One of many community resources available through new Boston Moves for Health Initiative
Want to get healthier, more active, and involved in your community? Join NeighborWalk!
NeighborWalk is a free program of the Boston Public Health Commission that supports weekly walking groups for Boston residents in their own neighborhoods. Now in its tenth year, NeighborWalk has helped hundreds of people get active and get out in their communities as well as stick to their fitness goals. The community walking groups are one of the many free or low cost resources available through the recently launched Boston Moves for Health campaign. As part of Boston Moves, Mayor Thomas M. Menino has challenged the city to collectively lose one million pounds and move ten million miles.
“This is another excellent way people in the city of Boston can get off their feet and move,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “The health benefits of walking are enormous, and programs like this put our residents and employees well on their way to losing a million pounds this year.”
There is substantial evidence showing that walking helps control or even prevent many chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, breast and colon cancer, high blood pressure, and depression. It can help you maintain a healthy weight; promote bone, joint and muscle health; lower total cholesterol; and increase good cholesterol.
“We know that getting to a healthy weight and being active is so important for overall health, and that walking can help control or even reduce many diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, and high blood pressure. But we also know how tough it can be to maintain a healthy lifestyle on your own. NeighborWalk is a great way for folks to support each other in reaching their healthy goals, getting active, and getting out in their communities,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
If you are interested in joining a walking group contact one of the programs listed below for more information. All groups are free of charge and open to the public, and all regular walkers receive pedometers, tee-shirts, water bottles, and safety whistles.
Allston /Brighton
Joseph M. Smith Community Healthcare Center
When: Wednesday12:30 PM & Thursday 12:30 PM
Contact: Francisca Guevara
617-208-1562 or fguevara@jmschc.org
Charlestown
MGH Charlestown Healthcare Center
When: Wednesday 9:30 AM & Tuesday 5:30 PM
Contact: Debra Aponte
617-724-8143
Dorchester
Ashmont Adams Neighborhood Assc.
When: Saturday 9:00 AM
Contact: Pat O'Neill
617-265-5397 or pattiashmont@gmail.com
Franklin Field Housing Development
When: Tuesday 11:00 AM
Contact: Tamara Herd
a.greenbaum@sportsmenstennisclub.org
Upham's Corner Health Center
When: M/T/W/Th/F 12:30 PM
Contact: Brad Gregory
617-740-8150 or bagregory@partners.org
The Codman Square Health Center
When: Sat 12:30 PM
Contact: Bill Loesch
617-650-2049 or Bill.Loesch@codman.org
Friends of Franklin Park Zoo
When: Friday 9:00 AM
Contact: Axel Starke
617-427-2560 or FFPZ@greatergrovehall.org
Healthworks Community Fitness
When: Saturday 9:30 AM
Contact: Percess Williamson/Cindy Walker 617-825-2800 or pwilliamso@healthworkscommunityfitness.org
Generations Incorporated
When: Friday 10:00 AM
Contact: Aliza Krevolin
617-399-4678 or akrevolin@generationsinc.org
Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church
When: Thur 6:00 PM, Sat 7:30 AM, Sunday 5:30 PM
Contact: Marilyn Forman
617-288-8410
East Boston
East Boston YMCA
When: Monday & Wednesday 10:00 AM
Contact Gail Klimas/Delores Urciuoli
617-413-8321 or gklimas@ymcaboston.org
Hyde Park
Hyde Park YMCA
When: New Group/TBD
Contact: Ann Glora
617-276-1122
Jamaica Plain
Ethos
When: Wednesday 10:30 AM
Contact: Janice Williams
617-477-6616
Jamaica Plain Coalition/Tree of Life
When: Monday 9:30 AM
Contact: Gladys Gallon
617-522.4832
Mattapan
Ethos
When: Monday 10:00 AM
Contact: Josette Potier, Jayne Davis
Bilingual Haitian-Creole
617-298-2130
Mattapan Community Health Center
When: Monday 6:00 PM
Contact: Sharon T. Callender, RN, MPH
617-898-9053
Jubilee Christian Church
When: Fri 5:30 /Sat 10:00 AM/Sun 4:00 PM
Contact: Maxi Hudson
617-376-6713 or mfhudson@jubileeboston.org
North End/West End
ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center
When: Wednesday 11:00 AM
Contact: Elizete Shepherd
617-534-8125 or lia.tota@bostonabcd.org
Roslindale
Washington Beech
When: Tuesday/Thursday 6:00 PM
Contact: Meena Carr
617-477-4665
Roxbury
Hawthorne Youth and Community Center, Inc.
