Senator Gustavo Rivera and Borough President Ruben Diaz Launch the Bronx CAN (Changing Attitudes Now) Health Initiative

Bronx Free Press:

Senator Gustavo Rivera and Borough President Ruben Diaz Launch the Bronx CAN (Changing Attitudes Now) Health Initiative

This past Sat., June 11th, Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,WF-Bronx) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. came together to announce the launch of the at the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center in the 33rd Senate District alongside community partners.

The Bronx CAN Health Initiative brings together individuals, doctors and other health providers, places of worship, community gardens and community centers, schools, and civic-minded groups of all kinds to promote the types of behaviors that lead to healthy lifestyles.

The goal of the Bronx CAN Health Initiative is to have all the members of our community – young and old alike – build healthier lives, free of ailments like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

As part of the initiative, community members signed up for the Bronx CAN Health Challenge, set their own personal health goals with the assistance of health care providers that were at Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center to provide support.

Goals included losing weight, exercising a certain amount of times a week, quitting smoking, and bringing down cholesterol levels.

"We cannot allow for the Bronx to continue being the unhealthiest county in New York State," said Senator Gustavo Rivera. "As a policy maker, I am working to bring healthier options to Bronxites, including green grocery stores, farmers markets and more fresh produce. But there is one thing we all need to take ownership of - including me - and that is our own personal health habits and behavior. That is why I am taking the Bronx CAN Health Challenge and have made my own personal health goal of losing 20 pounds. I invite more Bronxites to join me and set their own personal goal as part of the Bronx CAN Health Challenge."

“The Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center are proud to be Bronx CAN Health partners," said Kelly Garcia, Youth Coordinator for the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center. "We have just completed our own youth health challenge and are looking forward to continue working with all the kids and adults and that come to Mary Mitchell to participate in the Bronx CAN Health Challenge, attend Bronx CAN events and to continue to help give them the support they need to lead healthier lives."

Bronxites can continue to sign up for the Bronx CAN Health Challenge online at www.bronxcan.com or by visiting Senator Rivera's offices at 2432 Grand Concourse, Suite 506.