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Permalink Reply by Ninjaclectic on December 18, 2008 at 12:47pm

I think a great story would be childhood obesity in the district and how it grafts onto class/race.

A little background:

Washington City Paper did a cover story a while back on a young kid that was pretty interesting, but i thought it would be even more interesting if it discussed the wider problems of access to fresh produce in certain areas of the city and class/race.

The post ran an article titled: Obesity Study Finds Wide Racial Divide in the District. It is really interesting:

"Blacks in the District aren't the heaviest in the country, and whites who are D.C. residents aren't the skinniest, but their fat gap is among the biggest in the United States."

And check this out, this could be a good hook for the story, obese kids aren't eating enough food:

"A study finds that obese children from poor families often don’t eat enough. Researchers have long blamed childhood obesity and diabetes, especially in poor neighborhoods, on too much food and too little exercise. But new findings from a San Antonio study point to another explanation: children living in poverty are obese in part because they don’t eat enough to meet the daily nutritional requirements needed for cell function and metabolism."

I am a personal trainer and I have seen the drastic improvements people make in their lives when they eat better and have more efficiently working bodies. It breaks my heart seeing all the overweight, inner city kids who don't get to run around outside and eat doritos 24/7.

In light of literature coming out about exercise/nutrition and cognitive development, it is quickly becoming a social justice issue for kids to be able to run around and eat right.

Aaron
@ninjaclectic
www.ninjaclectic.com | www.againstroutine.com

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Permalink Reply by Meymo Lyons on December 18, 2008 at 1:50pm

Dear Ninja,

Wonderful pitch. Actually, Kavitha Cardoza and I were talking about this very top a couple of weeks ago. It is absolutely on the to-do list of long form pieces.

Thanks so much for reaching out. Happy Holidays!

Best,

Meymo

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Permalink Reply by Ninjaclectic on December 18, 2008 at 2:40pm

Thanks for responding. Sounds good.

If you're looking for a potential fitness component to the story, definitely check out http://www.pe4life.org/. There's a video of their work here.

They're doing some amazing work in Illinois and have seen serious results. They'd be great for an interviewee for a new way of doing things.

They're mentioned in the Spark book and are working in a school district in Illinois. It's changed the mind of the School District Superintendent, Dr. Alan Lies:

I think the other thing that we're learning is as important as reading and mathematics and the basic core subject areas are, PE - daily physical activity - can really enhance students' learning overall in those basic skills... I don't think many of us as Superintendants have thought about PE as a door to improving reading and math instruction, but I think it really is.

I've actually been trying to get this on Michelle Rhee's radar and sent her a message a while back.

I think DC would be a great backdrop for a case study of an integrated fitness program in public shools.

Aaron

Meymo Lyons said:

Dear Ninja,
Wonderful pitch. Actually, Kavitha Cardoza and I were talking about this very top a couple of weeks ago. It is absolutely on the to-do list of long form pieces. Thanks so much for reaching out. Happy Holidays! Best, Meymo

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Permalink Reply by Ninjaclectic on December 18, 2008 at 2:52pm

I second the life coaching story.

I'm a personal trainer so work with people in a limited aspect of their lives but am realizing that well-being and health is determined by lifestyle, not what you do in a gym 3 hours/week.

I know a DC-based life coach if you guys ever need an interviewee.

Aaron

Ursula Bass said:

Have you considered covering life coaching? The wave of life coaching has travelled from CA to NYC and is now hitting DC. What is coaching and how does it make a difference for people?
In this time of spiking food prices and shortages, rising gas prices, and an overall slowing economy, people are looking for answers for what really matters in their lives. Many are choosing to become coaches or hire a coach.
The industry is unregulated and not licensed. Top coaching programs out there are interested in raising the standard of the industry so a few bad coaches do not sour a profession that truly makes a difference for people.

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Permalink Reply by Meymo Lyons on December 18, 2008 at 2:57pm

Mmmmm,

I wonder if we could find people who have lost their jobs in the recession who are now working with a life coach to reinvent themselves ? That might be interesting !

Mem

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Permalink Reply by Jason Novak (WAMU 88.5) on December 18, 2008 at 4:36pm

Nick, here's the correct link. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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Permalink Reply by nancy fox on December 18, 2008 at 11:28pm

Hi Meymo:

I hope this is not a duplicate reply as this is my first participation on The Conversation.

I transitioned into coaching during the last recession (2000) after 20 years as an executive in the women's bra business (!). A huge growth spurt occurred in the coaching industry during that time for the same reasons as many are considering going into it now - it's a great place to leverage your skills and start your own business.

Success as a coach is dependent on much more than receiving good coaching training. You really need to learn how to market yourself and attract clients as well as learning to be a top notch coach.
I was one of the fortunate few who learned how to build a business rather than just a practice.

Perhaps you might want to cover how a new coach can attain success and longevity in the field.
The fallout of coaches is very high.

I'd be happy to provide info and connections on this topic.

