Manchester community Health & Wellness Forum/Non-profit Roundtable set for Jan. 13

National Bike to School Day, held each spring, is one of many health-related programs for the community supported by 5 Healthy Towns and the Manchester Wellness Coalition.

Editors Note: Anita Herman, the coordinator of the Manchester area Non-profit Round Table, asks everyone to note the change from the usual in time, location and day of the week of the upcoming non-profit Round Table meeting so that it can be held in conjunction with the Manchester Community Health Forum. She states, “Mark your calendars and plan to join us there.”

Submitted By Ray Berg, Manchester Wellness Coalition

The Manchester Wellness Coalition (MWC) and the Manchester Non-Profit Roundtable will jointly host a community health and wellness forum on Monday, January 13, at 6 pm at the Two Black Sheep Restaurant in Manchester. All members of these groups, and the general public, are invited as we host our periodic public outreach.

Our intent with this forum is to both educate interested community members on the ongoing Manchester Wellness Coalition and its relationship with the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, our goals and activities, and our current planning for the Year 9 Manchester Health and Wellness Plan. We also seek new and interested members and their ideas for needed health and wellness initiatives in Manchester. Non-Profit Roundtable members will review how their organizations are currently involved in health and wellness activities in the community. We host these community forums every two years in different formats to reach out for this input.

The evening will begin with a complimentary light buffet dinner and refreshments served by Two Black Sheep. We will then present an overview of the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation and the Manchester Wellness Coalition, and their goals, objectives and structure in improving the Manchester area’s health and wellness. We’ll also review the three ongoing ways in which 5 Healthy Towns has been involved in the Manchester area (Wellness Coalition and interventions, Manchester Wellness Center, and the “One Big Thing” mental health program now under way).

We’ll then briefly look at where our Manchester Year 9 plan is heading, including an overview of recently collected community health data and key findings.

Following this overview, we’ll then open it up for questions, comments and suggestions from attendees. We’re looking for feedback on existing programs, and your ideas for possible new projects, programs, or infrastructure that will make Manchester a healthier town. We’ll also look for new participants who want to be a part of the overall health and wellness effort, or to champion a specific topic.

RSVPs will be appreciated to help with meal count planning. Please RSVP by emailing rayberg@att.net, or by accessing our Manchester Wellness Community Forum event page which will be available on various community Facebook sites in early January.

We look forward to seeing you in January as we continue to advocate for a healthier Manchester!

The Manchester Community Garden, shown here with MECC Summer Day Campers, is another way that the MWC helps encourage healthy eating habits.

The Non-profit Roundtable is combining with the Manchester Community Health and Wellness Forum for their January meeting.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.