THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON PRESENTS:
A Healthy Habits Community-Wide Health Fair

DATE: Saturday, January 21, 2012
TIME: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Bike/Walk/Run begins at 8:30 AM)
LOCATION: The Arizona’s Children Association Campus, 2700 South 8th Avenue

The City of South Tucson will be hosting its first Healthy Habits Community Fair on Saturday, January 21, 2012! Studies increasingly suggest that health disparities among children and families disproportionately affect lower-income, traditionally-underserved, and high-minority population communities, and the City of South Tucson is home to many in these subgroups. While it is truly unfortunate that the City is no exception to such a fact, this does not mean that its citizens are helpless to do anything about reversing negative trends through prevention and action. In helping to prompt such a turnaround, it is incumbent upon its civic and community leaders to come together in the spirit of collaboration in order to spark a community-wide effort to inform and educate our neighbors, and initiate changes in personal habits that reflect a more healthy and active lifestyle.

The City of South Tucson is proud to partner with its co-sponsors ReActivate New & Used Activewear, the Arizona’s Children Association, Pima County Health Department, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, and Tucson Youth Development who helped make this event possible; and is excited to announce that the following organizations will be providing information, demonstrations, and tips on how to lead a more active lifestyle: Pima County Public Library, Pima County Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety, the House of Neighborly Service, the John Valenzuela Youth Center, Mission View Elementary & Ochoa Community Magnet Schools, University of Arizona/Pima County Cooperative Extension, the University of Arizona REACH Program, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health – Canyon Ranch Center, University of Arizona Mexican American Studies, Pima Community College, Primavera Foundation, Tucson Indian Center, the American Cancer Society, the Cortiva Institute, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Ha:san Preparatory Leadership School, Healthy Choice Arizona, the Healthy O’odham Promotion Program, Kool Smiles, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Simon Med Imaging, Soreo Select, Tucson Health Coaches, the South Tucson Community Garden Network, NextCare Urgent Care, St Elizabeth’s Health Center, Pima Kids Connection, and HOPE Inc.

We have teamed up with these community groups to bring awareness to the South Tucson area by promoting and encouraging healthy habits in an effort to combat and inform families about chronic illnesses including obesity, stroke, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. Come out and join your friends, family and neighbors for a FREE day-long event focusing on nutrition, women’s health, healthy food preparation, diabetes prevention and information, first aid, self-gardening, pilates/yoga/massage, dental care, exercise, weight management, health-related professions, sports activities, and bicycling. Also join us for a fun bike/walk/run, dedication of the new Mission View Playgrounds, raffle prizes, giveaways, and more!

“Get out! Get Moving! Get Healthy!”

For more information, contact South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom at (520) 792-2424, or Lydia Kennedy, owner of ReActivate New & Used Activewear at (520) 325-4295.

I’ve written about the ReActivate store before (click here), located at 2782 N. Campbell Ave. They are having their first year anniversary celebration on Saturday Feb. 4.