Posted on September 19, 2011 by timbartik

Posted on September 13, 2011 by timbartik

Posted on August 26, 2011 by timbartik

Children "at risk' become children of "high return" when we invest in young children.

Is there a connection between culture and obesity?

The concern about obesity among children is a major one. It is an issue that a number of Great Start Collaboratives and Parent Coalitions identify as a priority to address in their communities. Data also tells us that children from communities of color experience a higher prevalence of obesity.

Have you ever wondered if culture and obesity are linked? Do parents from different cultures have perceptions about the level of physical activity of their children that impacts and leads to obesity in children?

Have you noticed lately that life seems to be moving faster? I hear many people talk about the stress this generates and how this creates a form of chaos they aren’t accustomed to negotiating. I also hear a lot of stories where people just long to return to a sense of relaxation where they can focus on what really matters in their life.
 

Posted on July 18, 2011 by timbartik

My local newspaper, the Kalamazoo Gazette, recently had an interesting interview with the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Jase Bolger. According to reporter Julie Mack,

We often hear the term multicultural competency.  What does it have to do with the systems work that you do?  What does it mean to those you interact with in a daily basis and to those you hope to engage in the work? In our busy schedules, we do not often take the time to share with each other and learn from and about each other. 

A second group member who participated in a migrant camp visit on May 11, 2011 shares her experience and discoveries made as a result of that visit.

The first migrant camp visit for 2011 took place on May 11th. It was an experience that opened eyes to challenges for this population and opportunities for a community to put pieces of the puzzle together as they work towards building a system that supports school readiness efforts for all children in their community.

Read what one of the group members says about her experience visiting a migrant camp for the first time in Michigan and the value it will bring to the local early childhood work.