Fitness

Concussions Potentially Play Role in NHL Deaths

Unfortunately the saying, "I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out," is especially true lately. 3 former or current National Hockey League (NHL) enforcers (a hockey team's most gruesome position to play) have died in the last four months.

These tragedies may not be coincidence, since each case exibits the known effects of extreme or repetitive concussions.

Submitted by tinacwilson on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 18:12

the problem:

I am trying to help raise funds to build a handicap park in our community. So handicap can do the same thing as other people instead of being left out.

vital stats:

people impacted:

11,000

people involved:

why it's important:

Because handicap don't need to feel like they are unuseful and they need to feel like part of the community. I think thats important.

the plan of action:

By raising money and donating equipment to the park system.

how you can get involved:

By donating money and helping us donate equipment so we can build this park.

project updates:

Submitted by Keoughtm on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 17:25

the problem:

The problem we at YMI (Youth Missions International) Are trying to solve is the blandness of the gospel presentation combined with inactive children. We find that many kids who do not want to participate in a Vacation Bible School, may want to play sports. So we provide good activity in sports for children, snacks, songs and the gospel for them.

vital stats:

people impacted:

2,000

people involved:

why it's important:

It is important to me because I know the importance of being physically active and I also know the importance of knowing Jesus and having Him be in your life. I know that both are crucial for life now and later.

the plan of action:

My plan of action is to keep doing Summer Sports camps as I have been and when I am ready I will start a weekly ministry where I will run a sports camp every week for kids in the community and kids in the church.

how you can get involved:

Others can help with donation, prayer, support or by helping themselves by going to YMImissions.org

project updates:

Submitted by schraje on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 22:10

the problem:

I want to solve the rising problem of obesity. I want to prevent obesity early on in a child's life.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I am very interested in health, nutrition, and exercise. I believe that the hardest part is to actually get to the gym, because it takes the most thought. I love helping people and I love working out.

the plan of action:

I plan to show young children and teenagers how to eat healthy and how important exercise and proper nutrition really are. I plan to work out with them and have fun with them at the same time.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by being good role models to teenagers and young children by eating healthy and exercising.

project updates:

Submitted by syedhshabbir on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 20:50

the problem:

The BODY Community Garden Project aims to address alarming rates of diabetes and obesity in the Bronx, New York. Currently, more than 1 in 10 persons in the Bronx has diabetes and more than 7 in 10 are either obese or overweight. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited which invariably plays an important role in poor health outcomes.

vital stats:

people impacted:

300

people involved:

why it's important:

Bronx, Obesity, Diabetes and You (BODY) is a group of medical and graduate students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the community. We are concerned about the dangerously high rates of obesity and diabetes in the Bronx, New York and hope to address this epidemic by improving access to fresh, nutritious foods and a green, friendly space.

the plan of action:

In a little over a year, we have acquired usable land for the garden and have already engaged the community in order to better address their needs and to incorporate their vision into the garden design. We want the garden to serve as a space for exercise, a source of fresh and healthful foods, and as a common space for health and nutrition education. With strong support of the community, the BODY Community Garden will not only be a place for growing produce, but for the nurturing of healthy relationships and lifestyles for all involved.

how you can get involved:

We are always looking for donations and volunteers to help us with our project. For more information on ways to help and contacting us please visit us at our website: http://bodyateinstein.comeze.com/

project updates:

11 Green Facts About The Super Bowl

Other than Thanksgiving, Americans consume the most amount of food on Super Bowl Sunday.
More than 53.5 million pounds of avocados and 28 million pounds of chips are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. In total, over $50 million is spent on food.
In one stadium alone, past Super Bowls have generated an average of over 65 tons of trash each year.
Although footballs are called “pigskins,” they were actually made from pig bladders. Footballs are now made from cowhide, taking about 3,000 cows to make enough footballs for one NFL season.

11 Must-Haves at a Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and you might wanna avoid some sloppy mistakes when you play host. 11 things that you should have at a party are:

Submitted by DBH0014 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:51

the problem:

A Family Community is a program I am desigining to benefit every individual in our community, not only residents and locals, but the community as a whole. This includes surrounding areas and even alternate states. We aim to provide Disater education, job readiness, disater preparedness seminars, dating volience information, a place of refuge for volience over comers, a place for homeless individuals to get food, and clothing and opportunities for job search, and job placement. We want to prevent teen pregnancy, but all the same provide help to those who have already had children. We promote family stablility. We want to educate individuals on healthy eating, and living a healthy lifestyle as well. We plan to this not only by branching out and starting partneships with exsisting organizations, but by putting in hard work, and sweat ourselves as well. We plan to involve individuals that seek help in unimaginable ways.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

This is imporatnt to me because, I grew up in a single parent home; and felt sad and alone. I want individuals to understand that not every house hold is the same, and that it is okay to be different. I understand the importance of education, and i am seeking to futher my education. I want every individual that I encounter to understand this concept as well.

the plan of action:

*Conduct meetings with community leaders(i.e. Community pastors, non-profit organizations, mayor)
*Get Schools involved( with the job I already have I have easy access to recruiting teens, and volunteers)
*Get the community aware.....(i.e.: Facebook, local news, news paper)
*Recruit Volunteers/ Board members (i.e. Church goers)
*Set up banking account
*locate a building for headquaters (i.e.: unused city building, or church building)
* Contact local food banks set up patnerships
*start partnership with local DHR

how you can get involved:

Individuals can help by contributing non perishable items, volunteering, making donations, and participating in the program

project updates:

Submitted by bri7232 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 01:05

Check out our videos!

the problem:

Right now, more than 300,000 Kenyan youth live and work on the streets. Street youth face a life of disease, poverty, exploitation, and violence. Some street youth survive by collecting scrap metal for recycling as well as washing cars, while the more vulnerable turn to theft and prostitution. In Kenya, where education is neither free nor mandatory, many street youth have not completed Primary School let alone Secondary School. Millions of dollars are invested into humanitarian programs that offer food, clothing, and shelter, but they often fail to keep youth off the streets forever. In a country with an unemployment rate of 64% among youth between the ages of 18 and 35, street youth simply cannot compete in the job market.

vital stats:

people impacted:

300

people involved:

why it's important:

In 2008, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to volunteer with an HIV clinic in Mathare, the second largest slum in Kenya. The experience changed my life. Upon my return to the U.S. I changed my major from Biology to International Studies with the determination to go back to Kenya after I graduated.

I graduated in December 2010 and moved to Kenya in March 2011 determined to make a change in the world. Just a few short days after landing in Nairobi I met a former street boy, Wiclif Otieno. Wiclif's story, success, and passion for changing the lives of other street youth through KITO International was very inspiring. We became instant friends.

Wiclif taught me a lot about street life, poverty, and the importance of quality aid. I quickly fell in love with the KITO community and it didn't take long before Wiclif and I joined forces to continue KITO's growth.

the plan of action:

KITO believes that "moving off the streets" means "getting out of poverty." If street youth are given an economic opportunity that enables them to work their way out of poverty and become self-sufficient, they will stay off the streets forever.

Potential KITO youth are referred by partner organizations, recruited by team members, or apply on their own. KITO selects street youth through a participatory interview process. Successful applicants enter a vigorous 2 month training program which covers entrepreneurship, life skills, employability skills, and financial literacy. Upon graduation of KITO's Training Program, KITO youth are offered temporary employment with KITO's social enterprise, EcoSafi, where they learn to make bags from recycled material as well as practice the skills they have learned in a hands-on setting. KITO staff work tirelessly to customize each youth's exit strategy. KITO youth have the option to start their own business, go back to school, or find full-time employment.

how you can get involved:

Spreading the word about KITO International is very important to us. You can help us in these efforts by liking us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kitointernational) or following us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/kitointl). KITO International is always looking for volunteers, interns, and donations to help us achieve our mission. To learn more about us please visit www.kitointernational.org.

project updates:

videos:

Submitted by dsradford on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:29

the problem:

"It's a problem because kids who don't get nature-time seem more prone to anxiety, depression and attention-deficit problems." -Richard Louv, "Last Child in the Woods," 2005.

It is both apparent and well documented that children today are raised in an increasingly indoor and electronic world. But the limited outcomes of electronic games and the sit-and-stare pattern of indoor play are not meeting children's biological needs for excercise, creative problem solving, imagination, and exploration.

That's why we need to foster a return to outdoor play. Many children in this day do not have access to natural areas, especially safe natural areas suitable for free play and adventures. Even when nature areas are avialable, such as in our rural community of east central Illinois, children who have been raised indoors sometimes need help initiating creative exploration. They have not had a chance to encounter it before.

vital stats:

people impacted:

262

people involved:

why it's important:

The Douglas-Hart Nature Center lives by the motto: "experience, understand, appreciate," because we beleive that experiencing the wonders and mysteries of the natural world is the best way for children to form an understanding and subsequent appreciation for what our Earth provides. By giving the children of our community the opporutnity to explore nature and form personal connections with the natural world, we are strengthening not only the character and health of the child, but also of the community and planet as a whole.

Douglas-Hart Nature Center offered 30 youth summer day camps in the summer of 2011, and will offer 30 in the summer of 2012. Day camps are designed for all age ranges, and feature a variety of themes. Camps vary from 2-6 or more hours a day, depending on the theme and age of the campers. Some camps include lunch at the campfire. All camps include games, crafts, exploration, inquiry, free play, and environmental education - made fun! Camps are 3-5 days over a week, and camps are offered from June-August.

the plan of action:

High-school age students, 13 years or older, are invited to join our Junior Counselor Internship program and become volunteer co-leaders of our many summer day camps for youth.

Participants recieve on-site training, as well as prizes and a completion certificate and letter of reccommendation at the end of the summer.

Junior Counselor Interns (JCI's) are requested to volunteer for a minimum of one camp week, but are encouraged to return for several experiences over the summer. Sign up for camps with the themes, age groups, and time frames that interest you.

This is a amazing way to use your summer helping local children learn to enjoy and appreciate the outdoor world. Did we mention how much FUN it is, too? At the end of the summer, you will be able to add an impressive experience to your resume, one that includes aspects of leadership, teaching, organizing, working with kids, working with the environment, and that demonstrates basic work skills and ethics.

The summer camps and other programs that Douglas-Hart is able to provide are only possible because of the volunteer and donor support we recieve from our community. Thank you for helping!

how you can get involved:

Non- high-school-aged volunteers are also needed to assist with our summer camp operations. If you are intersted in the environment, in fitness, in teaching, or in special education, this would be a great opportunity for you to get involved for a good cause!