Representatives of all six CHNAs (Community Health Network Areas) in Southeastern Massachusetts gathered at the Raddison Hotel in Plymouth on November 18, 2011 to learn from one another and social network and marketing experts and to brainstorm ideas of what they could accomplish together in a World Cafe exercise. 

Nearly 100 participants attended breakout sessions to learn about new initiatives at the Mass. Department of Public Health, how to use social media to advantage, different ways of using Determination of Need funds, and how to use community assessment data. A panel presentation brought three public relations and media experts. Results of the afternoon World Cafe exercise will be used to inform future plans for the Inter-CHNA group. Click here for a video of the event and here for a video montage. For more information, contact Andy Robinson at Health Imperatives in Brockton at arobinson@healthimperatives.org

(Top row, left) Judith Coykendall and Nicholas Charest listen as New Bedford Allies for Health and Wellness chairperson Marianne DeSouza updates them on recent events. (Top row, center) Tobacco Control Coordinator Marilyn Edge talks about the use of social media as Social Capital Inc.(SCI) president David Crowley listens. (Top row, right) Southeast Area Department of Public Health Regional Director Ron O'Connor describes some of the history that led up to the formation of the Inter-CHNA group. (Row two) New Bedford Mass In Motion Coordinator Pauline Hamel, Partners for a Healthier Community worksite wellness coordinator Angela Bannister, MyFallRiver.org webmaster Eitan Levine and BOLD youth program Director Mike Aguiar listen as SCI president David Crowley describes how social media can be used as a marketing tool. (Row three) BMC Healthnet representative Brenda Viveiros and Fall River school wellness coordinator Marcia Picard participate in a discussion led by Partners chairperson Wendy Garf-Lipp. (Bottom row, left) Lisa Alves, left, of the Fall River WIC program, adds a thought to the World Cafe discussion while another group member records it on the large sheet of paper on the table. (Bottom row, center) Sarah Parmenter of Health Imperatives in Brockton helps Mike Aguiar tape a table sheet to the wall for all to see. (Bottom row, right) Event organizers Andy Robinson of Health Imperatives, Beverly Ciavola of the Cape Cod and Islands CHNA, and Marcia Picard and Wendy Garf-Lipp of the Fall River CHNA pose for a final photo.