Advocacy continues to be integral to the work of Healthy Living Matters. HLM is connecting with advocacy groups such as the Partnership for a Healthy Texas (PFHT) and other local policy groups in the Houston area, in preparation for the upcoming 88th Texas legislative session. Please stay up to date on the legislative priorities of the PFHT by signing up for their newsletter.

It's never too early to prepare to vote! We encourage you to check on your registration, make sure your address is up to date and stay informed about polling places, and of course research the candidates who are working to represent you! If you aren't sure if you are registered, please check your registration status at the Secretary of State website.

Healthy Living Matters has been working with the Catalyzing Communities Initiative for the past few months in collaboration with the East Aldine community. The Catalyzing Communities Initiative is a project of Child Obesity 180, which is a program out of the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition. We have a diverse group of stakeholders (see graphic above) from East Aldine who have been meeting regularly to discuss the issues of access to healthy food, youth physical activity and the built environment in East Aldine. We are applying community based systems dynamics strategies for the activities of this project, which has been a great learning opportunity for HLM staff and the East Aldine stakeholders.

Thank you to the Aldine area community partners who attended the HLM East Aldine meeting in July! Chef Chris, the new chef from HOPE Clinic’s “A Bite of HOPE” program did a food demo and prepared a delicious quinoa and veggie salad for the group. It was delicious! And we even learned a life-changing food preparation trick for cutting grape or cherry tomatoes! HCPH staff and HC Emergency Corps staff shared information on programs and services available to the community. Urban Harvest’s Farmer’s Market was highlighted, which was taking place on the Baker Ripley campus at the same time as the meeting. Everyone was encouraged to go check it out and support.

Action Based Learning Summit

In June, HLM was able to sponsor staff from 4 school districts to participate in the Action Based Learning Summit held at Alief ISD. The summit was a 3-day training for educators where they learned strategies that can help improve student focus, engagement and academic achievement. These strategies are great because they allow students to keep their bodies active, while also building their brains. Implementing these strategies can also have a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of students. We look forward to seeing how the knowledge gained during the summit will be implemented in each of the districts! We strongly encourage all educators to consider using these brain and body-building strategies in your instruction.