Project Title:   Brooklyn Blueprint Program

Amount Funded:   $25,000

About the Organization/Coalition:
The Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition is a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council's department of inter-group relations and community concerns. The Coalition's initial focus was to identify the organizations that best represent the major ethnic and religious groups in southern Brooklyn, as well as the major health care systems serving these populations to address concerns about health care. More than 60 agencies participate in the Coalition, including almost all of Brooklyn's ethnic, racial, and religious communities. They include Arab, African-American, Cambodian, Caribbean, Chinese, Jewish, Italian, Haitian, Latino, Pakistani, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Project Objectives:

1. Organize with the parks associations and the New York City Police Dept. to provide weekly pedestrian walk-a-thons, encouraging better utilization of public space and identifying safe space for communities.
2. Coordinate a Walk Our Children to School campaign to reach the adults over age 50 who are the daytime guardians of their grandchildren.
3. Provide mini-grants for community and faith-based organizations to hire consultants to lead exercise classes.
4. Provide mini-grants for neighborhood associations and community and faith-based organizations to develop community gardens.

Progress Report:  
GSBHC is completing a resource guide of available pedestrian-friendly pathways for walking, community garden projects, free or low-cost classes, and nutrition workshops.

The coalition generated a survey with the New York City Department for the Aging to learn about the varied needs of the aging community. While cardiovascular education and physical activity promotion are important, the coalition learned that engaging older adults in programs that address other issues but also have a physical activity component may be more effective. As a result of the survey, GSBHC instituted five workshops addressing various issues. The workshop series will end with a mini-conference on caregiving.

Contact Information:
Fatima Shama
Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition
19 Winthrop St.
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 462-8654