Partners for a Healthier Community

PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER

Members of the Leadership SouthCoast Class of 2012 spent half a day exploring the healthcare system of Fall River and New Bedford as part of their ten-month community leadership program. The session included presentations on population health status by Dr. David Weed, Healthy City Fall River Coordinator and on the Fall River Mass In Motion project by coordinator Julianne Kelly. Following a presentation by Leadership Southcoast Executive Director Michael Metzler, former CEO of Saint Anne's Hospital, on the major elements of the health care system, the group was challenged to design the ideal healthy community. Leadership SouthCoast’s mission is to provide the SouthCoast region with an ongoing source of diverse leaders who are prepared and committed to serve as catalysts and sustainers of positive change for the quality of life in the SouthCoast. Each year, Leadership SouthCoast selects a diverse group of acknowledged and aspiring leaders to participate in a thought-provoking, ten-month community leadership program consisting of a one-day retreat and nine monthly full-day sessions. Click here for a twenty-five minute video of Julie's presentation. For more information about Leadership SouthCoast, contact Executive Director Michael Metzler at 508-997-4720. For more information about Fall River Mass In Motion contact coordinator Julianne Kelly, at 508-324-2405. (Photos courtesy of Julie Kelly and Dave Weed)




(Top row, left) Jaime Jacquart of UMass-Dartmouth Sustainability chats with Leadership SouthCoast Executive Director Michael Metzler before the session begins. (Top row, center) Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly chats with Joe Borges of Bank Five and David Teixeira from Southcoast Hospitals before Mr. Metzler begins the session. (Row two) Sonia Fastino of Rua-Dumont-Audet Insurance Agency, Maria Rego of Mechanics Cooperative Bank, and Diane Arsenault of Downtown New Bedford listen as Dr. Weed describes the Healthy City Fall River project. (Row three, right) Julie Kelly points to a diagram of a proposed pathway that will circle Cook Pond in Fall River as one example of environmental changes that will promote more physical activity among residents of the city. (Bottom row) Paula Freitas and Barbara Tripp of BayCoast Bank listen as Jen Gonet of UMass-Dartmouth Sustainability makes a point with Jaime Jacquart during the group exercise led by Mr. Metzler.