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What is juneteenth?

6/19/2020

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the liberation of enslaved people in the United States. Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective Jan. 1, 1863, however en-slavers were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order for up to two and a half years. Union troops were called upon to enforce it and General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to inform the last of the slaves that the Civil War had ended and they were free. What followed was a mix of shock and jubilation that resonated so much so that they began celebrating June 19 the very next year in the same town square, and named it combining June and 19th. Today, while not a national holiday, it is observed in the majority of American states by members of the black community.

This is only a short synopsis that does not fully encompass the whole story and we encourage you to visit the resources below to learn more about Juneteenth.

"Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territories."
https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

"We should care because the very fabric of our society depends on our shared religion of inalienable rights. A celebration of freedom for any American is a celebration of the ideals that make our country what it is today."
https://time.com/4373253/juneteenth-2016/

"The announcement actually urged Freedmen and Freedwomen to stay with their former owners"
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/06/juneteenth-has-always-been-worthy-celebration/613270/

Black Joy - Not Corporate Acknowledgement - is the heart of Juneteeth
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth

The Juneteenth Broadcast: The #HUNGERFORJUSTICE Series
http://www.agrowingculture.org/hfj/

JOB announcement: programs support specialist (CLOSED)

6/4/2020

About Pinnacle Prevention
Founded in 2014, Pinnacle Prevention is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing healthy families and communities. Our mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living. Our team believes all families should have access to healthy food and opportunities to develop healthy relationships with foods. We think all individuals should have access to healthy and safe communities to enjoy physical activity. We work to make these visions a reality across Arizona by offering training, consultation, technical assistance, research and evaluation, advocacy and policy support, community engagement, and community-based programs. You will see us working in neighborhoods, schools, farms, farmers markets, stores, health care settings, with city council, or at the state legislature for a comprehensive approach to addressing community needs.

Programs Support Specialist
Pinnacle Prevention is seeking a full-time Programs Support Specialist who will support coordination of our community-based programming, primarily focusing on farmers market nutrition programs support and coordination, as well as overall administrative and operations support for the organization. We offer a flexible work environment emphasizing a balance of time working in the office, home, and out in the community. Our office environment is pet and family-friendly meaning it is not uncommon to find a little one, whether on four legs or two, playing at our feet during meetings – a nontraditional approach that the ideal candidate will feel comfortable with. The Pinnacle Prevention office is located in the heart of downtown Chandler, Arizona in a bike/pedestrian friendly environment.
This is an exempt full-time position with an annual salary of $42,000 commensurate with experience. Pinnacle Prevention is pleased to offer a competitive benefits package for our team members including a 401K retirement savings plan with employer match; medical, dental, and vision with Pinnacle Prevention covering 100% of the insurance premium costs; we offer generous flexibility for time off and leave; and, we welcome children and pets in our office.

Responsibilities
The Programs Support Specialist is primarily responsible for daily administrative and operations support with a focus on coordinating programming and implementation efforts for our farmers market nutrition programs.

Farmers market programs support responsibilities include (~50% of your time):

Serving as the program point of contact
Responding to program inquiries from program participants, farmers market managers, growers, and community partners
Drafting program communications
Managing data collection, entry, and reporting; maintaining organizational files
Scheduling and coordinating market manager, grower, and partner trainings and meetings
Supporting program supply purchasing and inventory
Managing maintenance and repair of program equipment, such as tablets

Operations support responsibilities include (~50% of your time):

Providing administrative, logistical, and scheduling support to the Executive Director and team
Scheduling and coordinating meetings, trainings, and events including securing facilities, catering, and managing supplies and printing
Creating and maintaining systems for tracking work
Participating in strategic planning and decision-making with the Pinnacle Prevention team
Engaging in professional development
Participating in meetings, community events, and otherwise contribute to the mission and strengthening the impact of the overall work of Pinnacle Prevention

