Hero Mom of the Central Valley

The Nutrition Network has designated Gema Perez, on the right, of the Greenfield Walking Group as a Hero Mom of the Central Valley as a part of their Champions of Change campaign.

As a leader of the group, Gema partnered with the California Endowment to transform the group from one focused on individual health change, to one focused on environmental and policy change for the entire community. This became the Kern County Obesity Prevention Task Force of the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP).

Gema serves as a source of inspiration and a model of motivation to encourage others in the program and has helped the group accomplish the following:

Partnership with the Greenfield After-school District to:
- Implement a district wide K-3 physical activity program
- Adopt a district wide Saturday physical activity program
- Adopt a district wide after school garden program with produce from each school garden sold at a farmers market located in front of the Greenfield Family Resource Center to accept WIC coupons and food stamps
Partnership with the Bakersfield Adult School to conduct daytime English classes twice a week at the Greenfield Family Resource Center
Partnership with the Kern Regional Blue Print Program to designated the Greenfield Family Resource Center as a site for both phases of its community outreach meetings
Featured on Radio Campesina’s national obesity prevention segment of Mujer a Mujer in partnership with Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance
Technical assistance provider to The Stella Hills Nutrition Class to begin their own community focused walking group
Partnership with California Walks to conduct a walkability assessment at the Greenfield Family Resource Center to develop partnerships between residents and appropriate city department representatives to create a safer and healthier environment for families to walk and play
Presented by the Mayor of Bakersfield with a proclamation as a guest of Officer Tony Martinez for their partnership in Graffiti abatement of Stiern Park

Presented by the Mayor of Bakersfield with a proclamation as a guest of Officer Tony Martinez for their partnership in Graffiti abatement of Stiern Park Gema serves as a model of how resident leaders can play a central role in improving community access to healthy eating and active living environments in partnership with decision makers. She helps foster strong bonds among members as they walk and helps them access the information and resources they need to make healthy transformative community changes.

For more information, contact Jennifer Lopez with Get Moving Kern and the Kern County Network for Children (661) 205-3743.