Nancy Fox
Fox Coaching Associates
www.bizdevsuccess.com



Meymo Lyons said:

Mmmmm,

I wonder if we could find people who have lost their jobs in the recession who are now working with a life coach to reinvent themselves ? That might be interesting !

Mem

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on December 19, 2008 at 6:59am

Ah but coaching and the bra business have similarities. You often work with a bunch of boobs.

Oh I could not resist, Jason do what you must.....

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Permalink Reply by Robert on January 22, 2009 at 7:44am

The Inauguration 2009: This is one of the greatest moments in American History. The people who came from all sections of this country and the world should be honored. Security issues have to be addressed and performed. The number of people and the number of law enforcement officials did not coincide and measures had to be taken. The concern I have was on the parade route. Law enforcement officials used measures to contain crowd control. Long lines and limiting access on the parade route. The most troubling was how the 3rd Street tunnel was used as a massive housing unit. The argument is people who paid the price of admission to the parade and were not granted access should be compensated. The Obama-Biden Administration address the theme IT IS ABOUT YOU MAIN STREET AMERICA . When you read this please careful address this to this administration and hold them accountable. Because it is important that these people have endured and support this administration. The previous administration left out and forgot Main Street Americans. Let us start out right when mistake are made let us eridicate this and move forward in this new administration'

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Permalink Reply by Caryl on January 28, 2009 at 4:02pm

hi Meymo-------Would that a Forum be started for the Emergency Response Unit of the DC Fire Department.

How can we in the WAMU community help find solutions for the Emergency Service? What can suburban DC people do who may or may not--work in DC?

We could follow-up with this month's Washingtonian magazine article about the Emergency Service:
What Happens When You Call 911 After years of bad blood between District firefighters and emergency medical personnel, DC’s system is still broken. The suburbs do it much better. By John Pekkanen.

Pekkanen gives the background of how services used to be provided by DC firefighters, then EMS was taken over by civilians.

It's not that EMS has fallen on hard times, which is what I thought. The service was never done rightly to begin with. Obviously under-trained and underpaid staff, obviously never able to keep up with burgeoning development of residences, government offices and the huge visiting public---EMS has always been bursting at the seams.

We have to help as a community-- we must begin to acknowledge that the Washington community is not just those
12 square miles. Can WAMU do a show, or a series of shows----that will identify problems briefly as background---but in the main: tell us how we can help? The information should run over several days---not unlike the way WAMU does fund-raising.

GPS technology is not expensive. At two hundred dollars per unit, it wouldn't be difficult to raise money to provide GPS units to each emergency vehicle. We can mobilize volunteers who would wish to ride with an ambulance. The average number of calls is 330 per day, a volunteer could accompany an ambulance, stay on at the hospital to fill out necessary papers, make cellphone calls and then get picked up from a returning ambulance and replacement volunteer. Many people would be happy to volunteer 2-4 hours on a monthly basis.

Let's not beat up on those who have been doing a yeoman's job all this time. There are terrible examples of blunder, but look at what HAS been done so well consistently.

The District Government can't do it all. The DC Government needs outside help from the very people who ALSO use systems yet pay nothing toward funding for those systems. Nothing.

DC Government needs fresh ideas. Ideas come from anywhere. Lottery in each of the states should use a specific numbers game for one particuliar purpose---in this case it would be for Emergency Response. State lotteries have been a major disappointment and likely a foremost vehicle for graft---would be nice if they got cleaned up before they are found out! Earmark one type of game that will benefit EMS, giving everybody a chance to "contribute". Why doesn't DC Government's Emergency Service participate in the Combined Federal Campaign? I, for one, would be delighted to earmark my contribution to EMS.

WAMU has the power and responsibility to help the community come up with solutions by operating a Town Meeting atmosphere for an ongoing problem. Any one of us can be on the other end of an emergency call.
We who live in the suburbs of Washington have been neglecting our duty for far too long. Let's do something about it.

WAMU should have a theme of community assistance for EMS go from one show to another. Support EMS should be in Diane's second hour, to be followed by a segment on Kojo's show with Tom Sherwood and the Mayor. Pick it up again in drive time slots on the national shows who should turn over an half hour slot to the cause of raising money, and raising awareness. Tell us how to use the system, what happens when a call comes in to the emergency center, how not to waste their time and effort, how to make the system run smoothly from a "customer's eyeview". Each emergency vehicle should have a GPS aboard. An all- volunteer base should be formed to help streamline services from A-Z, including riding with the emergency vehicle. How much of the information needed by incoming hospital staff can be bar-coded and scanned?

Meymo can you find out? What does the WAMU community think? What can we do? Positive replies please, if you think "it won't work", keep it yourself. Let's hear from people who have ideas, not those who want to--dareIsay-----"firehose" (sorry) the ideas... What do you think Meymo?

