Healthy Waltham

Anyone is welcome to join the Healthy Waltham Initiative to make Waltham a better community.

What is “Healthy Waltham”?

Definition

A community-wide planning process to improve the overall health of Waltham.

A local coalition to identify health needs in Waltham including economic, environmental, natural, social, and general well-being.

Statement of Purpose

To mobilize the people of Waltham regardless of neighborhood, race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, language, and religion, to better understand our community’s strengths and challenges and build a healthier, more just and prosperous community.

Why have Healthy Waltham?

Benefits & Outcomes

A long-term plan for a healthy community

Local leadership & advocacy

Published report of priority needs

Vision for a healthy community

Projects to improve the health of Waltham

Ways to Get Involved

Attend general Healthy Waltham meetings

Join the Leadership Group to help guide the process

Spread the word to your friends and neighbors

Share your vision of a healthy Waltham community

Where Else Has This Been Done?

Local Projects:

Allston-Brighton Healthy Boston Coalition

The Allston-Brighton coalition successfully developed a LINKS program (Leadership to Improve Neighborhood Communication and Services), which is an innovative program that provides residents training in community organizing, leadership development, and English communication. The Coalition also conducts a voter registration drive and holds neighborhood meetings to assess community needs.

Lower/Outer Cape Community Coalition

This healthy communities initiative was the catalyst for the start-ups of a community development corporation to deal with economic issues, an interfaith council on the homeless to deal with the housing crisis, and the Children’s place--a family resource for the town.

Revere Cares Coalition

Revere Cares coalition collaborated to manage drug-free community grant funds, implemented and published a youth risk behavior survey, and passed a community-wide zero tolerance policy to decrease teenage substance abuse.

Somerville Health Agenda of the Cambridge Health Alliance 

The Somerville Health Agenda of the Cambridge Health Alliance published a report of health indicators and received a collaborative grant to fund walking and bicycle trails to promote a healthy lifestyles and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Healthy Waltham is a community health initiative sponsored by Mount Auburn Hospital and the Regional Center for Healthy Communities in partnership with over 25 Waltham organizations.

For More Information Please Contact:

Marina Paige-Bartley, Waltham Partnership for Youth, Inc. — 781-314-3367

John Peacock, Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce — 781-894-4700

Erica Schwartz, WATCH CDC, Inc. — 781-891-6689

Healthy Waltham Community Supporters*

Bentley College, Service-Learning Center

Breaking Barriers, Inc.

Brandeis University, Center for Youth and Communities

Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center

Charles River Early Intervention

City of Waltham

Waltham Public Library

Communities United

Community Day Center of Waltham

Creative Start

EDC, Breaking Barriers

Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center

Metro S/W Regional Employment Board

Middlesex Human Services

Mount Auburn Hospital

Newton Wellesley Hospital

The Power Program

The Regional Center for Healthy Communities

The Support Committee for Battered Women (REACH)

The Waltham Partnership for Youth, Inc.

WATCH

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

Waltham Concerned Citizens

Waltham Land Trust

Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce

Waltham Public Schools

Wayside Youth and Family Support Network

YMCA of Greater Boston Waltham Family Branch

* This is a growing list. We hope we have included everyone. Any omissions are unintentional.