Delaney will participate in “Walkable Communities” training program
Alice Hyde Medical Center; Malone, NY – America Walks, a national advocacy organization that promotes walking and walkable communities, announced today that Josy Delaney, Community Wellness Specialist at Alice Hyde Medical Center has been awarded a Walking College Fellowship.
The Fellowship will enable Delaney and 24 other advocates from around the country (more info. at http://americawalks.org/news/) to participate in a five-month training program designed to strengthen local efforts to make communities more walkable and livable. “We are delighted to welcome Josy as a member of our inaugural Walking College class,” said Ian Thomas, State and Local Program Director with America Walks, “This program was developed in response to the finding, from our recent survey of 532 local walking organizations, that access to technical assistance and a national peer network are among the most pressing needs for these groups.”
Delaney will complete a six-module distance-education training program this summer, followed by a two-month independent study project in Malone, and then attend the National Walking Summit in Washington, DC at the end of October. “What an honor to receive this award!” said Delaney. “As an avid walker and health educator, I have been an advocate of walking for many years. We have seen numerous community improvements through the Malone Complete Streets Partnership and Safe Routes to School. Participating in the Walking College will allow me to meet people from all around the country, learn about their successes , and bring those ideas back to help make Malone a great place to walk.” Delaney represents Alice Hyde Medical Center on the Malone Complete Streets Advisory Board. The Complete Streets Partnership has spearheaded and secured funding for numerous pedestrian safety improvements in Malone, including improving crosswalks, installing new sidewalks on Elm Street and Fourth Street, and installing the blank out sign at the intersection of Main and Elm Street, for safer pedestrian crossing. The Partnership has several other projects under consideration, including side walk installations between Indian Trails and Davis School; along State Street to the Malone Arena; on Jane Street adjacent to the Malone Middle School; and extending the existing sidewalk on West main Street/Route 11 all the way to Walmart.
The Walking College curriculum has been designed to expand the capacity of local advocates to be effective community change agents. Topics include the science behind the benefits of walking, evaluation of built environments, as well as communication skills and building relationships with stakeholders and decision makers. At the conclusion of the Walking College, Fellows will develop a Community Action Plan for implementation over the following 12-months.
About The Walking College: The Walking College is supported with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative. Mentoring will be provided by a dozen national leaders in the field, including representatives of AARP, the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, and the Alliance for Biking and Walking. More info. at www.americawalks.org/walking-college/.
About America Walks: America Walks is the only national organization devoted exclusively to making America a great place to walk. America Walks consists of a network of more than 700 partner and allied organizations, working to increase walking and create more safe, accessible and inclusive places to walk. Programs include on-line technical assistance, community-based workshops, convenings such as the National Walking Summit, federal advocacy initiatives, and increasing financial resources for local action. America Walks also maintains the Every Body Walk! Collaborative, a national partnership focused on increasing the visibility of walking and cultivating consumer demand for more walkable places. More info. at www.americawalks.org.
About Alice Hyde Medical Center: Alice Hyde Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Malone, NY. Established in 1913, Alice Hyde Medical Center is comprised of a 76-bed acute care facility, a 135-bed long term care facility, four family health centers, a walk-in clinic, cancer center, orthopedic and physical rehabilitation center, cardiac rehabilitation unit, and a dental center. The medical center provides a 24-hour MD staffed emergency department, laboratory, a full array of surgical services, and a wide range of outpatient services. For over 100 years, Alice Hyde Medical Center has been providing high-quality, low-cost health care to the more than 55,000 residents of the North Country. Alice Hyde Medical Center is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. Learn more at www.alicehyde.com.
###
Leave a Reply