On April 18, 2017 Bronx community health leaders launched the Bronx Healthy Beverage Zone (HBZ). HBZ is a borough-wide movement that promotes healthy beverages among individuals who work, live, and visit the Bronx. Union Community Health Center and Bronx Health REACH, along with other partners of #Not62 – The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx, created this initiative to encourage organizations and institutions to take the HBZ Pledge and become role models for their community by restricting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and increasing water intake.
Hostos Community College President David Gómez expresses his support for the Healthy Beverage Zone Campaign. With the installation of a new water refill station, the college was able to save 11,000 bottles from landfill.
The initiative is supported by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo who all spoke at the launch and expressed their concern for the health status of Bronx residents. Hostos Community College is the first CUNY University in the Bronx to adopt a HBZ and have already installed new water refill stations on its campus.
An official Healthy Beverage Zone toolkit is forthcoming, and the initiative will soon launch a website to keep initiative partners informed, connected and inspired.
Organizations in the Bronx can support the initiative by taking the pledge for a sugar sweetened beverage free zone. For more information, visit the Healthy Beverage Zone Facebook Page
#Not62 #HBZ #HealthiestCitiesChallenge
Union Health Community Center invites other organizations to take the pledge for a Healthy Beverage Zone.
