When we picture a healthy Savannah, it is inclusive of all people – regardless of ability, age, income level, race, or neighborhood. Everyone must have equitable access to the resources they need to live their healthiest life. How can we make work, play, faith spaces, and neighborhoods healthier to benefit all Savannah?
Healthy Savannah’s work over the past 13 years has been successful in reducing the gap in health equity. That is the power of our 200-member coalition, our close relationships with the local government leaders, the faith-based community, and residents in our priority population and neighborhoods.
We will continue to advocate for and implement policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) to achieve a culture of health in the Savannah-Chatham Community.
Healthy Savannah urges donations of healthy foods during holidays
Nearly 160,000 people in Coastal Georgia struggle with food insecurity, and many families turn to food pantries for additional assistance, especially during the holidays. However, healthy options are not always available for those in need. All too often, they must rely on inexpensive, unhealthy foods because that’s all that’s available. “If we want to be…
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Savannah Nonprofit Expands Victories with Voices for Healthy Kids Grants
Savannah, Georgia, with its centuries-old architecture and cobblestone-paved streets, is known for its rich history. And it’s that storied past that motivates some public health and racial equity advocates to make history of their own. “I always say we are a social movement, not a program or a project,” explained Paula Kreissler, who lives in…
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Be informed: Change is coming to Savannah.
The City of Savannah recently published a New Zoning Ordinance (NewZO) for public comment. Through the NewZO, we can help communities work together and be stronger by expanding opportunities to be healthy. Zoning should support key community goals like walkability, affordability, and neighborhood stability through incremental development. The NewZO is an important opportunity. Our current…
Speak Up for a Healthy Savannah
Health starts where we live, learn, work, and play. Over 35,000 Savannahians live in areas without access to healthy food. When people lack access to healthy food, they are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Healthy Food Financing Initiatives (HFFI) are a proven strategy in…
The State of Obesity in Georgia
The State of Obesity, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to both raising awareness about the obesity epidemic and promoting obesity prevention strategies, recently issued its annual report. To results are sobering, yet unsurprising. In five states adult obesity rates exceed 35 percent, while in 25 additional states obesity rates top 30 percent. Despite these discouraging…
Smoke Free Air Savannah
Healthy Savannah implemented the ‘BreatheEasy Savannah’ campaign to pass Savannah’s Smoke-Free Air Ordinance in 2010. The City of Savannah is now a place where we can all work and play and not worry about the harmful, deadly effects of secondhand smoke. Evolution of Georgia Smoke Free Air Breathe Easy Savannah Smoke Free Brochure City of…
Healthy Savannah Celebrates 10 Years!
Friday May 12, 2017 Healthy Savannah celebrated TEN years of making the healthy choice, the easy choice. Our annual meeting kicked off with a message from our founder, and dear friend, Dr. Otis Johnson, former Mayor of the City of Savannah. View his well-wishes here. During our annual meeting new board officers and…
East Savannah Community Transformation Plan
Healthy Savannah is leading an initiative to improve Health and Wellness in East Savannah based on a plan prepared in support of an application for housing tax credits in support of Live Oak Landing, a proposed affordable housing development for seniors, located on Wheaton Street in East Savannah. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) encourages…
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They WILL Eat That
One challenge all parents face is making sure that their children are well-fed. You may wonder, what am I supposed to be feeding them and how do I get them to eat it? Well, I’m here to reduce your stress. Your worry is the first part of the equation; providing healthy food. Your child’s job…
Healthy Savannah Community Survey
At Healthy Savannah, we are always trying to improve and build upon our work. One of the tools we use to do that is our Community Survey. The survey takes about five minutes to fill out completely and provides incredibly valuable information to our team. Our world-class evaluator developed the survey, and it is brought to…
The Faith and Health Coalition
The Faith and Health Coalition is a network of faith-based organizations, of all faiths, partnered with local health promoting agencies. Vision Statement: Every faith-based organization in Savannah is committed to healthy lifestyles. Mission Statement: The coalition will provide support to Savannah’s faith-based organizations as they encourage a culture of health among their members and the…