Meeting Minutes

Action Team Name: Nutrition Meeting Date: 2/29/08 Facilitator: Robin Rifkin

Note Taker name: Annie Rojas Telephone #: 215-386-5211 e-mail: annierojas@whitedog.com

Attendees:
Brown, Linda Awbury Arboretum Apprentice Program McDowell, Allison; Parents United for Public Education
Bynum, Colleen; SJU Student, Albert Einstein employee Morrison, Kelly; Phila Corp. for Aging
Chung, Jen; Temple medicine student, nutrition advocacy group Ortiz, Jeanne Parents United for Public Education, Pennsylvania
SNACwell Environmental Council
Coffin, Ed nutrition student at UMDNJ, vegan baker Pepe, Connie; Jefferson Univ. Diabetes Prevention Program
Dubrow, Matthew; Fundamental Wellness nutrition medicine Rifkin, Robin; Health Promotion Council
practice Rojas, Ann; White Dog Community Enterprises
Elder, Linden student from Haverford “Food Fight” Schneider, Barbara; Community Health Collaborative
Federici, Leslianna; fitness consultant and New Bold Neighbors Sherman, Sandy The Food Trust
Gym, Helen Parents United for Public Education Solomon, Aaliyah; PHMC
Grasela, Wayne Senior VP Food Services, School District of Sung, Connie UPenn student comm.-based environmental health
Philadelphia (SDP) Visard, Frank; SDP food service
Guidry, Marilyn; Cheyney University GIS professor Walker, Alia PARCC- Philadelphia Area Research and Community
Ingram, Karl Collaboration at Penn
Johnson, Danni; Philadelphia Health Management Corp.(PMC) Washington, Barbara; PHMC Asthma Link
Kendrick, Lamarr Weiss, Norman; Weaver’s Way
Margarita, Mona Awbury Arboretum

Agenda Item Discussion: Main Points Follow-up Actions/Status Responsibility Deadline

Introductions
Synergy: List examples of
synergy provided at meeting
Review of PUFFA- working to make it easier to be Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
healthy by increasing safe places to play and easy
access to healthful food
Karl has been meeting with Lamarr and talking Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
about potential opportunities in North Philly.
Linden- PA Real Food Summit at Penn brought
students together
Robin- Common Market is continuing to progress;
School of the Future project has progressed: salad
is now provided on the menu, next step whole
grains; studies being done at 6 k-8 schools (3
control schools) 1.5 years left in the study, will
Agenda Item
Previous Meeting Follow-up
Sort
Nutrition Policy Statement
Discussion: Main Points Follow-up Actions/Status Responsibility Deadline
shed light on how menu’s impact obesity
Sandy Sherman- informed Joe Woodlock about
programs that may help provide food to rec center
A copy of “the sort” was distributed and Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
reviewed. Initial list fell into 4 groups- food in
communities, smarter food policy in institutions,
educational campaigns, and community economic
development. The ideas were categorized into
those general groupings in the sort. Ideas were
also sorted as to whether or not they were vision,
program, or policy/system changes. Kellogg gave
us healthy, affordable, accessible, and local
criteria. This definition was distributed.
Draft “vision” statement distributed as a starting Send comments to Robin and when web format All March 15, 2008
point. is established post comments there participants

Question- why can’t the city provide more funding

for food and fitness initiatives; need to engage
council and staff at the city.
Response: PUFFA has engaged city and council
through health commissioner and health
department representation. The various ways that
the city can support the plan (beyond funding) will
be clearer as the plan is developed.

Sustainability needs to be a separate component it

is as important as local

Vision needs to include nutrition education at an

early age to establish long life eating habits

Nutrition education is implied in the statement of

“all Philadelphians valued good nutrition..”
Need to mention cultural groups in the vision

Good nutrition is a community value beyond just

to stay healthy
New Topics
PUFFA Update We are working on a vision for our nutrition Annie will distribute roadmap with minutes
group. The next few months we will be analyzing
Agenda Item Discussion: Main Points Follow-up Actions/Status Responsibility Deadline
the vision to see what is needed to accomplish it.
Finally we’ll look at what strategies we will need
to include in our plan to get there.
Parents United for Public Helen and Jeannie explained their organization’s
Education focus- school budgets and how they are used to
prioritize issues in the school, they previously Looking for institutional support to bring before
worked with Aramark contract issues and then the commission. (2nd and 3rd Wednesday). All interested ASAP, but
became more involved in general food service Looking for people to testify. partners before March
issues. Goal is district-wide change. They 215-236-2100 ask for Aissia or email 26
presented an initiative they will bring to the school parentsunitedphila@gmail.com
district in April. A draft of the initiative was
distributed.
Annie to bring to PUFFA staff meeting Annie Rojas March 5
Question: Can PUFFA take a stand before the
school reform committee in April?
Response: Our coalition is not evolved enough to
“take a stand” but individual partners can be
approached for support.
Ground rules We are working to nurture communication and All participants should keep these rules in mind. All Ongoing
create an environment that will allow us to solve
problems creatively.
1. Be open minded- “try-on” other views
2. Listen with respect
3. It’s okay to disagree
4. Keep criticism constructive
5. No blame, shame or attacks
6. Confidentiality
7. When communicating take responsibility
for words and action: Use “I” instead of
“we” or “you” Use I feel” or “I think”
instead of “you made me” “it made me”
8. More than 1 thing can be true
“Both/And” instead “or/but”
9. Notice process- what are we doing, how
are doing it, intent, and impact
10. Let everyone participate and be heard
11. Everyone’s in charge of sharing time

Vision/policy/programs We are not program oriented but there are policies Review hand out All Next meeting
that may support programs. System or policy level
change is made to affect a broad population. Robin
distributed hand out explaining the differences
between policy and programs.
Agenda Item Discussion: Main Points Follow-up Actions/Status Responsibility Deadline
Additional policy information Robin also distributed Rick Nichols article “on the Review All Next meeting
side: obesity expert sides with chain restaurants”
and a food policy options list from Center for
Science in the Public Interest.
Next Steps Request for feedback about merging food system Annie to discuss concerns and ideas with Annie March 10
and nutrition action teams. Allison Harris
MG: Bigger group might not lend itself to
discussion. The groups are talking about different
things
KM, LK: From time-to-time it makes sense
RR: Or if there is overlap in topic maybe it would
be helpful.
LF: Periodic combined meetings might be helpful
ie common vision meeting

Next step is to analyze vision and compare it to

existing data that paints the current picture.
Data/Information Requests Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
Next Meeting Date Friday March 14 12:30-1:00 networking, 1:00- Mark calendars All Not applicable
3:00 meeting, location to be announced
Friday April 11 12:30-1:00 networking, 1:00-3:00
meeting with Food System Action Team, Awbury
Arboretum- tours available before and after