Healthy Bronx

How would you describe a healthy community? Some disadvantaged children from the Bronx came together to discuss what a healthy community means to them. They dreamt of a healthy Bronx, and their conversations and concepts made it to canvas. That's it in this photo.

This important dream-session was facilitated by representatives from the Children's Health Fund--a longstanding GlaxoSmithKline partner that provides health care for the nation's most medically underserved children, including children in the Bronx.

And while the children dreamt of a healthy Bronx, my GSK colleagues and I have traveled to other cities throughout the country engaging in very similar conversations. We're asking community leaders: what are the barriers and opportunities for building healthier communities in the US? We've had conversations in Philadelphia (September 2012), St. Louis (December 2012; my blog on evidence-based partnerships here), and this week in Denver. These conversations bring together hundreds of community stakeholders as we drill down on ways we might work together to foster healthier communities in those cities.

The children's vision for their community was clear--safe places to play, healthy food to eat, and clean air to breathe. Their vision certainly made an impression on me and will be a part of my thinking going forward.

Speak up! How do you describe a healthy community? Comment here, or tweet it using #HealthyCommunity. And be sure to tune into the livestreamed event from Denver on February 6!

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information go to us.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/).