Community Corner

Norristown Student Authors Shine at Book Signing

Healthy NewsWorks, a student media health program, currently operates in seven Norristown schools.

The following was provided to Patch by Healthy NewsWorks:

Norristown students who are part of the Healthy NewsWorks student media program were recently honored for their achievements at a May 20 book-signing event at the Merion Tribute House.  Healthy NewsWorks, a student media health program, currently operates in seven Norristown schools (and 14 overall in the Philadelphia area).   

The students not only create newspapers and videos for their school communities that reach 6,000 students and their families each year, but also an annual book entitled "Leading Healthy Change In Our Communities" that is distributed to hospitals, doctor's offices, schools, and other community settings.  In this year's book, the student journalists interviewed 14 area leaders who are making a difference to the health of the community including Juan Guerra, executive director of ACLAMO Family Centers based in Norristown, swim coach Jim Ellis, Carolyn Tassini, D.P.T., physical therapy team leader of the Drucker Brain Injury Center at MossRehab, part of Einstein Healthcare Network, and Patricia DeRusso, M.D.,  director of the Healthy Weight Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

At the event,  to which about 150 people attended, the student authors and the health leaders they interviewed signed copies of the book for guests.  In addition, Michael Useem, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, served as the event’s keynote speaker. He challenged attendees to think about characteristics of leadership and the value of leaders in our community. He went on to outline five leadership requirements: strategic thinking, effective communication, decisiveness, a willingness to lead, and consistently honoring the room. Each of the students who served as authors for the Leading Healthy Change book clearly exhibited these leadership traits, Dr. Useem said. His presentation concluded by asking attendees to honor the Healthy NewsWorks journalists in the room with a hearty round of applause.

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Olympic gold-medalist Esther Lofgren also spoke at the event and told the audience, "the biggest mistake you can make is to not believe in yourself.” She directed her comments directly to the student journalists in the room, telling them the importance of being stubborn, working hard, and ignoring those who would dissuade you from your dreams. Ms. Lofgren serves as Community Wellness Ambassador for Quest Diagnostics, Healthy NewsWorks' Community Wellness Partner. 

Several students also shared their experiences participating in the book project and writing for their school newspapers. One third grade student from Hancock Elementary School explained how Healthy NewsWorks helped her overcome her initial fear of interviews. “I started to enjoy being in the newspaper,” she said. “I started handing homework in on time and interviewing more, which was a big accomplishment for me.”

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As the Healthy NewsWorks journalists took the stage to receive gold medals for their accomplishments, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation.  



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