BROOKLINE — Director Sigalle Reiss invites the community to take part in the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services’ annual celebration of National Public Health Week.
National Public Health Week (NPHW), celebrated from Monday, April 1 to Sunday, April 7, is organized by the American Public Health Association to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues important to improving the nation’s health.
“National Public Health Week is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about public health. This year’s theme is ‘Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health’ and highlights the ways our communities flourish when their needs are met. Where we live, work and play can greatly impact our health. I encourage community members to attend and participate in the exciting activities, celebrating the fact that We Are All Public Health,” said Director Reiss.
Brookline residents can join in the celebration through the following events and initiatives:
Monday, April 1:
Exploring Our Backyard: Join members of Brookline Public Health at 12 p.m. for a refreshing lunchtime walk through Brookline Village. The walk will highlight some of the various initiatives Brookline is taking to combat climate change. Featured stops include the Brookline Ave mini-forest inspired by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki and Pollinator Pathway gardens. This event provides an opportunity for the community to connect with public health officials and activists. Participating members should meet at the Main Branch of the Public Library, located at 361 Washington St. Register here.
Gentle Chair Yoga with Keith Beasley: Keith Beasley, frequent leader of gentle yoga sessions at Putterham Library, will lead a Chair Yoga session at 1 p.m. in the Senior Center Ballroom located at 93 Winchester St. Chair Yoga is the gentle practice of yoga movements performed while seated or utilizing a chair for balance. Accessible to all, Chair Yoga benefits participants by enhancing stability and coordination, improving range of motion, and improving heart health by reducing strain on the body during poses. No registration is required.
Tuesday, April 2:
Healthy Neighborhoods Open House: Stop by the Public Health Building, located at 11 Pierce St., from 3-6 p.m. for an interactive experience centered around the topics of food safety and access. The event provides an opportunity to meet public health staff and learn the safest practices for food preparation and storage to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. There will be interactive games and prizes, free beverages, and a raffle for prizes including a meat thermometer. No registration is required.
Tweens & Teens Navigating Screens: Guidance for Parents on Adopting Healthy Approaches: The Brookline Parent Network (B-PEN) is hosting a virtual informational presentation on raising teenagers/ pre-teenagers in a digital age. The featured speaker will be Dr. Michael Rich, Founder and Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rich will provide strategies for parents to help their children adapt to and sustain a healthy relationship with social media and technology. The Zoom presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Register here.
Wednesday, April 3:
Harnessing Climate Fears into Positive Action: The Rotary Club of Brookline is sponsoring a climate change-focused documentary viewing at the Brookline Public Library in Hunneman Hall from 7-8:30 p.m. The documentary, narrated by Richard Gere, demonstrates the ties between public health and climate change. Dr. Madeleine Scammell, DSc, BU School of Public Health, will be a guest speaker. Chris Chanyasulkit, Ph.D., MPH, Immediate Past President of American Public Health Association, will moderate. Other event sponsors include: Climate Action Brookline, Elder Climate Action Mass Chapter, Brookline Mothers Out Front, Friends of Brookline Public Health, and Brookline DPHHS. Register here to reserve a seat.
Any questions about NPHW events should be directed to Community Health Manager Darlene Johnson at djohnson@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2301. Questions or concerns about language access and reasonable accommodations should go to the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations, specifically Ahmad Hamssa, ahamssa@brooklinema.gov for language access, and Sarah Kaplan, skaplan@brooklinema.gov for reasonable accommodations.
This year’s NPHW theme is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.”
Each day of NPHW will spotlight a different topic related to the theme that community organizers can build activities and initiatives around. The daily themes are as follows:
- Monday: Civic Engagement
- Tuesday: Healthy Neighborhoods
- Wednesday: Climate Change
- Thursday: New Tools and Innovations
- Friday: Reproductive and Sexual Health
- Saturday: Emergency Preparedness
- Sunday: Future of Public Health
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