Qualifications

Education or related work experience in nonprofit, public health, or social service program settings
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational skills
Experience and passion for food justice, the nonprofit sector, and social causes overall
Flexibility and adaptability
Ability to work in office, remotely, and outdoors in the community
Ability to work some evenings and weekends
Must be able to drive a vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license
Must be willing to travel both in-state and out-of-state and to rural and remote communities
Commitment to the Pinnacle Prevention mission

Values and Attributes Important to Us

A great sense of humor
Kindness
Humbleness
A desire to push boundaries
A natural curiosity

Preferred skills:

Spanish-speaking
Familiarity with food systems, farmers markets, active design, and legislative and advocacy processes

We encourage interested candidates to submit a resume and cover letter by email only to adrienneudarbe@pinnacleprevention.org by Friday, June 19th. In your cover letter, please tell us why you are interested in this job, what you like about Pinnacle Prevention, and share examples of experiences that make you a strong candidate. The anticipated start date for this position is Monday, July 6th. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Pinnacle Prevention will not respond to any phone call inquiries regarding this position.

Pinnacle Prevention is an equal opportunity employer.

HEALThy communities for all: why pinnacle prevention takes a stand against racism

6/3/2020

Pinnacle Prevention is a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing healthy families and communities. Our mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living to all people. When we say all people – we mean all people. Our mission and purpose are fundamentally tied to equity, and this is why we stand against racism, and the violence and injustices faced by black and brown communities. Black lives matter.

To fulfill our mission, we are committed to ensuring that our policies, systems, and environments help achieve a healthier future for all Arizonans. This starts by addressing the racial injustices and social inequities felt by communities of color that are reinforced year after year through a system that is not currently addressing the roots causes of these problems. All of our work to make healthy communities a reality means nothing if black and brown people are made to live in fear for their lives. We want kids to be able to move and play outside, but this cannot be done if a black mother is afraid for her black son to go out to play at the local park. We want families to have access to healthy foods, but this can’t be done if a black family has to travel miles out of their way to buy fresh produce – and fears for their life on that journey to find food. The trauma of racism has run deep for centuries – deeply systematic and deeply personal.

We hear and see your hurt, anger, fear, and grief resulting from the long history of white supremacy. Outrage against the system, in this case police brutality, is necessary to achieve social transformation. Our Pinnacle Prevention team is dedicated to doing the work of social justice, during and after this news cycle, and we also acknowledge that this work is ongoing for us internally. We recognize that we are an organization that is predominately white, but through our privilege there is an opportunity to move beyond just being sympathetic but taking actions to make change. We stand with communities of color by channeling our energy and actions into tackling systemic racism so that we truly can help grow healthy families and communities for all people.

Want to take action? Donate to these amazing black and brown led organizations working on food and health justice here in Arizona:

Drinking Gourd Farms: http://drinkinggourdfarms.com/
Tiger Mountain Foundation: https://tigermountainfoundation.org/non-profit-community-garden
Spaces of Opportunity: https://dbg.org/community/spaces-of-opportunity/
Iskashitaa Refugee Network: https://www.iskashitaa.org/
Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA): https://luchaaz.org/

We invite our colleagues working within the food system and built environment system to discuss privilege and work through this with us. The conversation won’t end with the news cycle.

Sincerely,
The Pinnacle Prevention Team

Job announcement - Healthy communities program manager (Closed)

4/20/2020

Download the PDF

About Pinnacle Prevention

Founded in 2014, Pinnacle Prevention is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing healthy families and communities. Our mission is to inspire and advance a healthy food system and opportunities for active living. Our team believes all families should have access to healthy food and opportunities to develop healthy relationships with foods. We think all individuals should have access to healthy and safe communities to enjoy physical activity. We work to make these visions a reality across Arizona by offering training, consultation, technical assistance, research and evaluation, advocacy and policy support, community engagement, and community-based programs. You will see us working in neighborhoods, schools, farms, farmers markets, stores, health care settings, with city council, or at the state legislature for a comprehensive approach to addressing community needs.

