Family is at the center of Latino culture. And wellness is a family affair!
On Saturday, August 5th, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) hosted a Community Hike in Redwood City, as part of their Latino Wellness Campaign in partnership with Target. LCF and Target are partnering with three local Latino nonprofits – Somos Mayfair, Street Level Health Project and Latino Outdoors – to promote healthy living for Latino families in the Bay Area.
The strategy: put family and culture at the center of the campaign.
Latinos care about their health and wellness. At 54% of school-age youth, Latino children are the future of California. Their wellness is a priority for Target and the Latino Community Foundation. Together, they are helping to promote healthy living through culturally relevant messages and family-fun activities. The dynamic partnership includes grants to Latino nonprofits who encourage comprehensive health and wellness, a Fitbit challenge to increase physical activity among youth, and a Health Promotora (Health Educator) model that encourages families to cook cultural recipes with a healthy twist.
At the Community Hike, LCF asked participants to commit to a healthier lifestyle. Teenagers and abuelas wrote their goals on a postcard that LCF will mail back to them in a month. Commitments included “working out twice a week, bringing lunch to work, hiking with friends on the weekend, and starting my day with positive thoughts.”
“We are on a mission to create cultural connections for Latinos and the great outdoors,” says Jose Gonzalez, Founder and Executive Director of Latino Outdoors. Jessica Paz-Cedillos, who works at Somos Mayfair, came to the Community Hike with her 14-month-old daughter and husband, “our family loves to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s extra special to do it in community” she said, “thank you for turning fitness into a fun, cultural gathering.”
If you’d like to join the next hike, please connect to LATINO OUTDOORS – a network of leaders committed to engaging Latinos in the outdoors and in conservation. In the meantime: Let’s get outdoors! Health is wealth!
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