, as well as a post test that will be emailed following the training.
On-Demand and Continuing Education One of the benefits of virtual conference is the opportunity to provide on-demand videos. After the Summit ends, registrants will have access to all sessions for up to six months. That means registrants can view as many breakout sessions as they want, so there’s no missing out on a session. Note that pre-conference activity will not be available on-demand.
“The only drawback is that continuing education credit will only be available for the live session,” says Meg Stanley, executive director. “CEUs will not be available for on-demand sessions, so participants should be selective when choosing which live breakout session to attend for CUEs.”
To be eligible for continuing education credit, participants must be in a session and complete the session evaluation. Once those actions have occurred, CEU documentation will be available to the participant in their name. ESMMSC is applying for continuing education in the following areas: CHES/MCHES, Social Workers, and Registered Dieticians. Certificates of Attendance will be available for all other certification programs.
In addition to keynote speakers, Youth Edition, pre-conference activity, there will be two general sessions and four concurrent sessions featuring four sessions each. There will also be door prizes and a hint of something new happening for ESMMSC. Registration and more details for the Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities + Youth Edition are coming soon, so save the date and check your email inbox!