Healthy Communities Programs Manager

Pinnacle Prevention is seeking a full-time Healthy Communities Programs Manager who will manage all aspects of our healthy community design and built environment initiatives for Pinnacle Prevention. We offer a flexible work environment emphasizing a balance of time working in the office, home, and out in the community. Our office environment is pet and family-friendly meaning it is not uncommon to find a little one, whether on four legs or two, playing at our feet during meetings – a nontraditional approach that the ideal candidate will feel comfortable with. The Pinnacle Prevention office is located in the heart of downtown Chandler, Arizona in a bike/pedestrian friendly environment.

This is an exempt full-time position with an annual salary of $54,000 commensurate with experience. Pinnacle Prevention is pleased to offer a competitive benefits package for our team members including a 401K retirement savings plan with employer match; medical, dental, and vision with Pinnacle Prevention covering 100% of the insurance package costs; and, we offer generous flexibility for time off and leave.

Responsibilities:

The Healthy Communities Programs Manager is primarily responsible for the daily administration of our built environment and healthy community design initiatives with a focus on implementing policies and practices that ensure equitable opportunities for walking, biking, public transit, land use, and parks and trails in rural and under served communities. Responsibilities include:

• Convening and building the capacity of partners to understand and navigate ways to shift investments to people-focused roads, trails, and recreation spaces
• Building upon and mobilizing a statewide network of active living and built environment partners through a community of practice model
• Nurturing ongoing relationships with a cross-sector collaboration of local and state governments and planning partners to streamline and advance active living opportunities
• Analyze and present built environment policy and funding opportunities to help increase awareness in rural communities and utilization of available funding streams.
• Facilitating workshops and technical assistance to advance built environment efforts
• Working with rural and tribal communities to pilot quick actionable wins at the community level
• Engaging and mobilizing grassroots community members to increase connections and opportunities to influence transportation and land use planning and decision making
• Facilitating listening sessions to inform and activate advocacy and policy efforts
• Meeting with public officials and decision-makers to advocate for healthy community policy changes
• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data and outcomes to inform scale and replication
• Participating in state and national coalitions
• Collaborating with the Pinnacle Prevention team in strategic planning and decision-making
• Engaging in professional development
• Participating in meetings, community events, and otherwise contribute to the mission and strengthening the impact of the overall work of Pinnacle Prevention

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or related work experience in health, policy, planning, or a related field
• Familiarity with active design and built environment principles, regional planning and land use, environmental quality, economic development, and legislative and advocacy processes
• Ability to translate scientific research into practical solutions to improve health equity and wellbeing
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Strong analytical and observational skills
• Skilled in grant management and project planning
• Experience and comfort for providing in-person and online trainings and workshops tailored for adult learners and audiences
• Experience and passion for the nonprofit sector and social causes
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong skills in tailoring messaging unique to literacy levels and varied cultural backgrounds with an understanding of inequities impacting the communities we serve
• Ability to work remotely and in office
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends
• Must be able to drive a vehicle and maintain a valid license
• Must be willing to travel both in-state and out-of-state and to rural and remote communities
• Commitment to the Pinnacle Prevention mission

Values and Attributes Important to Us

• A great sense of humor
• Kindness
• Humbleness
• A desire to push boundaries
• A natural curiosity
Preferred skills:
• Spanish-speaking
• Planning background

We encourage interested candidates to submit a resume and cover letter by email only to adrienneudarbe@pinnacleprevention.org by Friday, May 1st. In your cover letter, please tell us why you are interested in this job, what you like about Pinnacle Prevention, and share examples of experiences that make you a strong candidate. The anticipated start date for this position is Monday, June 1st. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Pinnacle Prevention will not respond to any phone call inquiries regarding this position.

Pinnacle Prevention is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19 and Lack of School Meals Due to School Closures in Arizona

3/13/2020

Updated March 17, 2020

The breakout of COVID-19 has put the importance and impact of public health front and center in our lives. We stand with partners, families, workers, teachers, and officials as we work together to mitigate the spread, protect the vulnerable, and decrease strain on healthcare infrastructure.
Governor Ducey has announced a state-wide closure of public schools until March 27th, and other organizations are rapidly following suit. The suspension of daily operations of schools, events, and other social gatherings can mean additional strain in already challenging situations. Many kids rely on school breakfast and lunch, and schools are committed to ensuring students have access to food during this time.

