Aug 2, 2019 | News
We all know that conferences can be overwhelming – from planning your day to figuring out who’s who, what’s what, and how to spend your time. The Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities Planning Committee just made it easier for attendees to plan ahead without worrying about the nitty-gritty. Here are five new features of the Leadership Summit that will make life a little easier for you and your team:
- Pre-Registration and Confirmation Email. Every year, staff are asked about pre-registering for breakout sessions, and we always say, “Sorry.” To help you plan your day better, we’re offering pre-registration of breakout sessions. You choose which breakout session you want to attend, and we’ll make sure there’s enough seating for everyone. Plus, you’ll get a confirmation email of your selections, and if you lose the email, we can resend it to you!
- Advocacy Track. Calling all advocates and want-to-be advocates! We’ve created an advocacy track just for you. Our speakers will give you the information you need to create and boost your local advocacy efforts and a better understanding of national and state campaigns. When registering, choose “Advocacy Track” for all three advocacy sessions. Please note that when you choose the track, you cannot pre-register for any other breakout sessions. Visit our website to learn more about the advocacy track.
- Community Leader Awards & Luncheon. In the past, we’ve included a reception at the end of the day to recognize our Community Leader Award recipients. This year, we want everyone to see who was nominated by their peers, so we’re honoring them during lunch. Don’t worry. It won’t take up too much of your networking time. The Community Leader Awards & Luncheon is sponsored by HopeHealth, Inc., and lunch is provided by the City of Florence.
- Physical Activity Breaks. Goodbye, lull. Hello, fun! We replaced the afternoon break with the physical activity break. Not only will you enjoy refreshments, but you’ll also enjoy a selection of physical activities. Yeah, we’ll have yoga and outdoor walking but there could be a little dancing going on inside. We’ll announce the physical activity options closer to the event.
- Tour of Florence. We’re giving you a guided tour of the City of Florence and it includes many healthy community environment enhancements over the past several years. Hop on a bus and see what they’ve been up to! Some of the places you’ll see are an inclusive playground, trail connections, and the new farmers’ market and kitchen.
These are just a few of the new and exciting features of the Leadership Summit. Stay tuned for upcoming newsletters and more announcements. Meantime, register today to reserve your spot!
Jun 6, 2019 | News, The HYPE Project
Moses Washington, a native of Denmark, South Carolina, is a 2019 graduate of Morehouse College and a 2015 graduate of Denmark-Olar High School. At Morehouse College, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Washington is set to be the keynote speaker at the Youth Summit on July 23 in Columbia at the Zoo.
Yes, Washington is part of the Morehouse College graduating class whose student loans were paid in full by the 2019 Commencement Speaker and Billionaire Robert S. Smith. Did Washington graduate tuition debt free? Yes. Was he a benefactor of Smith’s generosity? Probably not. Read about Washington’s reaction to the gift.
Washington received the Gate Millennium Scholarship, a competitive full-ride scholarship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He was one of 11 recipients in the state of South Carolina and one of 1,000 nationwide to receive the scholarship. In 2018, he was selected as a Sidley Austin, LLP Pre-Law Scholar.
Are you impressed yet? Wait. It gets better.
Washington was an active student at Morehouse College, having served on the Executive Board of the Student Government Association and as a member of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees, where he was on the Student Affairs, Educational Policy, and Development committees. Additionally, Washington served as the President of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program at Morehouse College and as the President of the Morehouse-Spelman Pre-Law Society.
While Washington was busy juggling academic and social life in Atlanta, he still had a calling to help his hometown of Denmark and the surrounding areas in Bamberg County.
Washington has an immense passion for public service, which recently stimulated him to start the Washington Foundation in 2017. The Washington Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with the goal of changing the “Corridor of Shame” narrative placed on rural schools amongst the I-95 interstate line of South Carolina. His non-profit has achieved much success within the past years. It has held a Back-to-School Bash in 2017 and 2018, where over 400 school supply bags were given out to students of the Bamberg County area.
Washington plans to attend law school and continue the work of his foundation, in hopes of continuing to be the change in the community. As the keynote speaker at the Youth Summit, teens and adults will learn more about what drives Washington to advocate for healthy change and to inspire those around him to reach for the stars.
Attend the Youth Summit on July 23 in Columbia at the Zoo and meet one of South Carolina’s young leaders. Take advantage of this great opportunity and register today. Registration is only $10 per person, and seating is limited.
Apr 8, 2019 | News
You can make a difference in communities around the state by presenting at the ESMMSC Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities on October 29th in Florence.
Breakout sessions are designed to provide best practices and resources for attendees to use in their work to reduce obesity and chronic disease in their communities. Being a speaker is a great opportunity to share your work as well as meet, interact, and network with other leaders in the state advocating for healthy eating and active living.
Proposals must address an evidence-based policy, systems, and/or environmental (PSE) change approach to healthy eating, active living, and/or obesity prevention, health disparities, and social determinants of health. They must also explain the process of a project and not just the outcome.
Click here to see qualifying categories, criteria, and the sample application.
Jan 24, 2019 | News
Eat Smart Move More South Carolina and the Prevention
Research Center at the University of South Carolina Columbia is teaming up to
train community coalitions and state-level technical assistance providers on
Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) training for churches. Participants will
be able to train local church leaders on how to make healthy change happen in
their church.
FAN is a physical activity and healthy eating program,
previously found to be effective, that seeks to help churches create a healthy
church environment that supports physical activity and healthy eating. More
than 200 South Carolina churches of all denominations have participated in FAN,
and we want to positively impact even more churches.
A one-day in-person FAN Train the Trainer training is being
offered on Friday, March 15, 2019 to community
coalitions from across the state. The training includes active breaks, a food
demo and tasting, as well as a FAN-friendly lunch. FAN training is $25 per
person. Congregational associations and other state-level technical assistance
providers are invited to attend as well. Participants will leave prepared to
train church committees in FAN.
FAN is a committee-based program where church members will
work together to develop a plan that includes activities, opportunities, and
guidelines to reach most members. As part of FAN training, church committees
will be guided step-by-step through the planning process.
FAN is not an exercise program or a cooking class. Instead,
the goal of FAN is to reach the entire congregation by creating a church
environment where members regularly see and hear health messages and have
healthier options available.
FAN encourages churches to increase physical activity and
healthy eating among members using four key strategies:
• Increase opportunities for physical activity and healthy
eating in the church setting (e.g. tasty, healthy meals & snacks for church
events)
• Create healthy church guidelines and practices
• Keep the Pastor engaged and excited about FAN goals
• Get health messages out to church members through familiar channels (e.g., bulletin inserts, announcements, messages during worship service)
Registration will open soon!
