Moment of the Month

HCP-MV Moment of the Month: Three Cheers for Transit Ohio Passes 2022-2023 Transportation Budget with Restored Resources for Public Transit A scene from Schoolhouse Rocks! "I'm Just a Bill."ABC Advocacy journeys do not always, or even often, lead to happily-ever-afters or victorious celebrations. There are countless advocacy stories that end in heartache, heartbreak, and mourning. Much like the story told by "Bill" in the beginning of Schoolhouse Rocks! edutainional favorite, "I'm Just a Bill."  Fortunately, the tale of the 2022-2023 Ohio Transportation Budget wrapped up with a heartwarming, celebratory happy ending, at least for now. The [...]

HCP-MV Moment of the Month: Building a Healthy Budget Prioritizing Policies that Put People First Jim Wallis speaks at U.S. Capitol vigil on March 29. Photo by JP Keenan / Sojourners In 2017, Sojourners founder, Jim Wallis, wrote a piece titled “Truth that Bears Repeating: A Budget Is a Moral Document” in response to the cruel budget proposals introduced by the then newly minted Trump administration that suggested shifting billions of dollars from critical anti-poverty and social support programs to military/defense initiatives, specifically the bombastic border wall. A dramatic shifting of resources away from those programs [...]

HCP-MV Moment of the Month: Leading by Leaning in & Lifting up The Healthy Community Partnership Is 1 of 14 Collaboratives Accepted into National Leadership Program—National Leadership Academy for Public Health The Healthy Community Partnership was created because we know we can do more when we come together than we can if we stay separated. Challenges to living a long, healthy, fulfilling lives are more complicated, complex, and continuous than any one person or organization can hope to tackle. Carrying forward into the new year the most important takeaway from last year—the strength and power we have when [...]

Trumbull County Partners Transforming Convenience Stores to Community Stores HCP-MV Partners Bring Resources, Partners, and Healthy Foods to Trumbull County Convenience Stores Corner Stores. Convenience Stores. Bodegas. Mom and Pops. Everybody’s seen them, probably even stopped in to grab a soda, a sweet treat, or a scratch off. Though there is likely one within a short distance of your home or office. But, though these small stores have a wide variety of offerings, they’re not usually associated with much of anything healthy. Hopefully that is beginning to change as more convenience stores transition into community stores throughout the [...]

Active Transportation Goes Off Road and Online HCP-MV Partners Find New Avenues to Engage Residents in Active Transportation Activities September is always a month of transitions. Summer’s bright lemon-yellows darken to become the well-known mature golden, mustard hues of autumn. Planting season becomes harvest season, a time to enjoy the fruits—and veggies— of our labors. Days grow shorter, shadows longer, mornings crisper, and evenings chiller. Perfect for a walk, hike, or ride. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many significant disruptions to our routines. Many of those disruptions have brought about additional challenges to our health and wellbeing. [...]

A New Day for WRTA HCP-MV Applauds the Trumbull County Commissioners for Taking the First Step towards Becoming an Official Member of WRTA The Western Reserve Transit Authority, more commonly known as WRTA, is about to celebrate its 50th birthday next year. But, the party has already started. Just during the summer months this year, WRTA has been gifted nearly $2.6 million for transportation improvement projects to benefit the region, recognized by the Ohio Department of Transportation Division of Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion as Transit System of the Year, and showered with community support. More information about these [...]

Putting Food Access Resources on the Map Members of HCP-MV and Community Partners Plot Out Food Access Locations to Show Residents and Social Service Organizations Where to Go to Get Good Food The Mahoning Valley has been pinned on the map, so to speak, for a lot of things over the years. Unfortunately, some of these recognitions are less than glamorous, especially when the focus is on the health of the region. Map from YSU CURS showing grocery store locations and households with no vehicle access in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. A 2018 report from the Food [...]

It's Time The Mayor, Youngstown City Council Members, and City Health Officials declare racism a public health crisis in Youngstown On Friday, June 19, 2020, the City of Youngstown declared racism as a public health crisis. In an historic vote held on the historic Junteenth holiday, which celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery in the United States, all seven council members voiced their support for this declaration as well as commitments to follow up these words with much needed actions. Members of Warren City Council unanimously supported a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis [...]

Moment of the Month: In Praise of Our Parks Members of the Healthy Community Partnership celebrate spring with a new parks action plan and community challenge that promotes the power of parks and public spaces to improve physical and mental health Map of Park Locations in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties The May Moment of the Month celebrates collaborative efforts that encourage residents to get out and show their love for parks and green spaces. Through several strategies, partners have elevated the importance of parks as essential public places that promote health, wellbeing, and connection—to each other [...]