When: Thursday 6:30 PM
Contact: Barbara Sanford Epps
617-427-0613 or hyccroxbury@hotmail.com
Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Association
When: Wednesday 9:00 AM & Thursday
10:00 AM
Contact: Laura Adams
617-566-4025
Metro Boston Alive
When: M/T/Th /Sat 6:00 AM &
M/Th/Sat 7:30 PM
Contact: Wil Dendy
617-427-4200 or greg.davis@bostonhousing.org
Madison Park Development Corporaion Roxbury
When: Tuesday/Thursday 6:00 PM
Contact: Ngo Nguyen/Stanley Dominique
617-8496236
Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center, Inc.
When: Wednesday Beginners 10 AM/ Thursday Advanced 12 PM
Contact: Bill Dennehy/Chris Theberge
617-442-7400 x2326 or ctheberge@roxomp.com
South Boston
Old Colony Task Force Tenants Association
When: Monday & Thursday 5:00 PM
Contact: Phyllis Corbitt
617-921-1708 or PMC1PMC@gmail.com
Peoples Baptist Church
When: Tuesday/Thursday 5:00 PM &
Saturday 7:00 AM
Contact: Alveta Haynes/Mildred Jones
Alvetahayn13@aol.com & Mildred_Jones@verizon.net
Cathedral Task Force
When: Tuesday/ Thursday 12:00 PM
Contact: Ms. Barley
617-266-6984
West End
Bay Cove Human Serives
When: Wednesday 3:30 PM
Contact: Tristan Brown
Tbrown4@baycove.org
West Roxbury
Ethos
When: Where Monday 9:30 AM / Gardens at Gethsemane
Contact: Ann Ward
617-327-1912
Ethos
When: Where Friday 10:00 AM/ Hynes/Field/VFW Parkway
Contact: Pat McCann
617-323-8613
Ethos
When: Tuesday 10:00 AM
Contact: Janice Williams
617-477-6616
Hebrew SeniorLife
When: Thursday & Friday 12:15 PM
Contact: Jennifer Raymond
617-363.8319 or JenniferRaymond@hsl.harvard.edu
In addition to NeighborWalk, there are many other free and low-cost opportunities in your own neighborhood to get moving.
Boston Moves for Health is an exciting new initiative to help the City get healthier and be more active. By joining the movement and logging in to BostonMovesForHealth.org, you will be able to set personal health goals, map walks and runs, find new workouts, get nutrition tips, track your progress, and team up with friends to coordinate group activities and support each other along the way.
It’s easy to get involved today!
1. First, go to www.BostonMovesForHealth.org to sign up for free. You can create a profile, set and track personal health goals, map walks and runs, find new workout routines, and get nutrition tips. And, you can set up email reminders and alerts with suggested workout routines.
2. Invite your friends, family, and coworkers to join the challenge. Team up with friends to coordinate group activities and support your friends and neighbors on the way to a healthier lifestyle. To help spread the word about your group, download our Launch Toolkit materials at bphc.org/bostonmovesforhealth
3. Check out the community calendar that features healthy and fun events and activities all over the city. Organizing an activity? Let us know! Send the details to bostonmovesforhealth@bphc.org. Please put CALENDAR in the subject line of the email.
4. Use our resource directory to find places to get out and get active in Boston. Know of a great resource that you don't see listed? Let us know! Send the details to bostonmovesforhealth@bphc.org. Please put COMMUNITY RESOURCES in the subject line of the email.
###