So what can you do if you find yourself impacted by these closures and in need of food?

1. Check with your local school district

Most districts are in the process of putting plans together for grab and go meal options or other methods of meal service, so keep an eye out for communication from your school.
You can also check your school district’s website or Facebook page for updated information and options. The Arizona Food Network is also maintaining a list of available options by district. Check back frequently for updates.

2. Contact your local food bank

The Arizona Food Bank Network is currently working with state agencies and other partners to figure out how to distribute food during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, food banks are continuing operations and services. Emergency food is available for families to help address needs during closures.

To speak to someone about services and other options available to you, call the hotline at: 602-528-3434 or 1-800-445-1914

More information is available on their website at: http://www.azfoodbanks.org/index.php/covid-19

To speak to someone about services and other options available to you, call the National Hunger Hotline
National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-Hungry (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-Hambre (1-877-842-6273).

Some have asked how else they can help in this time of need. Now is a time we can band together as communities and neighbors to help take care of one another. There are ways you can assist in helping ensure food is available to those most in need.

1. Consider volunteering at your local food bank or panty
Food banks rely on the work of volunteers to distribute food. Considering operational changes needed during the COVID-19 response, volunteers are even more critical. Traditionally, seniors make up a large percentage of their volunteer work force. Because seniors are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, healthy, young volunteers are needed to pack and distribute boxes.
You can find a food bank near you at: http://www.azfoodbanks.org/index.php/foodbank/

2. Shop at your local farmers market

Markets across the state are facing uncertainty as the COVID-19 situation in our state rapidly evolves. Please check directly with your local farmers markets and local food distributors via social media and/or email newsletters to stay up to date on openings, closures, and alternative sales channels.

You can find your local market using:
www.doubleupaz.org/locations (These sites accept SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks)
or
Good Food Finder, managed by Local First Arizona.
www.doubleupaz.org/locations (If you receive SNAP benefits, this website will direct you to farmers markets that participate in the Double Up Food Bucks Arizona program)
or
https://www.azhealthzone.org/farmersmarkets

Until we return to business as usual, we wish you all health, safety, and nourishment. And, this friendly reminder to please wash your hands and maybe consider making a food drop at the door of your neighbor who may be in need!

What is being done to support local food?

In our recent letter to the Governor’s office and other state agencies, we stated:

“Farmers markets are vitally necessary for the livelihood of tens of thousands of farmers and for food access for millions of consumers. Farmers markets provide essential services for food access in the same manner as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential public services as decisions are made regarding containment protocols. Pinnacle Prevention and the Arizona Food Systems Network applauds Governor Ducey’s recent actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In addition to these directives, we formally request that the Governor exempt farmers markets from the gathering prohibitions of 50 people or more.”

Click here to read the entire letter.

Pinnacle Prevention Response to WW’s Kurbo Application targeting 8-17 year olds

8/20/2019

"Despite their rebranding and use of words like “wellness” WW, and other weight-loss companies, peddle diets and restriction."

By now, you may have seen posts about the WW’s (the new brand of Weight Watchers) new Kurbo app for kids. After years in the field of nutrition, we at Pinnacle Prevention have seen firsthand the devastating impact that dieting and diet culture can have on an individual, a family, a community, and society. Shame, lasting weight-bias, stigma, disordered eating and harmful weight cycling are just a few. To purposefully target children using diet culture is unconscionable. Check out this response from NEDA, the National Eating Disorders Association for more information on some of those negative impacts.

Make no mistake, despite their rebranding and use of words like “wellness” WW, and other weight-loss companies peddle diets and restriction. WW defends this practice by claiming the approach is “an evidence-based weight management program based on research.” At Pinnacle Prevention, we value research and national and international best practices; however, not all research translates into sustainable change. Although you may lose weight in the very short term there is a lot that is missing from the “evidence.” Let’s take a closer look:

Most diets, and WW itself have a poor rate of sustainable weight loss. Evidence is NOT A compliance rate of 7%. That’s a program that is likely to fail.

