The School of Public Health recognized national public health week with a series of community-oriented events focusing on this year’s theme “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.”
From April 7 – 13, 2008, students, faculty and alumni of the School of Public Health carried out events across the Philadelphia community to raise awareness of climate change as a public health issue and show how people can improve their health by being environmentally conscious.
The first event was an environmental event fair and panel discussion at Drexel University’s Bossone Research Center. At the event, industry experts from across the region presented ways to live green and held a panel discussion on green topics impacting today’s lives. A resource fair included the participation of the Sierra Club, Microsoft High School of the Future, Delaware Valley Earth Force and the Drexel Smart House.
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The fair was followed by a panel discussion that featured: Darlene Messina, Sustainability and Livable Communities; Lorna Rosenberg, Delaware Valley Green Building Council; James Piet, The Food Trust; Cindy Parker, The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health; and David Feldman, Habitat for Humanity. The panel was moderated by Dr. Jennifer Taylor and Carol Ann Gross-Davis, who are both professors at the School of Public Health. |
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The students also organized a public information fair and display at Love Park in Center City Philadelphia. Spending all afternoon in the park, students led hundreds of community members in games that raised awareness of climate change and other public health concerns, organized fitness and jump rope competitions to spotlight the importance of exercise, and passed out “This is Public Health” stickers. |
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The students also held the second annual poster and essay contest with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. Children in the clubs submitted posters or essays, depending upon the child’s age, describing what they believe is climate change and how they can help prevent it. The response was overwhelming, and there were multiple award winners. At a special awards ceremony at the Clubs’ Fairmount Unit, students from the School of Public Health announced this year’s winners and presented them a wide-variety of gift cards and other prizes. CLICK FOR CONTEST WINNERS.
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To wrap-up the week’s events, several students and alumni participated in a Fairmount Park cleanup and restoration volunteer project, which was sponsored by the Community Alumni Network at Drexel University. The event was designed to honor Earth Day, and was a fitting tribute to the National Public Health Week’s focus on climate change. The volunteers worked together in removing invasive vegetation, site clearing, log removal, litter patrol and tree planting near the city’s Mann Music Center. |
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