The Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative’s Resident Engagement Council empowers residents to help build a healthier Niagara Falls. We provide leadership training, connectivity, and support for residents with project ideas for making the community a healthier place.
To respond to the need to increase literacy rates, PPBC was developed to give access to your city's youth during the summer months and beyond to books within their communities. In partnership with NF Community Development Office and the city school district these little libraries are being placed at or near schools and parks with a high density of youth. Suggestions for new library locations, book donations or other inquiries can be sent to brianarc@healthierniagarafalls.org.
The goal of this project is to convert an abandoned building into accessible, welcoming community space for all in the Highland neighborhood. This is one of our biggest projects yet and we’re so excited to see what happens. Contact us if you’d like to help or donate, and visit the website below for more information!
Put the pedal to the metal this summer — on a bike! We've created an E-Bike Library program supported by Shared Mobility to bring battery-operated bikes featuring pedal assist technology to the Niagara Falls community. These bikes make riding easier than ever, giving you a little boost with each rotation of the pedal. And the best part? They're free to ride! It's all part of an effort to provide affordable and convenient ways to get families up and moving, all while experiencing all of the beautiful scenery of our community.
Throughout August we'll be hosting open orientations on Mondays in August from 2 – 5 p.m., as well as group rides from 4:45 – 6 p.m. Keep an eye on our social media or sign up for our newsletters for more information!
Project Green Space created a community garden on Weston Ave, employing local youth throughout the summer. Youth revitalized the lot by planting produce, flowers, doing landscaping, learning about blight issues, painting, constructing benches and a fence, etc. The youth are currently working on a play based on their experience, and the program has expanded from summer to yearlong with a partnership with Planned Parenthood. Youth began the Fresh Food Fellows program with the Field & Fork Network in March, and are participating in crowdfunding through the IOBY Healthy Neighborhoods Challenge.
This mentoring program focuses the nurturing and development of middle-school aged girls. They are currently working on a video series for their YouTube channel and host weekly kids yoga classes every Tuesday in various parks. Check out their IOBY page for more on their fundraising and community efforts!
Installation of playground and betterment of the park in general with support of local residents, collaboration with the city and advocacy for allocation in 2018 budget.
On Sunday, February 25, 2018, the Community Health Center of Niagara in collaboration with The Barber and Beauty Stop Initiative hosted the first ever Niagara Falls Black Business Expo. This event was held during Black History Month to showcase the economic power of the African American dollar in Niagara Falls, as well as celebrating Black history and culture. An impressive cadre of Black owned businesses and entrepreneurs was present as well as a host of information and health providers. The event also included refreshments and a spoken word poetry performance.
Ray of Hope is a grief support group for women who have experienced loss. For almost two years, the Collaborative has been supporting the work of Ray of Hope Grief Support Group through leadership coaching. On October 13, 2018, the Group hosted their annual Soup-a-Thon and it was a great success! Over 80 people were in attendance and they raised enough funds to support all of the group’s activities for 2019! They also gave back to Women’s Military Support Network by encouraging their guests to bring goods to donate. Everyone enjoyed an afternoon of delicious soups, laughter and comradery!
A mentoring program for 12 to 15 year olds based on the 40 developmental framework, offering one-on-one mentoring opportunity as well as group sessions. The group aims to encourage positive and healthy behaviors and decrease risky behaviors such as substance use and also gives a chance for individuals in recovery to give back.