UMass-Dartmouth Assistant Professor Meredith Dove, Ph.D., worked with United Neighbors of Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community to organize a cafe model session with pre-school provider staff on nutrition and physical activity. Held in the new YMCA Learning Center on May 22, 2015, the session invited staff to discuss three questions: 1) What are some positive nutrition or physical activity practices currently in place in your setting?; 2) What are some areas in which you feel your site could improve?; and 3) Which resources or support would help your site to implement new nutrition or physical activity practices? Based on the World Cafe model, cafes are being used across the country as effective vehicles for engaging people in conversations that matter! This workshop provided participants with an opportunity to learn from one another about best practices and challenges in implementing positive nutrition and healthy activity methods in a pre-school setting. Click here for a 39-minute video. Click here for the recipes. Click here for photos and video of a parent cafe training session. For further information, contact United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900 or Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107..

(Top row) UMass-Dartmouth Assistant Professor Meredith Dove, Ph.D. talks with Fall River Head Start Nutrition Director Gloria Salinas about the session as participants help themselves to lunch and get seated at one of three tables for disucssion. (Row two) United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp, right, leads off the discussion on the three questions after Dr. Dove provides a large sheet of paper for each group to record their ideas. (Row three) The groups respond to each of the questions while the group facilitator record their responses, and Dr. Dove hands out certificates at the end of the session. (Bottom two rows) Foods that were offered to the staff to illustrate what can be made easily and inexpensively for pre-school children included: quinoa salad, corn and black bean salad, popcorn roasted cauliflower, watermelon with feta cheese, edamame with radish, and fresh berries frozen in ice cubes for glasses of water.