- Author: Racquel Fernandez
Hello Everyone!
The Healthy San Joaquin Collaborative met on March 6th 2015 which featured a guest speaker, Joseph Amen, from the City of Stockton, Community Services Department Recreation Division, Van Buskirk Community Center. After a refreshing stretch exercise led by Sheila James, the following notes are from that meeting.
Updates
CNAP: Marissa Munzing has accepted the position as the new County Nutrition Action Plan Facilitator. Marissa graduated from UCLA with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Southeast Asian Studies. It was through her neuroscience classes that she developed an interest in nutrition and preventative healthcare. After a few years of working as a lab research assistant, she decided to pursue her passion for nutrition and began working as the HealthCorps Coordinator at Franklin High School in Stockton. There, she implemented a school wellness program, taught health and wellness classes, and coordinated healthy living activities for the students and staff. She is now looking forward to working with the many wonderful organizations in San Joaquin County as the County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) Facilitator.
REACH: REACH recently had a 2-day visit from a project manager from the CDC where they were able to get a finalized Community Action Plan. The previous 3 census tracks that REACH was focused on has been expanded due to the grant they received.
Presenter
Joseph Amen, City of Stockton Community Services Department Recreation Division, Van Buskirk Community Center
Mr. Joseph Amen presented Adult and Youth sports programs, which is city wide and includes neighboring cities, the City of Stockton is currently offering.
Adult
The Adult Sports Program is currently being promoted to businesses as a way to build teams. Industrial leagues have been shown to build moral within the company, is less competitive and more fun! Age categories have also been implemented so teams are able to play with their peers.
Youth
The Youth Sports Program is currently being built to restructure how teams are formed. Previous and current methods have individual children register for a sport, pay a fee and then randomly placed in an available team. The program is trying to promote school teams which offers a team fee that is collectively lower than individual fees.
Another program that is potentially being implemented is a Feeder Program which ideally would increase mentor programs and children are recognized for their talents.
JR Giants
In 1994, the Fund sought a program that would give at-risk kids a meaningful partnership with community-based organizations and provide an alternative to drugs, gangs and crime. Celebrating its 20th year, the Junior Giants program now reaches over 21,000 children in 90 leagues across California and into Nevada and Oregon. The Community Fund provides all of the uniforms, equipment, and training necessary to run a league as well as tickets to select Giants games so the youth can experience a Major League Baseball game.
Junior Giants focuses on the four bases of character development - Confidence, Integrity, Leadership and Teamwork - and offers programs in Education, Health and Violence Prevention. This framework is integrated into the Junior Giants handbook distributed to all of the kids and parents.
Junior Giants Baseball Program is a free non-competitive and innovative baseball program for any child 5-18 years-old and those who participate receive a shirt, hat and a chance to win tickets at a Giants game.
- It's a free program!
- The league is non-competitive
- It's a program for girls and boys
- Higher value placed on character than on wins and losses
- Programs in education, health, and violence prevention
- Pitching machines are used
- Professional training by the Giants is provided to the coaches
Van Buskirk
Van Buskirk Community Center currently offers various fitness programs at the facility.
- Drop-In Gymnasium & Fitness Room
- Fitness 4 You
- Membership fee $10/month
- Available to use at Arnold Rue & Stribley Community Centers
- Fitness Room
- Basketball
- Ping Pong
- Volleyball
- Badminton
- Nets & More
- Saturdays, $10 registration fee
- Badminton
- Pickleball
- Ping Pong
National Night Out
National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the United States, held the first Tuesday of August which is on Tuesday, August 1st, 2015. Van Buskirk is looking for organizations who would like to take part in the Van Buskirk Community National Night Out event that will directly help community members from the area.
The City of Stockton does not accept donations for the program but they do refer donations to schools or establishments that need it.
City of Stockton Recreational Programs
*Please see links from The City of Stockton Recreation Division and Van Buskirk Community Center, which details sports programs and fees.
PA Community Kickoff
Maricarmen Anaya has contacted the Lodi Park & Rec and inquired about their involvement with the event and is currently working on securing our partnership.
Next meeting will be on April 3, 2015 from 12:00-1:30 pm in the Delta Room at the AgCenter.
See you there!
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