The Annie E. Casey Foundation Funds Public Health Social Action Program For Economically Disadvantaged Youth of Lingelbach Elementary School Community.
This Saturday, February 21st, from 9am – noon, the GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) will kick off a day of wellness by hosting a Town Hall on Health in conjunction with its all-star 5th Annual Let’s Move It: Philly! hip hop fundraiser. The health forum is a family-friendly morning of community engagement and open dialogue at Anna L. Lingelbach Elementary School in Germantown, located at 6340 Wayne Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. This event brings together music, policy and social action for a common purpose.
Visit letsmoveitphilly5.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
Panelists include youth and parents from Lingelbach School along with local lawmakers PA State Senator Art Hayward, Councilwoman Cindy Bass and PA State Legislative District leader Stephen Kinsey. Joining these elected officials are entertainment mogul Mona Scott-Young, recording artist and activist Talib Kweli, as well as Philadelphia-based stars Aja Dantzler of Kindred The Family Soul and radio personality Laiya St. Clair. Each panelist will speak on health issues and challenges facing youth and economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, GrassROOTS will officially announce the launch of its LEAVES program at Lingelbach, a public health and social action program designed to improve the health and well-being of adolescent girls, their families and their neighborhood. Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, LEAVES will also educate and inform community members about health disparities; amplify youth and community members’ voices on local health concerns and begin a community partnership to establish community investment in girls’ well-being.
The GrassROOTS Community Foundation—co-founded by Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, co-founder and lead MC of the GRAMMY Award winning hip hop band The Roots, and John Jay College sociologist Dr. Janice Johnson Dias—is committed to contributing to the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and disadvantage communities. Using rigorous scientific research, GCF creates and supports innovative public health and social action programs for women and girls.
In August 2014, there was a national outcry after it was revealed Lingelbach Elementary received only $160 in discretionary funding for the entire 2014-2015 school year. With a total student body of 400, spending equates to just 2.5 cents per pupil. The budget was to cover the costs of everything from books and copier paper to stamps and afterschool activities. After learning of the unfortunate appropriation, GCF moved into action. The proceeds from Let’s Move It: Philly! will go toward building an afterschool program at the school and increasing the capacity of youth and adults in the Germantown neighborhood. GCF has established a three-year commitment to the community.
“Collectively, we can create solutions to the health and economic challenges facing our community. The time for action is now,” says GrassROOTS President, Dr. Johnson Dias.
In addition to visiting vendors, fitness activities, healthy food sampling and a special surprise musical performance, participants of the Town Hall on Health will learn more about the needs and concerns of community stakeholders via various panels moderated by Dr. Johnson Dias. The conversations will focus on physical, mental and sexual health and cover subtopics like health disparities, childhood obesity and bullying.
The day’s events will conclude at the 5th Annual Let’s Move It: Philly! hip hop dance party where guests will party for the purpose of raising funds for Lingelbach. Headliners include GrassROOTS Chairman Black Thought, the legendary Jazzy Jeff and Philly health arts ambassador and international producer, DJ Rich Medina. Special surprise guests will also take the state to entertain the audience at Triology, formerly known as the Palmer Social Club.
Visit letsmoveitphilly5.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
ABOUT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) is a public health and social action organization that supports, develops and scales health and wellness programs for women and girls, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged. For more information, visit www.grassrootsfoundation.org or follow online @grassrootsfound.