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Healthy Youth

By Carolyn Johnson, on May 12th, 2014

OBESITY IN CHILDREN

The causes of obesity are complex and include biological, behavioral and cultural factors. Obesity occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up. They need a change in diet.

Childhood obesity is a major public health problem. Children become overweight and obese for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of unhealthy eating pattern and a lack of physical activity. However children are at high risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure later in life. The following is a list of common causes of obesity:

poor eating habits overeating or binging lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids) family history of obesity medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems) medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications) stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse) family and peer problems low self-esteem depression or other emotional problems

How can obesity be managed and treated? Obese children need a thorough medical evaluation by a pediatrician or family physician to consider the possibility of a physical cause. In the absence of a physical disorder, the only way to lose weight is to reduce the number of calories being eaten and to increase the level of physical activity. Lasting weight loss can only occur when there is self-motivation. Since obesity often affects more than one family member, making healthy eating and regular exercise a family activity can improve the chances of successful weight control for the child or adolescent.

WORKOUT EXERCISE FOR KIDS

Kids exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, during recess, at dance class or soccer practice, while riding bikes, or when playing tag.

One of the best ways to get kids to exercise is by finding ways to get them active without making it feel like actual exercise. Thanks to video games and computers, today’s kids live a more sedentary life, so it is more important than ever to get them moving whenever possible. From fun games to trampoline tricks and even yoga, here are 10 steps you can take to get your kids to play hard and thus get exercise without even knowing it!

Create a superhero-in-training Do a hoop dance Create the Playground Olympics Jump on the trampoline Try yoga for kids Jumping Rope Using an exerciser ball Make activity flash cards Play the Wii game Play with balloons NUTRITION MEALS FOR KIDS

Nutritious meals for kids provide the vitamins nutrients and mineral needed to meet the daily dietary guideline for children.

Children use a lot of energy to maintain a high level of concentration, increased brain power and a healthy lifespan. So exercise throughout the day will prevent energy high and low. A healthy daily diet for kids should Include three meals and two healthy snacks.

Teach your child to eat a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Meals for Kids

Good things come in small packages and mealtime is no exception. These healthy meals are perfect for popping into little mouths or picking up with tiny fingers. Your kids will delight in these bite-sized meals and snacks. Each meal is low in calories, provides a variety of healthy ingredients, and is so tasty even the big kids (a.k.a. Mom or Dad) will like them.

With each recipe, find suggestions for the parents to help make prep easier, to involve the children in the kitchen, or to add a unique, adult-friendly spin to the recipe. Best of all, you can feel good serving these healthy recipes to your children.

Chicken Fingers

Chickens don’t have fingers! I think the name comes from how you eat them. This part of the chicken is the loin, which comes from the breast. The loin has a little yellowish-white tendon at one end that is sometimes tough to chew. You can cut this tendon off after you wash and dry the meat, but I usually leave it on. Hey, I’m lazy!

Yields: 3 to 5 servings

Oven Temp: 375

Ingredients 1 pound(s) chicken tenders (The package might call them “loins”)Chicken Fingers:

1 cup(s) flour 1 teaspoon(s) salt 1/2 teaspoon(s) pepper 1/4 teaspoon(s) baking powder 1 egg Cooking spray

Honey Baby Sauce:

1/4 cup(s) honey 1/4 cup(s) spicy brown mustard

Directions

Preheat the toaster oven to 375 degrees. Rinse the chicken under running water in the colander, and blot it dry with the paper towels. The drying part is important because the . . . → Read More: Healthy Youth

Comments are closed   Art & Culture, Health Care   , , , ,  

This Light: Sounds for Social Change Interviews Mazi Mutafa of Words, Beats, Life

By Brenda Hayes, on November 12th, 2013

This Light: Sounds for Social Change Interviews Mazi Mutafa –

Words Beats and Life was founded as a hip-hop conference at the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall of 2000. The brainchild of Mazi Mutafa, Executive Director, WBL was developed and researched at the University of Maryland with two fellow students who wanted to continue the hip-hop conference after graduation. When the Black Student Union decided they could manage the conference without the help of alumni, Words Beats and Life was faced with the option of dissolving or moving in a new direction. More than anything, the founders wanted Words Beats and Life to be a vehicle to transform individual lives and communities through hip-hop. In 2003, WBL was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization with 501c3 status in the District of Columbia and began developing its first program, The Urban Arts Academy

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Beat Club at Potomac Gardens

By Ben King, on September 14th, 2013

Young residents of Potomac Gardens teamed up with Beat Club founder Barrett Jones for a beat-making session at Potomac Gardens. The Beat Club is part of Grassroots DC’s efforts to teach radio and audio production skills. Video shot and edited by Carlton Moxley.

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Photos by Ben Dorger and Ben King

One comment - (Comments are closed)   Art & Culture, Classes & Workshops, Communities, Potomac Gardens   , , , ,  

Courage and a Plan

By Adwoa Masozi, on June 7th, 2013

Since 2003, Washington D.C. has seen a 43 percent decline in children placed in foster care. Though some progress has been made we are still seeing greater numbers of families struggling to access the resources they need to stay together when compared to the rest of the country. Our nation’s capital has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country with nearly 50 percent of youth in Ward 8 and 40 percent of youth in Ward 7 living below the federal poverty line. In 2011, Ward 8 had the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

The above video was also produced by Adwoa Masozi to accompany the Justice Policy Institute Report Fostering Change.

