CALIFORNIA CONVERGENCE - YOUTH TAKING ACTION TO SHAPE CALIFORNIA’S HEALTH

CALIFORNIA CONVERGENCE - YOUTH TAKING ACTION TO SHAPE CALIFORNIA’S HEALTH
Statewide conference features youth making a powerful difference in improving childhood obesity

Sacramento, CA – “Obesity threatens the healthy future of one third of all American children. Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years. We need to get moving.” – Michelle Obama. On Saturday, April 17th, youth ages 15-25 are meeting in Sacramento for the California Convergence conference to change the health of their communities and reduce obesity in the next generation. During the first two days of the conference entitled “Youth Taking Action,” young people from 21 communities including Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, Shasta and the Central Valley will take part in interactive, team-building trainings and workshops in policy education, communications, media, spoken word and advocacy. Through the work of the California Center for Civic Participation, CCROPP, Partnership for the Public’s Health and CANFIT, young leaders (who are already modeling the examples of the Governor - Governor’s Health Summit and the First Lady - LetsMove.gov), will connect with upcoming proposed legislation in Sacramento and Washington, DC. They will also research, develop and recommend their own policy priorities to improve food and physical activity environments in the state so their families and peers have healthier places to live and eat.

About California Convergence
The California Convergence provides a unique opportunity to accelerate the movement to make the environments in which people live healthier by strategically connecting existing resources, and creating an effective learning community that can take action, and share information, tools and resources across initiatives and funding streams, and ultimately create a model for the rest of the nation. The California Convergence project is aligned with the National Convergence work, and is an attempt to manifest that effort on a statewide scale.

WHAT: California Convergence Conference – “Working Together to Improve Food and Physical Activity Environments”

WHEN: Saturday, April 17, 2010 – 11:00am - 4:00pm – Youth Taking Action Day 1
Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 8:00am – 4:00pm – Youth Taking Action Day 2
Monday, April 19, 2010 – 9:00- 4:30pm - California Convergence Policy Conference

WHERE: Sheraton Grand, Gardenia Ballroom, Sacramento 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 94814

CONTACT: Esmeralda Martin emartin@canfit.org PHONE:(510)919-4088 www.canfit.org