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	<title>BRANCH 4 Health</title>
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	<description>Bridging Research &#38; Aurora Neighborhoods for Health</description>
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		<title>North Middle School Community Garden Celebration Day Success!</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/north-middle-school-community-garden-celebration-day-success/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=north-middle-school-community-garden-celebration-day-success</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/north-middle-school-community-garden-celebration-day-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 20:08:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School-based Community Gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Middle School]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=6164</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Karen E. Crummy &#124; Denver Post Students and neighborhood residents joined together Saturday to dig in Aurora Public Schools&#8217; first community garden. Located at North Middle School,the garden is part of a new curriculum for the school&#8217;s health sciences and science courses. In the fall, students plan on holding a farmer&#8217;s market to sell their produce. &#8220;The garden gets the students more in touch with nature and physically active,&#8221; said Michele M. Doucette, a professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. &#8220;We&#8217;ve also found that these gardens builds bridges between members of the community.&#8221; There are 22 garden plots for community members and eight for students, Doucette said. Another garden is slated for this time next year at Hinkley High School. The gardens were proposed by students from the Anschutz medical campus who founded an organization called BRANCH: Bridging Research and Aurora Neighborhoods for Community Health. The group is dedicated to starting programs that help Aurora community members take an active role in the health. The Piton Foundation funded construction of the gardens. About 75 people Saturday planted a variety of vegetables. Denver Urban Gardens is finishing garden construction over the next few days, as well as planting fruit trees. Karen E. Crummy: 303-954-1594, kcrummy@denverpost.com or twitter.com/karencrummy Follow us:@Denverpost on Twitter &#124; Denverpost on Facebook NMS Community Garden Celebration Day Gallery]]></description>
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		<title>NMS Community Garden Celebration Day</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/nms-community-garden-celebration-day/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nms-community-garden-celebration-day</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/nms-community-garden-celebration-day/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:13:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School-based Community Gardens]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=6083</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Join Us for the North Middle School Community Garden Festival! Bring your friends and family to help celebrate Aurora Public Schools first school-based Community Garden. The day begins at 10 a.m. with remarks from invited speakers followed by activities by North Middle School students. Following the opening festivities, you are welcome to help put the finishing touches on the garden! Community Partners If you are interested in participating in the NMS Community Garden Celebration Day, please let us know by Reserving Your Table Here. North Middle School Community Garden Location View Larger Map]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Community Engagement for Health &#8211; 2012</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/community-engagement-for-health-2012/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=community-engagement-for-health-2012</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/community-engagement-for-health-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Nov 2012 22:40:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=5748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first Community Engagement for Health event was held on the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) Anschutz Medical this past Monday, Nov. 5th, 2012.  Six North Aurora community outreach organizations shared information about their work and projects with more than 50 AMC students, faculty, and staff. Click to view the: Panelists&#8217; Contact Information The evening began with an overview of Original Aurora Renewal (OAR) presented by Dawn Barrett, Division Manager, City of Aurora. OAR is a program within Aurora&#8217;s Neighborhood Services Department that serves a specific geographical area called Original Aurora (click map on left to view).  OAR assists neighborhoods and residents in Northwest Aurora to help themselves to improve the quality of life in the community and to promote community health, safety, and resilience. Janet Meredith, Executive Director with 2040 Partners for Health (2040) discussed the North Aurora region served by 2040. 2040 provides the infrastructure to bring the Aurora community, academics, and researchers together to assess community needs and concerns through community based research (CBR). Janet stressed how Community Advisory Groups play a key role in the CBR process. The next 2040 Health Summit will be held February 23, 2013. Rich McLean, with Together Colorado and Aurora Health Access discussed new initiatives including a newly funded &#8220;hotspotting&#8221; project. Hotspotting identifies geographic areas where a relatively small number of people account for high levels of ER use. The goal is to find the costliest patients; save significant dollars in their care by providing needed health services; and reinvest the savings to provide better health care. Ruben Medina discussed community outreach work being performed at the Moorhead Recreation Center. A successful community connection tool used by the Moorhead Recreation Center is &#8220;Neighborhood Circles.&#8221; Neighborhood circles provides small groups an informal controlled setting to interact; allowing participants to jointly discuss important issues affecting their community. Participants also share details about themselves helping to build common bonds. Noelle Melchizedek, Project Manager for be well Northwest Aurora gave an insightful overview of her group&#8217;s community outreach activities. be well NW Aurora has a number of &#8220;Healthy Eating Active Living&#8221; projects and programs including a Bike Rodeo, the Walking School Bus, and be well Produce of the Month, along with policies including a coordinated school health team and a focus on recreation. Another initiative coming to NW Aurora in the near future is &#8220;be well Businesses.&#8221; Maisha Pollard from the Fields Wolfe Memorial Fund wrapped up the presentations with a dynamic discussion of the many needs of North Aurora residents. Their Our Place, Our Future initiative is dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of Aurora families. The Fields Wolfe Foundation partners with organizations that address physical and mental health as well as family, community, and social supports to help families live healthy and productive lives.]]></description>
