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We Can Do It!

Citywide Parent Rally Calls For Healthy Food and More PE

Chicago -- “Under the banner ‘Healthy Food + Exercise = Better Students,’ more than 700 parents and children from across the city came together on Thursday May 25 at the Humboldt Park Boathouse to call for improved school food, nutrition education, more PE, and the restoration of recess in the Chicago Public Schools.

“We hope the Chicago Board of Education and others who make policies that affect the school environment will include these requests in the district’s wellness policy and involve parents fully in the decision-making process now and in the future,” said Rochelle Davis, founding executive director of Healthy Schools Campaign. “They should do this not just because it’s required by federal law, but because it is good for students, for schools and for the community.”

One in six children in the U.S. is obese or overweight with a greater proportion of Black (20%) and Hispanic (24%) children affected a compared with their White counterparts (11%). The Chicago Public Schools are the third largest school district in the nation, serving more than 400,000 students of which over 85% are from minority and low-income communities. Many students consume nearly 40% of their daily calories at school.

“Too often when talking about improving schools, the focus is on academics at the expense of health, but the two are not mutually exclusive,” said Davis. “Health is a pathway to learning, and schools that provide healthy food, nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity have been proven to promote academic success.”

The parents came from across the city, organized by a diverse set of community groups and school organizations, including West Town Leadership United, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, POWER-PAC, Pilsen Alliance/Whittier Partners, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Blaine PTA, Casa Aztlan, Parents at Cooper/Orozco/Pilsen Academy, Southwest Women Working Together and the Healthy Schools Campaign.

During the rally, parent leaders presented 500 postcards outlining their requests to a panel of city and state political and school leaders. The requests included:

• provide more healthy food supported by nutrition education by expanding the salad bar program and providing teachers with in-service on nutrition education.
• increase physical education and end PE waivers.
• reinstate recess
• incorporate a food and fitness measure in the new school report card and include a health goal in the school improvement plan.

The parents had previously presented more than 1,500 similar postcards to the Chicago Board of Education at the May board meeting. Board member Dr. Tariq Butt responded to the parents’ requests with a commitment to work toward addressing the parents’ concerns as CPS finalizes the district’s wellness policy, which is required by federal law by June 30, 2006. Other officials expressed their support for the parents’ health goals, including Jesse Ruiz, President, Illinois State Board of Education; Alderman Manny Flores (1st Ward), State Representative Mary Flowers (D – 31st District) and State Representative Cynthia Soto (D – 4th District).

“This demonstrates how concerned parents are about the school environment,” said Guillermo Gomez, HSC Chicago Director. “They are such an important part of the solution that it’s critical that their voices be heard now and in an ongoing way.”