The Massachusetts Partnership for Healthy Weight strives to reduce chronic disease through community action and public policies that promote healthy eating, active living, and healthy weight among all Massachusetts residents. It unites more than 100 groups committed to reducing overweight and obesity in Massachusetts into a coalition for change with a goal of catalyzing and supporting initiatives that remove barriers and increase opportunities for healthy eating, active living, and routine screening for, diagnosis, and treatment of overweight and obesity. The Partnership held its annual conference at the Sturbridge Host Hotel on November 5, 2008. Centered on the theme, "Policy is Powerful," the event brought together about 75 participants from a range of programs and services throughout the state. DPH Medical Director Dr. Lauren Smith opened the session which featured keynote speaker Roberta Friedman, ScM, Director of Public Policy and Government Initiatives at he Rudd Center at Yale University. A morning idea-sharing break-out groups on community, school, healthcare and worksite settings helped to develop a list of challenges and opportunities to take back to the OPCI, and an afternoon "Town Hall" panel described best practices for encouraging healthy weight. For further information, contact Christina Nordstrom, Acting Director of the DPH Nutrition and Physical Activity Unit at 617-994-9859.

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(Top row, left) Mass Partnership for Healthy Communities director Peter Lee emcees the event which included a "Town Hall" panel with Catherine Miller of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Mass. DPH Worksite Wellness Program Coordinator Lisa Erck, Kim Szeto of The Food Project, Malden Comprehensive School Health Education Coordinator Holly Alperin, and Janice Boyd of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc. (Top row, center) Fall River Children in Balance (CIB) Project Manager Marcia Picard sits with Tufts University Research Assistant and CIB Project Director Bridgid Junot. (Top row, right) Lisa Erck summarizes the Worksites Group discussion, including a description of the Southcoast Worksite Health Improvement initiative. (Middle row, left) Roberta Friedman delivers the keynote address, "Policy is Powerful! A Tool to Create and Sustain Healthy Environments." (Middle row, center) Conference participants enjoy a healthy lunch that follows the DPH Healthy Meeting Guidelines. (Middle row, right) Joanne Connolly of the Starllight Center in Florence, MA, listens as Michele Houghtaling of the Mt. Tom Municipal Wellness project talks about resources that worksites can use to help employees maintain a healthy weight. (Bottom row, left) DJ Wilson, Tobacco Control Director for the Mass. Municipal Association, left, and Department of Public Health staff member, right, Maria Evora-Rosa listen to the panel discussion. (Bottom row, center) Healthy City Fall River coordinator Dave Weed, Southcoast Hospitals Employee Wellness Coordinator Kristi Aimone, and CIB Project Manager Marcia Picard chat after the conference. (Bottom row, right) Laura Pillsbury of the Holyoke Food & Fitness Council listens as Mass. Association of Health Boards Senior Staff Attorney Cheryl Sbarra clarifies an issues about liability and public spaces.