Local Events

It’s Opening Day!

Family Care begins our first season in the RTP Softball league today! If you notice everyone wearing the same thing at our office today, its because we have Family Care jerseys now!

If you want to come out and support our team, we play the NCREN Bears at 5:45pm on RTP Field 3. This will also be the first ever softball game for a couple of our employees, so should be a fun time. We have a great mix of players from different teams that Ryan has played with in the past and think we have a decent chance at the championship!

Play Ball!

The Durham Diabetes Coalition

During Diabetes Awareness Month, we are featuring topics and resources that can help our patients diagnose, treat, and manage their diabetes.

The Durham Diabetes Coalition is “a partnership of Durham County health and community organizations, faith-based groups, local government and universities, and community members.” They have helpful resources for managing your diabetes and host webinars to educate the community about diabetes online.

To help raise awareness for their good cause, we have listed a few of their upcoming webinars below, including two that are scheduled for this afternoon, if you’re interested in checking them out.

Tips for Traveling with Diabetes – Thursday, November 12, 2015; 2PM-2:30PM; Click HERE!

If you have any difficulties registering for the webinars using the links in this document, please contact Willa Robinson Allen at 919.560.7771 or via email at wrobinson@dconc.gov at least 15-20 minutes prior to the start of a webinar.  Please note, the confirmation link will be sent to the email address you included in your registration.  So, make sure you are able to access that email address prior to the start of the webinar.

Pre-diabetes – Thursday, November 12, 2015; 3PM-3:30PM; Click HERE!

Diabetes is a serious disease.  While there is no cure for diabetes, there are ways to live a healthy lifestyle and properly manage diabetes.  This webinar will go over four steps to help those with diabetes understand, monitor and manage their diabetes.

Vegetarian Eating and Diabetes – Things You Should Know – Tuesday, November 17, 2015; 10AM-10:30AM; Click HERE!

Eating fruits and vegetables is part of a healthy diet for most everyone.  While they are low in fat and high in fiber, there are still considerations that must be made if you have diabetes.  A dietician specializing in the area of diabetes will facilitate this webinar to help you learn how smarter food choices assist in diabetes management.

You can check out the full event schedule here.

Durham Promise Zone Meeting On October 15!

From the NC Cooperative Extension, a partnership between NC State University and NC A&T University:

Dear Friends and Community Partners,

I would like to invite you to join us on Thursday, October 15 from 8:30AM-12:00PM to be a part of the development of a Durham Promise Zone.  The event will take place at the Durham County Human Services Building at 400 E. Main Street in Conference Room A.  A light breakfast will be provided.

What is a Promise Zone?

The Promise Zone Initiative is a federal program created by the Obama administration to designate high poverty communities as “Promise Zones.”  The designation creates a partnership between the federal government and the local community to address priorities within the zone.  A Durham Promise Zone would not supplant existing initiatives and efforts; it would reinforce this work.  The Promise Zone designation will enhance our ability to act in concert with federal and state agencies and garner resources that can support local work and improve quality of life in the zone.  There is a competitive community-based federal application process to request a Promise Zone for Durham.

What is my role?

Durham County Cooperative Extension has been asked to shepherd the federal application process for a Durham Promise Zone on behalf of the City, County, and Durham Community.   Essential to this process is community input, investment and commitment from partners who are the implementers of community based programs, initiatives, practices, and strategies in Durham.  We are inviting YOU to participate and become one of the “Pillars of Promise” because you and your organization are deeply engaged in the community and the goals of the proposed Promise Zone.  On October 15, you will learn more about the Promise Zone application process, review the proposed zone map, and have direct input into the five goals for the zone:

  1. Create Jobs
  2. Increase economic activity
  3. Improve educational opportunities
  4. Reduce violent crime
  5. Promote health and access to healthcare

Through your participation, you and your organization will have the opportunity to become an Implementation Partner for the Durham Promise Zone.

What do I need to do?

Please RSVP using the link below and join us on October 15.  There is a space on the RSVP form to indicate your interest if you cannot attend and to recommend other potential partners in this process.  You can also send someone else to represent your organization. Please contact Donna Rewalt, Community Outreach Coordinator, at (919)560-0538 or durhampromisezone@dconc.govif you have any questions.

RSVP:

https://docs.google.com/a/ncsu.edu/forms/d/1Fb1SmuL9QC9YJ6Phi9aIx9d66MYRBfIZvw_yZ6PY2fE/viewform

What are the benefits?

If designated as a Promise Zone (a ten-year designation), the benefits for Durham include:  preference for certain competitive federal programs and technical assistance, federal staff to assist in implementing goals and navigating federal programs, potential tax incentives, and the expertise of five (5) full time AmeriCorps VISTA members to manage volunteers and increase capacity.  The Promise Zone designation propels our collective ability to address multiple community challenges and has the potential to expand and strengthen the good work you are already doing in the community.

We look forward to meeting with you on October 15 and sharing more about the potential for a Durham Promise Zone.  Together we have an extraordinary opportunity to be the catalyst for ongoing collaboration and to serve as the pillars of change, growth and prosperity for a greater Durham.

Saturday Night Plans? Rock The Park Movie Series: The Sandlot

Don’t have anything else to do this weekend? One of my favorite movies of all time (The Sandlot) is playing tomorrow night at 8:30pm at Durham Central Park. The admission is free, food trucks will be on site, and you get to watch Benny and the Beast! I bet you can’t watch the trailer without wanting to go see this great movie in the park!

 

PinWHEELS For Prevention Family Fun Day is April 19

If you need any plans for the weekend, the Exchange Family Center is hosting PinWHEELS For Prevention Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 19, 2015. The event is at the Wheels Fun Park in Durham and is designed to help prevent abuse and neglect for children in the Triangle. For $12, you can get unlimited access to the skating rink, skateboard park, and jungle gym, as well as two go-kart rides, two batting tokens, and a round of mini golf. Families or groups can even get a $10 discount by purchasing 5 passes for $50. For an extra $3 per person, you can also participate in a 1 mile fun run. I feel like I could probably run a mile for free on my own, but the $3 goes to a good cause and you are still getting a great deal on the fun stuff to do at Wheels. For more information, check out their website. Have fun!

Brain Awareness Week 2015 is March 16 – 22

Brain Awareness Week is a concept developed by the Dana Foundation. Here is the description of their goal for Brain Awareness Week, according to their website:

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Every March, Brain Awareness Week unites the efforts of partner organizations worldwide in a celebration of the brain for people of all ages. Activities are limited only by the organizers’ imaginations and include open days at neuroscience labs; exhibitions about the brain; lectures on brain-related topics; social media campaigns; displays at libraries and community centers; classroom workshops; and more.

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