By Crystal Swann
November 8, 2010

Newark (NJ) Mayor Cory Booker, the Newark Municipal Council and community organizations, launched a citywide campaign, "Let's Move! Newark," to address childhood obesity in Newark. The campaign mirrors First Lady Michelle Obama's national "Let's Move" initiative by focusing on four key components: educating and supporting parents, working to provide healthier food in schools, helping children be more active, and ensuring access to healthy, affordable food in Newark.

Booker and the Municipal Council established "Let's Move! Newark" in September in response to the mayor's request that the city join First Lady Obama's "Let's Move! National Campaign to reduce childhood obesity within a generation.

During the press conference launching "Let's Move! Newark," Booker unveiled a public service announcement on the campaign and the "Let's Move" community pledge. The city aims to significantly reduce the occurrence of childhood obesity in Newark. "Let's Move! Newark will oversee the Campaign! Newark" Council and the Newark Youth Policy Board's Childhood Obesity/Health Committee.

The Let's Move! Newark campaign will initially consist of the following initiatives:

• Partnership with New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Newark. This partnership will strategically plan recommendations for policy and environmental change to reverse childhood obesity.

• Partnership with Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey and the YMCA State Alliance. In 2008, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ and the YMCA State Alliance launched what is now the nation's largest childhood obesity initiative – HealthyU.

• Partnership with The Newark Museum – Generation Fit Exhibition and Let's Move! Newark. The Newark Museum's exhibition: "Generation Fit: Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Obesity" is sponsored by the Roche Foundation. This major interactive exhibition (opening in October 2011) explores and addresses nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention.

• Partnership with Beth Israel Hospital to bring "The Newark Challenge" to City Hall and the Department of Child and Family Well-Being in January 2011. In partnership with the hospital and the Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Booker and city hall have agreed to take the "Beth Challenge," Newark Beth Israel's 12-week Health and Wellness program. All Newark municipal employees will have an opportunity to participate in a three-part, 12-week Weight Loss and Fitness Challenge that includes education and fitness training under the supervision of a licensed nutritionist/dietician.

• Opportunity League will join Let's Move! Newark in the effort to make a positive impact in the lives of Newark residents and in their communities. The Opportunity League will work with existing organizations and programs to bring inclusive fitness programs to recreational centers, parks, schools, rehabilitation centers, and anywhere else such programs can improve the health and wellness of Newark's residents.

For more information on "Let's Move! Newark" go to the city's website at www.Letsmovenewark.org.