Juneau Health Summit takes place April 23-24

JUNEAU - The Juneau Health Summit, "Pulling Together for Health," will take place April 23 to 24 at the Tlingit & Haida Community Center, 3235 Hospital Drive, in Juneau.

The summit, sponsored by the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, Alaska Division of Public Health, Bartlett Regional Hospital, the SEARHC Steps to a Healthier Southeast Alaska program, Coast Alaska Public Radio, Southeast Public Health Nursing, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, Cooperative Extension Service UAF, United Way of Southeast Alaska and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, is a two-day event to engage the community in planning for health and wellness in our community.

The community dinner and award ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 23 and will include a fish dinner by Abby's Kitchen and keynote speaker America Bracho, a nationally recognized expert on creating healthier communities. Tickets are $10 for individuals and $25 for families, available at Hearthside Books.

Thursday evening also will include a celebration to honor groups and individuals who have been selected by community members for their work toward health and wellness.

Day two, Friday, will be an all-day planning session, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to identify goals and realistic steps that can be taken during the next year to advance the vision of health and wellness in Juneau. Bracho will begin the planning session and then it up to the participants. The planning will focus on physical activity, nutrition, built environment and behavioral health. The planning session will involve organizations, leaders and community members.

For more information contact, Larry West at 586-4648 or larrywest@acsalaska.net, or Grace Brooks at 907-966-8865 or gbrooks@searhc.org.