‘Health’ Archives
Guri Nabad (Peace House) CHAT: Somali American Community
Our Guri Nabad (meaning: Peace House) CHAT, part of the Somali American Community nonprofit organization, is comprised of community leaders and individuals whose families are impacted by incidences of childhood asthma. We address the causes of these chronic conditions and offer tools to assist our families in coping with and managing these conditions. Part of our effort helps to identify community resources that can help our families successfully address issues surrounding asthma in our Somali community. Many parents are ashamed, afraid or unwilling to address the issues surrounding their children”'s health conditions. This is especially true for parents with asthmatic children who fear that their children will be unable to participate in healthy physical activities. With language and cultural barriers that many people feel they have, they are less aware or less effective in reaching out to available resources and are sometimes afraid to ask for help. With our CHAT Team, we [...]
Meet the Backyard Initiative staff from Allina Health!
Ruth Hampton Olkon, Lovel Trahan, and Dimpho Orionzi are the team here to support the work happening in the Backyard. Ruth Hampton Olkon Name: Ruth Hampton Olkon Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Heritage: Jewish Family: Husband, three kids, one sister, one brother-in law, one niece, parents, in-laws, and close friends What brought you to the Backyard Initiative? I wanted to be involved in what I believe is the most important work in the world What is your role with the project? Provide support and facilitate connections between and amongst Allina Health and the community. How long have you been with the project? One year What is your favorite restaurant in the Backyard? Maria”'s Cafe Name: Lovel Trahan Name: Lovel Trahan Hometown: Lafayette, LO Heritage: Cajun and Creole Family: Two parents, one brother, three grandparents, six aunts, three uncles, seven cousins, and one partner What brought you to the Backyard Initiative? A desire to be [...]
Growing the Backyard CHAT-25 families and growing!
In the last two years, Growing the Backyard CHAT assisted 25 families to establish gardens and grow their own food. This CHAT empowers Backyard residents to produce their own healthy foods, increase connections to the local food system, and to increase each family”'s understanding about how the food system works. Families participating in the project will actively take responsibility for creating and maintaining a series of gardens throughout the Backyard. These activities will also increase a sense of belonging and community for each family. The CHAT team members help to provide supplies and connections to gardening resources and the local food system. The work of this CHAT team ties into overarching goals that were identified by the Assessment process conducted in 2009 by Backyard Initiative. Two specific points that related to the work of this CHAT include: Families expressed a lack of access to affordable healthy food for their family 97% of Backyard assessment [...]
