The Brookline Department of Public Health and Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss invite residents to take part in Brookline’s annual celebration of National Public Health Week in April.
This year, residents can participate in a conversation about current and future needs of all sectors of the Brookline community, learn about teens and their relationship to screen time, and practice mindfulness meditation.
The Department’s website will feature a month’s worth of “climate-conscious” tasty vegetarian main meals, to maintain focus on climate change as a public health issue.
National Public Health Week will be celebrated from Monday, April 04, 2022, to Sunday, April 10, 2022. The week is organized by the American Public Health Association to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues important to improving the nation’s health. This year’s theme is “Public Health is Where You Are.”
All events will be held virtually. Brookline residents can join in the celebration through the following events:
Monday, April 04, 2022, 06:00 p.m. – “Public Health and the Public Good: Bolstering Brookline for the Future. A Virtual Community Conversation”
The opening panel features Brookline residents Dr. Sandro Galea, MPH, DrPH; Dean, Boston University School of Public Health; Giselle Ferro Puigbo, JD, Executive Director, Brookline Community Foundation; Kimberley Richardson, MSW, Brookline activist; and Dr. Irving Allen, retired psychiatrist, and a member of the Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations.
Dr. Galea’s book, “The Contagion Next Time,” amplifies the underlying societal issues (racism, marginalization, socioeconomic inequality) that impact an individual’s health. The panelists will look at these issues through a Brookline lens and invite attendees to join the conversation.
The panel will be moderated by Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit, incoming President of the American Public Health Association.
Wednesday, April 06, 2022, 07:00 p.m. – “Teens and Screens. Finding Balance in the New Normal”
This session begins with a free stream of the eye-opening documentary “LIKE,” followed by a virtual forum moderated by “Mediatrician” Dr. Michael Rich, Director, Center on Media and Child Health, Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rich will address how to work with technology, not against it, sharing concrete advice on setting limits and strategies for talking about screen time, content, and the health risks of overuse.
Thursday, April 07, 2022, 09:00 a.m. and 06:00 p.m. – “Mindfulness Meditation”
A little mindfulness goes a long way. Join Brookline resident Jeannine Schroder, founder of Moment2Moment, to learn what mindfulness meditation is, practice meditating, and explore how mindfulness offers the possibility for a stronger foundation, healthier self, and kinder connections. This 45-minute session will be offered twice on Thursday, so there will be two chances to practice mindfulness meditations.
“The CoViD-19 pandemic has reminded us about the importance of mental health and emotional health, especially self-care, to the community’s well-being,” Commissioner Reiss said. “We invite everyone to take part in celebrating this important week.”
Please visit here to register for any of the virtual events.
For questions or more information, please contact Lynne Karsten at lkarsten@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2336.
