Tag Archives: Mary Mitchell After School Program

Health Bucks Promotion

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Council Member Ritchie Torres with Mary Mitchell Students

 

This past summer, I had the opportunity to take the Mary Mitchell students to La Familia Verde Farmers’ Market on East Tremont Avenue between La Fontaine & Arthur Avenues.

Every Tuesday I would explain to them the purpose of the Farmers Market and why they were being given an opportunity to shop for their families. Then, I would take out a stack of health bucks and explain that it was worth two dollars ($2) each and was developed and distributed by the NYC Health Department and can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all farmers’ markets in NYC.

When we arrive at the market, they would line up and get ten dollars ($10) each worth of Health Bucks and be allowed to freely walk around the market to shop. Usually I would take between 12 and 16 students and make sure they stick with their partners. They would walk around the market with anxious looks on their faces eager to buy foods they normally would not buy from the bodega.

Occasionally they would express their sentiments in not being able to buy something sweet so I would make sure I had enough money to but one piece of cake or a bag of mini sweets from Kevin and share distribute it out fairly. However, most of the time, they would buy peaches and blue berries and eat it right away. I always had to stop them from eating what they brought afraid that they would get a stomach ache.

Before the summer ended the students joined the local farmers, the director of the Mary Mitchell Center, Heidi Hynes, Council Member Ritchie Torres and others at a press conference held at the market to voucher for Health Bucks.

Major concerns were addressed like the diabetes rate among the elderly and children, the Bronx being the last county in New York State (among 62 counties) to eat, serve, and be served healthy food, and the importance of increasing access to fruits and vegetables for low-income residents.

My Garden Hat

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In 2009 when my friend went back home to Ecuador, she came back with something for me. She didn’t tell me what it was. I was surprised when I pulled out a wide brim hat.

I remember  complaining to another friend that I got a hat that I was never, ever going to wear. I did not see the beauty in the hat and never wore it until, Heidi, my supervisor,  assigned me garden duty for the summer. I finally got an opportunity to wear the hat.

It quickly drew compliments out of people. Strangers, family and friends a like. Most of all, the kids adored the hat saying it is the best hat I have in my collection.

The only thing I tell them is about my friend from Ecuador who has great taste.

Kelly!

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When we left the Nursing home, I met Kelly’s children coming out of one of the churches on the block. They were crossing the street when I recognized them.  Kelly was a part of the administration when I started working at the Mary Mitchell Center. She left the center a little after I got hired but not before we created a beautiful relationship. While she was there I really looked up to her and respected her judgement. I was super happy to see her and her family.

#Not62

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Every year, well for two years now, the Mary Mitchell has had a health initiative walk. Parents, children and supporters of the center would wake up early on a saturday in the early fall to rally for more healthy choices in the tremont section of the South West Bronx.

In the staff meeting today, I learned that when all  62 counties in New York State were measured and ranked in terms of healthy food, the Bronx was the 62nd! That means we currently are the last to eat and serve healthy food. Heidi, the center’s director, told us about the Bronx Borough president’s (Ruben Diaz Jr. ) new social media hashtag #Not62 to encourage community partners and residents to join the discussion about creating a healthier Bronx.

You can read more about it at http://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/

The Cast

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The Kids put on a show titled The Super Hero Bullies. The center director found it on a website (Im not sure which one) and gave it to us to direct. Its written by Mary Engquist. It is centred around two friends who are known as the bullies of the school. Then, one of them wants to change.

I was very proud of them. I hope we can put on another show.