Good Health Belongs to EVERYONE! An Epidemic of Poor Health… Half the children in Prince George's County, and more than 70% of adults, are considered overweight or obese. Obesity now rivals smoking as the largest cause of preventable illness and death because it can lead to chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart disease and more. -- The Port Towns are Bladensburg, Edmonston, Cottage City and Colmar Manor, MD -- Our focus is Healthy Eating and Active Living for overall health… Our goal is to make the Port Towns a healthy place to live, learn, work, play, and worship. The Community Health Partnership aims to create a thriving Port Towns community where residents have access to affordable, healthy foods and where active lifestyles are encouraged and supported. In this way we can work to halt, and ultimately reverse, the growing trend of overweight and obesity, and the rise in preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Our Strategies Provide access to healthier food choices (community gardens, farmers markets) Improve school access to healthier food options and physical fitness. Complete streets (finished sidewalks for pedestrian friendly walkways and better lighting) Enhance community safety (neighborhood watches, safe routes to school) Support healthy development (zoning in place to support greener areas and healthy eating) We believe that healthy quality of life should be within reach for all residents of the Port Towns.

Ray Smith, founder of the Prince George’s Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, is a 20-year resident and partner of Port Town’s Community Health Initiative. Before losing his sight to diabetes over four years ago, Ray was an active leader in the Port Towns community through a youth focused basketball program. As a lifelong coach and mentor he stressed the importance of making healthy choices and encouraged his players to live healthy lifestyles after their careers ended. “Coach Ray” is not only an advocate for the disabled community, he has improved his own health by walking four hours a day and eating healthy foods. Since losing his sight, Ray Smith has lost over 30 pounds. Partner Snapshot Fresh foods contribute to good health Join us! Influence change! Together we can create a healthy, livable and thriving community. Who We Are Port Towns residents | Town of Bladensburg | Town of Colmar Manor | Town of Cottage City | Town of Edmonston | Port Towns Community Development Corporation | End Time Harvest Ministries/ Port Towns Youth Council | Engaged Community Offshoots (ECO) | Anacostia Watershed Society | Anacostia Trails Heritage Area | Bladensburg High School | Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) | Prince George’s County Health Department | Local Businesses | Soccer and Friends What You Can Do Join the Community Health Partnership as a professional or community member. People of all ages are welcome: parents, youth, seniors, businesses, non-profits, clergy, and others. Volunteer at a community garden. Contact your Town Hall for information. Work with Port Towns’ youth to improve school food options and physical fitness. Join a walking, bicycling, or canoeing club. Help to get more low-cost healthy foods available in Port Towns’ stores and markets. Shop at local stores and speak to your local grocer. For More Info Visit our website: Funded by Kaiser Permanente, Consumer Health Foundation, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation and United Way of the National Capital Area --