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		<title>North Middle School Health Fair &#8211; Community Garden Introduced!</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/nms-community-garden-introduced/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nms-community-garden-introduced</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/nms-community-garden-introduced/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:27:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[School-based Community Gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Fair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Middle School]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=5613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[North Middle School (NMS) had their Health Fair October 4th.  There appeared to be a large turnout by the community.  BRANCH was one of the invited vendors and we had a table in the entrance lobby.  BRANCH students made zucchini bread and provided a recipe (Spanish and English versions) for the individuals attending the health fair. This was also a special night for NMS/APS, Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), and BRANCH in that DUG was able to get the NMS Community garden site plan completed to display at the health fair. BRANCH had informational flyers available including a Community Garden FAQ sheet and an announcement for our upcoming NMS Community Garden Kick-off Meeting to begin the community engagement endeavors. We had two community members very interested in attending the Oct. 25 meeting.]]></description>
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		<title>Community Engagement for Health Event &#8211; Nov. 5th</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/community-engagement-for-health-event-nov-5th/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=community-engagement-for-health-event-nov-5th</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/community-engagement-for-health-event-nov-5th/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:58:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outreach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Partners]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=5393</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[BRANCH is partnering with the Department of Family Medicine and CCTSI (Colorado Clinical &#38; Translational Sciences Institute) to bring North Aurora community organizations together to speak to our AMC students, faculty, and staff. The goal for the event is to introduce the AMC community to North Aurora community engagement opportunities. The format for the event will be a combination of discussion panel (1st hour) and round table (2nd hour) for interactive discussions. &#160;]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Community Gardens &#8211; Calling All Volunteers</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/community-gardens-calling-all-volunteers/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=community-gardens-calling-all-volunteers</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/community-gardens-calling-all-volunteers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 00:34:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School-based Community Gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aurora Public Schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=4863</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Community Engagement &#38; Community Volunteer Efforts Thanks to funding from the Piton Foundation; BRANCH, Aurora Public Schools (APS), and Denver Urban Gardens will begin work on two APS community gardens: How you can get involved:]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Community Garden Research</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/community-garden-research/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=community-garden-research</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/community-garden-research/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Oct 2012 05:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Zach</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School-based Community Gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DUG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jill Litt]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=5014</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Check out this documentary developed by Jill Litt, PhD at the University of Colorado Colorado School of Public Health and Denver Urban Gardens.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>BRANCH Needs Your Help!</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/branch-needs-your-help/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=branch-needs-your-help</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/branch-needs-your-help/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:56:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Stephanie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH Leader Profiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Middle School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=5180</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[BRANCH is growing in big ways, and we need YOU! Fall is here, the school year has begun, and many of our projects are about to take off.  We are in the early planning stages of our Community Garden at North Middle School!  Get involved now &#8211; this is a unique opportunity to help build a community treasure from the ground up. Whether you have a single afternoon to spare or are looking to make a long-term commitment, we have a project that fits your schedule.  Also, there are many LEADERSHIP POSITIONS needing filled for 2012-2013. Build your resume while building community! E-mail branch4heath@gmail.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you! &#160;]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>BRANCH Moving Forward in 2012</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/branch-moving-forward-in-2012/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=branch-moving-forward-in-2012</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/branch-moving-forward-in-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2012 03:26:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Zach</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[About]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH Leader Profiles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=4923</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What is BRANCH? BRANCH is a multidisciplinary student organization at the University of Colorado that is partnering with Aurora communities to promote, support, and implement programs that encourage Aurora community members to take an active role in their own health and the health of their community. BRANCH’s community support if focused around our efforts to develop and implement community gardens and garden curriculum in Aurora Public Schools (APS), establish a Farmers&#8217; Market, and implement community health screens in Aurora. Through these efforts BRANCH is establishing a physical link between the university’s healthcare community and its neighbors.  