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on January 28, 2009 at 4:29pm

Caryl:

What you are talking about is emergency dispatching which everywhere I know in this regions is done by civilians. DC just happens to have incompetent unsupervised ones. As for suburban communities helping out D.C., no way, not my problem - DC wants to be an independent entity then they need to step up to the plate and act like one. No representation without responsibility.

Caryl said:

hi Meymo-------Would that a Forum be started for the Emergency Response Unit of the DC Fire Department.

How can we in the WAMU community help find solutions for the Emergency Service? What can suburban DC people do who may or may not--work in DC?

We could follow-up with this month's Washingtonian magazine article about the Emergency Service:
What Happens When You Call 911 After years of bad blood between District firefighters and emergency medical personnel, DC’s system is still broken. The suburbs do it much better. By John Pekkanen.

Pekkanen gives the background of how services used to be provided by DC firefighters, then EMS was taken over by civilians.

It's not that EMS has fallen on hard times, which is what I thought. The service was never done rightly to begin with. Obviously under-trained and underpaid staff, obviously never able to keep up with burgeoning development of residences, government offices and the huge visiting public---EMS has always been bursting at the seams.

We have to help as a community-- we must begin to acknowledge that the Washington community is not just those
12 square miles. Can WAMU do a show, or a series of shows----that will identify problems briefly as background---but in the main: tell us how we can help? The information should run over several days---not unlike the way WAMU does fund-raising.

GPS technology is not expensive. At two hundred dollars per unit, it wouldn't be difficult to raise money to provide GPS units to each emergency vehicle. We can mobilize volunteers who would wish to ride with an ambulance. The average number of calls is 330 per day, a volunteer could accompany an ambulance, stay on at the hospital to fill out necessary papers, make cellphone calls and then get picked up from a returning ambulance and replacement volunteer. Many people would be happy to volunteer 2-4 hours on a monthly basis.

Let's not beat up on those who have been doing a yeoman's job all this time. There are terrible examples of blunder, but look at what HAS been done so well consistently.

The District Government can't do it all. The DC Government needs outside help from the very people who ALSO use systems yet pay nothing toward funding for those systems. Nothing.

DC Government needs fresh ideas. Ideas come from anywhere. Lottery in each of the states should use a specific numbers game for one particuliar purpose---in this case it would be for Emergency Response. State lotteries have been a major disappointment and likely a foremost vehicle for graft---would be nice if they got cleaned up before they are found out! Earmark one type of game that will benefit EMS, giving everybody a chance to "contribute". Why doesn't DC Government's Emergency Service participate in the Combined Federal Campaign? I, for one, would be delighted to earmark my contribution to EMS.

WAMU has the power and responsibility to help the community come up with solutions by operating a Town Meeting atmosphere for an ongoing problem. Any one of us can be on the other end of an emergency call.
We who live in the suburbs of Washington have been neglecting our duty for far too long. Let's do something about it.

WAMU should have a theme of community assistance for EMS go from one show to another. Support EMS should be in Diane's second hour, to be followed by a segment on Kojo's show with Tom Sherwood and the Mayor. Pick it up again in drive time slots on the national shows who should turn over an half hour slot to the cause of raising money, and raising awareness. Tell us how to use the system, what happens when a call comes in to the emergency center, how not to waste their time and effort, how to make the system run smoothly from a "customer's eyeview". Each emergency vehicle should have a GPS aboard. An all- volunteer base should be formed to help streamline services from A-Z, including riding with the emergency vehicle. How much of the information needed by incoming hospital staff can be bar-coded and scanned?

Meymo can you find out? What does the WAMU community think? What can we do? Positive replies please, if you think "it won't work", keep it yourself. Let's hear from people who have ideas, not those who want to--dareIsay-----"firehose" (sorry) the ideas... What do you think Meymo?

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Permalink Reply by Caryl on January 28, 2009 at 4:53pm

What you are talking about is emergency dispatching which everywhere I know in this regions is done by civilians. DC just happens to have incompetent unsupervised ones. As for suburban communities helping out D.C., no way, not my problem - DC wants to be an independent entity then they need to step up to the plate and act like one. No representation without responsibility.

It can't be done with everything else that is being done....Fenty is doing a Fenomenal (sorry) job, if you ask me.

There is just too much that needs to be done. With all the wasted money and time of the Barry Years, lack of technology throughout city hall...the schools, housing, the infrastructure, the health care system....all those things that need revamping and the city is expected to provide services to the masses coming in for vacation as well. Too many services are on the backs of city dwellers, there is only so many ways to cut a tax dollar. Churches and
Associations don't pay their freight, remember?

Support for the District's ailing Emergency Service CAN be done by all of us locally who care about the end-result, that should be enough. When the city can fly on its own, let them do it, but in the meantime, they need help. We CAN help, that's why we should. Why do we always say we are from Washington DC when we travel? We can do this because it needs to be done. What can the WAMU community do to assist the District's Emergency Response Units. They are understaffed, underappreciated and underpaid.....I think there is a story line there.

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