On April 25, 2014 the City of Santa Fe Springs in conjunction with “Healthy Los Nietos” and PIH Health hosted a “Family Night Out” at the Gus Velasco Neighborhood Center in Santa Fe Springs. The event was made possible through a grant the “Healthy Los Nietos” project and PIH Health received earlier this year from the Safeway foundation. The grant has been able to support district-wide health events, parent health education, and the purchase of medical supplies to conduct student health screenings.
The Santa Fe Springs neighborhood center was named after long time Santa Fe Springs City Councilmember and former Los Nietos School District student and teacher, Gus Velasco. Los Nietos parents who had received training and certification through the Promotora parent leadership program provided health education to the community members in attendance.
The community members in attendance were welcomed by SFS Director of Community Services, Maricela Balderas; Ricardo Lopez, PIH Health Senior Services and Community Health Educator; and Los Nietos Superintendent, Jonathan Vasquez. Superintendent Vasquez expressed appreciation for the joint collaborative efforts of the City of Santa Fe Springs and PIH Health to work with the “Healthy Los Nietos” parents to make the event such a positive one for the Los Nietos/Santa Fe Springs community. Additionally, Superintendent Vasquez expressed thanks to the members of “Activate Whittier” who were present helping and providing support during the event. Before dinner was served to the community, members of the audience were invited to participate in some “Zumba” exercises, and a cooking demonstration provided by Los Nietos School District Director of Nutrition Services, Kurt Chou.
By all accounts the joint health collaboration between the City of Santa Fe Springs, PIH Health, and the Los Nietos School District’s “Healthy Los Nietos” program was a rousing success. The second collaborative effort will take place on May 10, 2014 at Rancho Santa Gertrudes School. A city-wide “Health and Wellness Fair” will take place between 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with over 20 health vendors already confirmed to be present. With more than 1,000 people expected to attend, the Santa Fe Springs Health and Wellness Fair is expected to provided much needed health education information to the Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier communities.
The Santa Fe Springs neighborhood center was named after long time Santa Fe Springs City Councilmember and former Los Nietos School District student and teacher, Gus Velasco. Los Nietos parents who had received training and certification through the Promotora parent leadership program provided health education to the community members in attendance.
The community members in attendance were welcomed by SFS Director of Community Services, Maricela Balderas; Ricardo Lopez, PIH Health Senior Services and Community Health Educator; and Los Nietos Superintendent, Jonathan Vasquez. Superintendent Vasquez expressed appreciation for the joint collaborative efforts of the City of Santa Fe Springs and PIH Health to work with the “Healthy Los Nietos” parents to make the event such a positive one for the Los Nietos/Santa Fe Springs community. Additionally, Superintendent Vasquez expressed thanks to the members of “Activate Whittier” who were present helping and providing support during the event. Before dinner was served to the community, members of the audience were invited to participate in some “Zumba” exercises, and a cooking demonstration provided by Los Nietos School District Director of Nutrition Services, Kurt Chou.
By all accounts the joint health collaboration between the City of Santa Fe Springs, PIH Health, and the Los Nietos School District’s “Healthy Los Nietos” program was a rousing success. The second collaborative effort will take place on May 10, 2014 at Rancho Santa Gertrudes School. A city-wide “Health and Wellness Fair” will take place between 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with over 20 health vendors already confirmed to be present. With more than 1,000 people expected to attend, the Santa Fe Springs Health and Wellness Fair is expected to provided much needed health education information to the Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier communities.