By Tracey Capers, Executive Vice President of Programs, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
Brooklyn! It's time to make a fresh move!
That is what we're asking of you with the campaign that bears its name.
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and the Partnership for a Healthier Brooklyn have unveiled the 'Fresh Moves' Campaign to inform, educate and inspire residents to take that first step toward healthy living. The community-wide effort is a digital and printed ad campaign created to encourage residents to access healthy foods, support local farmers markets, and incorporate more physical activity into their lives. You'll be seeing ads on social media, local newspapers and bus and subway shelters across the neighborhood. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the campaign is part of a citywide effort to address health disparities that disproportionately impact low income communities of color.When shopping for healthy food, a farmers market is a great resource to access quality, affordable fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. Health bucks are available at most markets and nonprofits, making it more affordable to purchase healthful food. There are 23 markets in Central Brooklyn alone with many providing a range of activities for all ages. For example, patrons to the Marcy Plaza Farmers Market next Wednesday will enjoy healthy cooking demonstrations with Chef Sia as well as a book reading with celebrated Brooklyn writer Javaka Steptoe. To locate the farmers market nearest you, call 311 or text "sogood" to 877877 for a list of markets right in your backyard.
Also, the significant expansion of Citi Bike in Brooklyn this August provides yet another opportunity to be more physically active while taking advantage of a low cost transportation alternative.
The Fresh Moves Campaign also works to raise awareness of the numerous no cost/low cost exercise programs available across Brooklyn. EmblemHealth provides no cost exercise programming through their Live Healthy program while Shape Up NYC offers dozens of free classes across the five boroughs. Just stop by Restoration Plaza on Mondays and Wednesdays to see hundreds of people of all ages and fitness levels taking that next step toward a more fit and active life. For a full listing of programming nearest you visit Emblem Health's site here or the City's online page here.
What will be your fresh move? Tag us on Facebook or visit restorationplaza.org and use the hashtag #FreshMovesBklyn.