The gardens, market, and health screens are serving to foster healthy living, a sense of community ownership, and the trust necessary to effect real change in our community. BRANCH provides students with the community outreach experience that is often missing from health professional education. Students have the opportunity to engage in community-based projects in which success will be measured by the quality of the relationships that they foster.  Students learn what it means to meet a community half way to reach a common goal together. Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going in 2012? Since our establishment two years ago BRANCH has been working to build the framework necessary to support a community garden project. BRANCH would like to highlight the efforts of its student that have been working within APS to establish gardening projects over the last two years. These projects have been essential to building student excitement and strengthening our partnerships with the Aurora community. In the last two years BRANCH has worked to establish on-campus and off-campus partnerships with groups that understand the technical challenges related to developing and implementing physical gardens and the related curriculum. BRANCH and the Department of Family Medicine are pleased to announce that in conjunction with our community partners, APS and Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), we were selected by The Piton Foundation to receive a total of $137,500 over the next three years. The funding cycle began May 1st 2012 and will be utilized to establish two community gardens on APS campuses, and to develop garden-based curriculum for APS to use in conjunction with these gardens. BRANCH students will have essential roles in all aspects of the proposed project including but not limited to helping with community organization, garden and curriculum design and development, and garden and curriculum implementation. BRANCH students will continue to play a supportive role for these community gardens for years to come. This summer/fall BRANCH students will be working on the community outreach necessary to establish two successful community gardens as well as working with APS faculty to develop garden curriculum that is planned to be launched in the spring 2013. Commitment to Community &#38; Health BRANCH is very excited about the progress that has been made over the last two years. BRANCH has been fortunate in identifying and developing effective partnerships and we are excited about new partnerships that are on the horizon such as the opportunity to work closely with 2040.  If Aurora community health can be transformed into the context of a living organism, say a tree, then there are multiple components that contribute to the overall health of this tree.  BRANCH feels that we have an important role in this process, but recognize that our efforts are going to have to be met by the other essential entities that will contribute to overall health.  Our goals cannot be accomplished alone, but with the right partnerships and a thorough understanding and commitment to our role in the process the health of this tree and Aurora will improve.]]></description>
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		<title>BRANCH March Update</title>
		<link>http://branch4health.org/branch-march-update/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=branch-march-update</link>
		<comments>http://branch4health.org/branch-march-update/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:12:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRANCH Leader Profiles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://branch4health.org/?p=4765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is exciting to see what BRANCH has done and what we have to look forward this year and years to come. We would like to thank everyone who has supported BRANCH and have been patient in our progress towards community gardens, farmer’s market, and campus garden. We have transitioned in new leaders that are excited to help keep BRANCH moving towards another great farmer’s market, and helping with community gardens. Let’s Introduce Some of Our NEW BRANCH Leaders! I am from Colorado Springs, CO and love all outside activities, salsa dancing, and supporting local agriculture and working to protect our healthy sources of food.  I am a first year doctor of physical therapy student and interested in pediatrics, neuro, and wellness and injury prevention. Brea Galvin, VP of Farmer’s Market  I am a first year in the School of Medicine. I&#8217;m currently most interested in women&#8217;s health or pediatrics, but I&#8217;m trying to keep an open mind about what type of medicine I will pursue in the future, so I can learn a lot about all of the interesting options. I love to garden, run, do arts and crafts, cook and practice yoga during my free time, which has been somewhat limited since starting school! Meredith Brown, VP of Community Gardens  I am a first year doctor of physical therapy student. My main interests are in neuro and vestibular rehabilitation, but I am excited to see what all is out there before I decide which area I&#8217;d like to work in. When I&#8217;m not studying, I like to cook, hike, snowboard, rock climb and read. I am getting involved with BRANCH because I am passionate about using community gardens to create stronger communities and facilitate healthier eating through education and gardening. Lisa Walde, Community Garden Committee I am a first year Physical Therapy student and enjoy playing soccer and fly fishing as well as cooking. I grew up with a vegetable garden in my back yard and have always had fond memories of planting, maintaining, and harvesting the crops.  I believe that our society, especially in larger cities, has lost sight of where and how food is produced.  Being involved in BRANCH will hopefully allow me to share my love for gardening and eating fresh produce with the surrounding community. Tyler Niemack, Farmer’s Market Committee  I am a 2nd year physical therapy student and I enjoy working with patients in outpatient orthopedic and neurological settings.  I play both indoor and outdoor soccer and also like to ski, snowboard, run, bike, crochet, see live music, and cook. I want to be involved with BRANCH because I think it is important for the students at Anschutz to be involved with the community in a way that promotes healthy lifestyles.  Supporting local growers is both healthy and good for the local economy, and it builds a sense of community to know where and who your food comes from. I also really enjoy farmers markets, and learning about and growing food. I worked at the Boulder Farmers Market for a summer selling produce and have had my own vegetable gardens at various places I have lived. Carrie Eckenhoff, Farmer’s Market Committee ]]></description>
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