Newark, NJ (September 14, 2012) United Way of Essex and West Hudson and New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids – Newark to Build and Launch “Born Learning Trail.”
United Way of Essex and West Hudson (UWEWH) and New Jersey Partner for Healthy Kids – Newark (NJPHK-N) have announced that they will collaborate in building a “Born Learning Trail” in Nat Turner Park in Newark, New Jersey. The Born Learning Trail will provide 10 self-guiding and engaging, interactive activities that adults can use to create early learning opportunities for children. By following a series of colorful shapes, signs and hopscotch squares, children can learn their numbers and letters through active play. The Trail is a great way for a community to use outdoor space to promote literacy, social development and physical activity.
Build Day will take place on September 26 and 27, followed by an official Ribbon Cutting event open to the community on Friday, September 28 from 2:30 to 4:00pm.
Born Learning was created in 2005 to help any United Way boost community engagement around young children. Today, some 700 United Ways and early childhood coalitions or organizations are using Born Learning community engagement tools to boost awareness, educate parents and move communities to action. In particular the program is part of United Way’s effort to ensure that children are ready physically, mentally, developmentally, emotionally and socially to begin kindergarten.
According to Keith Green, President and CEO of United Way of Essex and West Hudson, “The new learning trail at Nat Turner Park will be the first of its type in the Greater Newark area. We hope to build others.”
Michael Bright, President and CEO of the YMCA of Newark and Vicinity says “With nearly 45 percent of Newark school children classified as overweight or obese, the Y is focused on helping kids make healthier choices. Our work with the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids- Newark and the United Way to establish a Born Learning Trail is a critical step in addressing this crisis at its roots.”
Courtney Price, Project Manager for the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids – Newark, states “We are really excited about Partnering with the United Way to bring the first Born Learning Trail to Newark. This is a wonderful opportunity to change the way our children play in their local environment.”
With the completion of the Born Learning Trail, area parents will have a place to take their children that is fun and promotes learning at the same time.
For more information on the Born Learning Trail project, please contact Machelle Lassiter by phone at 973-854-2231 or email mlassiter@uwewh.org or Courtney Price at 973- 624-8900 or email cprice@newarkymca.org
About The United Way of Essex and West Hudson
Founded in 1923, the United Way of Essex and West Hudson is a non-profit organization that seeks to address the root causes of community concerns by aligning resources to best meet the needs of individuals, children and families through its service area annually. We serve a population of nearly 700,000 in thirteen communities in Essex and Hudson County. For more information about or how to get involved, visit our website www.unitedwayessex.org
About New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids – Newark
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids is a statewide program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with technical assistance and direction provided by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. In Newark, the project is led by Co-Directors, Michael C. Bright, President and CEO of the YMCA of Newark and Vicinity and by Dr. Nwando Anyaoku, Director of General Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
The Newark Partnership is one of only five in New Jersey currently granted to strategically plan and then work to implement policy and environmental change to reverse childhood obesity by 2015. The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids -Newark focuses on these four areas to affect change:
1. Schools
2. Food Access
3. Safe Environment
4. Healthcare Sector
For more information visit http://www.njhealthykids.com
Media Contacts
Catherine Wilson
Director, Community Impact
United Way of Essex and West Hudson
Phone: 973-854-2249
cwilson@uwewh.org
Courtney Price
Project Manager
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Newark
mailto:cprice@newarkymca.org
