For some kids, summer means getting on the computer and not getting off 'til September. And even though a lot of parents relax their screen limits over the break, allowing a full-on hibernation is just not gonna happen . And it shouldn't. Kids need to get outside, of course. But they also need to stretch themselves in ways that they can't during the school year -- and that no app, game, or streaming TV show, no matter how educational and meaningful, can give them. The slide into the summer-...

Having a child always seemed overwhelming even though I have worked in education throughout my career. I was terrified to bring a black child into this world, knowing how hard it would be for them. However, when your father dies and mother suffers a stroke, your priorities change. I was blessed to be raised in a home that taught me to be proud of my culture as well as the importance of giving back to my community. I wanted the opportunity to instill these values into someone who can continue...

Within Kansas City, MO, a baby born in one neighborhood had a life expectancy 15 years shorter than a child born just a few miles away. Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO),a driving force for social justice and health in Kansas City and a Voices for Healthy Kids grantee, responded to the challenge in many ways. That comprehensive approach to improving health, particularly in neighborhoods that historically have lacked access to financial investment and opportunities, helped Kansas City win a 2015 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize.