UMass-Dartmouth Assistant Professor Meredith Dove, Ph.D., worked with United Neighbors of Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community to organize a second cafe model session with pre-school provider staff on nutrition and physical activity. Held in the new YMCA Learning Center on October 13, 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 two-minute video of a portion of the session. Click here for photos and video of a previous session held in May.. For further information, contact Dr. Dove at UMass Dartmouth at 508-999-8381.

(Top row) UMass-Dartmouth Assistant Professor Meredith Dove, Ph.D. talks with Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard before starting the first discussion group. (Row two) Marcia talks with Debbie Mancini of the Little Peoples' College before the group breaks for lunch. (Row three) Sheila Cabral and Melania Rosa of Citizens for Citizens (CFC) Head Start respond to questions posed by Dr. Dove while Mary Ouellette and Diane Vasquez of CFC Head Start respond to questions posed by United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp. (Row three) Diane Vasquez and Sheri Pacheco of Little Peoples' College share their ideas with Debbie Mancini as Ann Marchand of CFC Head Start listen to Wendy. (Bottom row) Mary Ouellette fills out an evaluation form as Diane hands hers to Dr. Dove.