These same wards are predominantly African-American and have the highest rates of children entering the child welfare system, of which 99 percent are youth of color (93 percent African-American and 6 percent Latino) according to research in Fostering Change, the latest report put out by the Justice Policy Institute. Fostering Change shows how family and neighborhood poverty are two of the strongest predictors of child maltreatment, and that the conditions poverty creates can ultimately lead to a child being removed from their home.

When considered in a broader socioeconomic context, poverty becomes more than the absence of income and or earning potential—that is, a lack of work opportunities, quality or not, to support oneself and her or his dependents. It is also dealing with the collateral effects of not being able to take care of basic needs such as buying food, medical care, school supplies and adequate clothing or paying for transportation, utilities and rent. These are just some of the conditions that can lead to children being maltreated. JPI’s report found that abused and neglected children are 59 percent more likely to be arrested, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as adults, and 30 percent more likely to commit a violent crime. In 2011, half of youth under the supervision of the District’s juvenile justice agency, Department of Youth and Rehabilitative Services (DYRS), were from Wards 7 and 8.

You see, in the end, these children grow up. For all people currently incarcerated in the United States 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men report a history of abuse as children. So, when we think about the needs of children in poverty, equal thought must be extended to that child’s family on whom she ultimately depends.

How many hardships would be mitigated and lives spared the trauma of family separation and or justice system involvement if they had access to quality jobs, mental health services and for the child, an uninterrupted education? Fostering Change cites parental incarceration, substance abuse and inadequate housing as some of the leading causes for youth involvement in the child welfare system. Nationally, 80 percent of children entering foster care are a result of at least one parent experiencing a substance abuse disorder. In 2010, 1 in 6 District youth entering foster care had an incarcerated parent. Think if substance abuse were treated like a public health issue rather than a criminal one? Or if instead of building exorbitantly priced condos, there were parallel investments made in maintaining and increasing the availability of affordable housing that kept pace with the need, as articulated by the city’s poverty levels?

These problems, however daunting, aren’t insolvable. Families are doing their best and brave varying levels of unrelenting uncertainty every day. That is courage and something we need a little more of in this city—not from those going through it, calling for it, and writing reports about it but the decision makers with the power to eliminate these conditions that flat-line the trajectory of countless African-American and Latino youth in D.C.’s at-risk communities.

The other half of what’s needed is a comprehensive plan that’s viable. Substance abuse, disproportionately high incarceration rates, poor health, and low educational attainment are symptomatic of deeper systematic social inequity and a historical lack of access. Fostering Change is a report in a four-part public safety and juvenile justice series that offers a way forward for the District in the way city agencies, through strategic collaboration and community partnership, address the needs of its most vulnerable residents. Public safety starts with securing our city’s youth, and their families, who need it the most.

. . . → Read More: Courage and a Plan

Comments are closed   Childcare, Education, Justice System, Pathways to Prison,   , , , ,  

Summer In The City, Ivy City That Is…

By Liane Scott, on November 8th, 2012

Youth from Ivy City from left to right, Stephanie Chloe, Dedrica (Drica) Clyburne, James Batts, Moniya Walker and Santasia (Tay) Scarborough

This summer, Empower DC hired several youth from Ivy City to help organize their community. What follows are the impressions of a few of the participants and a lovely video of Ivy City’s Annual reunion produced by two of the youth, Stephan Scarborough and Amari McCray.

Dedrica: I loved being the assistant community organizer for Ivy City because I used my voice for a better purpose. I feel Empower DC is doing an awesome job fighting for Alexander Crummell School. I got the opportunity to silently protest Mayor Gray’s plan to park 65 Bolt buses on the grounds of the historic Alexander Crummell School. And I feel I was good at getting people involved and wanting to stand up for the community they call home. I am definitely going to continue volunteering for Empower DC to keep the fight going in the community.

Moniya: One thing that I learned with empower DC is that you can always help with stuff. And that it was good to visit and learn new things. Empower DC changed me. I learned that you can always feel comfortable going and talking to an adult and how to have confidence. What I did not like was talking to people and getting people to come to meetings because at times they were rude. But even though people were rude there was a possibility they would attend the meeting. When I first started I was tired of walking around but I eventually got used to it. And I felt so happy when I would attend meetings and people I made contact with attended.

Stephon “Steph” Scarborough at 3.

Steph: Our amazing organization, Empower DC, has taught me a lot and it was a wonderful experience. Furthermore it was pretty excellent that the program was constructive, positive and productive. Our campaign that we are pursing has a good sense of justice and a large amount of significance. I am looking forward to starting an Empower DC band. The band will aim to reach out to people and tell them about our Ivy City community and all the hardships that we endure. Empower DC has been great to me and I will love to stay for future initiatives.

 

Amari McCray

Amari: My name is Amari. My summer with Empower DC was good while interning with the Grassroots Media Project. The experience was really good for me because I normally would be out with friends stealing bikes. While working with empower DC I learned how to operate the video camera and learned how to film different progressive events.

Comments are closed   Communities, Ivy City, Ivy City, Public Property, Youth Organizing   , , , , , ,  
 
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