Smart Start Partnership to present at Institute for Emerging Issues Annual Forum
Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC) will present the Healthy Kids Collaborative (HKC) at the 26th Annual Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh on February 7, 2011.
Selected for its leadership, innovative strategies and role in empowering communities to combat the increasing obesity rate amongst children in our communities, DEPC will represent Nash and Edgecombe counties amongst North Carolina and the nation’s top business, nonprofit, academic and professionals in healthcare.
Established in 2007 and funded by the Partnership, HKC has worked to build upon the existing infrastructure that supports healthy lifestyles. In partnership with over 50 area business, government, healthcare and civic organizations, the Collaborative works towards increasing access to nutritional foods, opportunities for physical activity and supporting health care providers with resources and materials for families.
Presenting on behalf of the DEPC, Rocky Mount Mayor, David W. Combs will discuss strategies and steps HKC has taken in Nash and Edgecombe counties to combat early-childhood obesity, how these efforts can be replicated, along with the economic impact it can lead to across the state.
“Healthy, active children are more likely to be successful in school, have higher self-esteem and develop long-term educational goals” said Henrietta Zalkind, Executive Director of the DEPC.
“Being recognized amongst North Carolina’s and the nation’s most creative and innovative thinkers is only one example of how our two counties are developing and implementing solutions for our community and North Carolina” said Zalkind.
Featured speakers for this year’s Forum on Health include CNN’s chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, Beverly Perdue Governor, North Carolina and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, practicing physician and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) is self described as being a “public policy, think-and-do tank that convenes leaders from business, nonprofit organizations, government and higher education to tackle some of the biggest issues facing North Carolina’s future growth and prosperity” according to their website.
