SAN DIEGO–One would think a place like San Diego would have fit and active children, but the truth is 33.5% of children living in San Diego County are overweight and obese.
Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) is a San Diego based non-profit organization fighting obesity. Since 1995, CHIP has become an established leader in innovative, collaborative solutions to address critical community health issues and focuses deeply on the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity. For the past 10 years, CHIP has facilitated the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, a public-private partnership with the mission of reducing and preventing childhood obesity through policy, systems and environmental change.
On September 10, CHIP will hold The Rendezvous: Chew on This at the McMillin Companies Event Center in Liberty Station, Point Loma. From 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., the stage will belong to nationally recognized speakers building the conversation to find solutions for the obesity epidemic. Speakers will share diverse perspectives with the singular goal of how we, as a community, and as a nation, can best revolutionize our relationship with food.
“Obesity is a national security issue,” said Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, former United States Army officer serving 37 years and retired as Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and the Seventh Army, will speak to the point that obesity is a threat to our nation’s security. Hertling is a national security and military analyst for CNN and appointed by President Obama to be one of 25 people serving on the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition.
Also speaking is Chef Ann Cooper, known as the “Renegade Lunch Lady” and founder and president of the Board of the Chef Ann Foundation.
“I envision a time, soon, when being a chef working to feed children fresh, delicious, and nourishing food will no longer be considered renegade,” stated Chef Ann. Cooper serves as Director of Food Services for Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado, and a Partner of Lunch Lessons, LLC, a consultancy for school districts going through large-scale food change.
She writes a monthly blog for U.S. News & World Report and performs regular speaking engagements throughout the country.
Ellen Gustafson, author, social entrepreneur and sustainable food systems activist will also be a featured speaker.
“Through my work fighting hunger around the world as a social entrepreneur, I learned that food has more power than just nourishment. Through healthy, strong, sustainable food systems, we, the eaters, can help to change ourselves, our communities and the world,” said Gustafson.
“The Rendezvous: Chew on This brings together those willing to listen and do something about it. We can change the status quo through the sharing of new and innovative ideas which address the systemic issues of obesity,” said Peter Mabrey, president and CEO of CHIP.
Jolyn Parker, Board Chair for CHIP explained, “Community Health Improvement Partners is committed to working with the community to improve the health of San Diegans. Bringing a focus to the issues of obesity prevention is an important role that CHIP must play as the leader in collective impact initiatives to solve significant health challenges facing everyone. Our goal for this event is to educate and inspire action.”
Following the presentation, CHIP will host an outdoor tasting reception with San Diego’s top local farms, premier restaurants, and artisanal beverage purveyors. The culinary pairings are designed to highlight the important relationship between local growers and restauranteurs in cultivating community and health.
This event is open only to those 21 and older. Tickets are available online.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: http://sdchip.wpengine.com/rendezvous-2016/