WW will tell you the program was modeled after a researched approach from Stanford.
1. Stanford uses an inter-disciplinary team and is a family-based intervention. Removing the “in-person monitoring by a medical professional,” portion of a program, especially when young children and adolescents are involved, is NOT evidence based.
2. An intervention studied under the umbrella of an academic institution doesn’t necessarily translate to real communities. Sunnyvale, CA and Globe, AZ are very different. Failing to consider the full context of an individual, including their community, is NOT evidence based.
Most research related to weight loss “success” is short term and has tunnel vision.
1. Weight itself is not the entire picture of our health and well being
2. Research tells us that in the long run, restricting, dieting and focusing on weight as the goal can lead to greater weight gain, and worse, weight cycling
3. Failing to take into consideration all of the aspects of health and well being is NOT evidence based.
In short, pretending that negative impacts don’t exist because they weren’t included in the study you are using DOES HARM.
Equity, oppression, racism, poverty, access, trauma, and numerous other environmental factors impact who we are, why we eat what we eat, and our health. This app cannot, and is not interested in, addressing those issues.
We should demand better for our kids and ourselves.

So, what should practitioners or parents do? What is our role in public health? At Pinnacle Prevention, and as part of our Nourish program we ask that we should first DO NO HARM. That means, rather than assess body weight, we focus on a person’s relationship to food and how policy and environment impact the ability for one to make that relationship a healthy one. To learn more about this stay tuned for more info on Nourish and visit:

Ellyn Satter and the development of feeding relationships: https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-eat/
The dangers of restriction: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/how-have-healthy-relationship-food
Health at Every Size, and policy: https://www.sizediversityandhealth.org/content.asp?id=161
Christy Harrison MPH, RD and Jeffrey Hunger, PhD - Why We can’t Fight Weight Stigma While Also Advocating for Weight Loss – Food Psych Podcast #192.

For more information on Pinnacle Prevention and our approach to supporting healthy relationships with food visit pinnacleprevention.org.

Nourish: Repairing and Growing Healthy Relationships with Food

4/26/2019

Food nourishes us in ways that go beyond calories and minerals. Often, in the field of nutrition and public health, we focus on food on the microlevel, and seek to improve intake of various nutrients to improve overall health. No doubt, nutrition plays a major role in our health and well-being, but how we come to eat what we eat is complex. Food is our culture, our community, our personality, joys, celebrations, and memories. Food is survival, it is pleasure, it is life.

Earth Day 2019: Celebrating sustainability efforts across Arizona

4/19/2019

Earth Day is right around the corner, and we’re taking this opportunity to highlight some of the incredible work happening in Arizona to make our state — and our planet — a healthier and more sustainable place to call home.

So many leaders and community members across Arizona work every day to promote sustainability, equity, and environmentally-friendly efforts. Here are just a few examples of the inspiring work being done in communities around the state:

Let’s Get Cooking! Mealtime Tasks for Every Age

4/12/2019

Getting your kids involved in the kitchen can help them learn, explore, develop healthy relationships with food, and inspire habits and memories that last a lifetime. Starting at an early age, encouraging your children to help with meals can shape the way they see food and also how they prepare it for themselves later on. Here are some tips and tricks for various age groups that are sure to have everyone in the family cooking in no time!

Nourish Training Series: Supporting and Healing Healthy Relationships with Food

4/3/2019

Are you a caregiver, advocate, or professional working with youth in Arizona? Join Pinnacle Prevention for our Nourish training series, which aids individuals and families working with adolescents in supporting and developing healthy food dynamics.

Pinnacle Prevention
480.307.6360
info@pinnacleprevention.org

250 S. Arizona Ave., Suite #6
Chandler, AZ 85225

© Pinnacle Prevention 2016