The second Saturday in June, this year that’s June 14, is Family Health & Fitness Day. Summer is a great time to take part in the free health and wellness events that happen indoors and outdoors across The Bronx. Read on to find out how you can use community resources to enhance your family’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

 

Closing the Health Gap through Local Initiatives

Many Bronx residents struggle with health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and social determinants of health like food insecurity. Community events like cooking demos and nutrition classes (https://bit.ly/3Tm3lug) confront these issues by providing education and resources directly to the community at no cost.

 

Check out the amazing offerings of the St. Barnabas Hospital’s Teaching Kitchen (https://bit.ly/4l0tA5j) or the many Bronx farmers’ markets and farmstands (https://bit.ly/45T7Wvw), which are typically open June to November.

 

Community events connect people with vital tools that may otherwise be out of reach, including blood pressure screenings, nutritional counseling, free food, fitness classes and mental health support. These efforts are particularly important in The Bronx where families often lack the time, resources, or information to care for their health.

 

These events create a welcoming space for people of all ages, promoting a holistic approach to well-being. They bring the community together and provide fantastic opportunity to meet neighbors, connect with local health organizations, and discover free Bronx resources.

 

NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, co-sponsor of many health events, is dedicated to supporting The Bronx by providing community-based programs, nutrition and physical activity programs and mental health support. Local clinics, nonprofits, schools, and community boards unite to host events and reinforce the message that health is indeed a shared responsibility.

 

Here are some examples:

• Shape Up NYC (https://on.nyc.gov/3ZuNflD) is a free group fitness program for adults and senior
• Zumba at Norwood’s own Williamsbridge Oval park (https://on.nyc.gov/3Tkk5lD)
• No scheduled events? No problem! Use the ABC method described in this previous Norwood News article: (https://bit.ly/43G5G9F)
• To plan a physical activity on a specific date and time e.g. on Monday evenings, you and your teen could walk around the track in your local park for hour at 10 a.m. or perhaps you could ride your bikes in Pelham Parkway on Saturday evenings

 

Instilling Lifelong Healthy Habits

Children learn behaviors from their families. When they witness their caretakers or role models cooking healthy meals or doing physical activity, they often follow in their footsteps. This intergenerational learning is at the heart of many community events! Kids become enthusiastic about movement and nutrition, while adults rediscover the importance of modeling healthy behaviors. Workshops that address stress reduction, diabetes prevention, and health-conscious parenting empower families to learn and develop sustainable wellness strategies together.

 

When families move, eat, and heal together, the entire community benefits. Community wellness events are a reminder of the power of community-driven wellness and the big potential of implementing small changes. Bronx families should not face growing public health challenges alone. Health is not a privilege; it is an inherent right. This summer, let’s come together to turn this vision into reality for ourselves and future generations!

 

Naomi Pemberton is a senior project manager of community health programs at Montefiore Einstein.