Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

Staff Highlight – Victorino Cantu

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Victorino Cantu is a Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Associate working with the CDC-funded Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) program in Starr County. A local asset to the program, Victorino primarily works on the ground, helping local groups create healthy changes in communities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Over the past two years, Victorino has been involved in several projects. He coordinates a Farm to School grant at RT Barrera Elementary in Roma, TX, and assisted the school in securing an NRCS GREEN grant to purchase a pollinator garden and a high tunnel to expand farm production. Victorino is supporting local groups in expanding school garden and orchard efforts to other schools by facilitating the creation of operations manuals and meeting with other schools already excelling in Farm to School efforts.

Victorino has also helped facilitate a downtown walkability and connectivity project. His engagement with the local community has included communication, coordination, and showing a “behind the scenes” look at the infrared sensors being used to collect walking movement in downtown Rio Grande City.

Victorino’s passion for creating healthy lifestyles and access to healthy places exudes through his work. Victorino is looking forward to continuing Policy, System, and Environmental change work and continuing with rural communities and healthy changes.

AARP Community Challenge

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Are you looking to improve your community’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure?

We have an opportunity for funding that you may be interested in! AARP announced a call for projects for the Community Challenge grant program. This program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages.

The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more.

The application period is open until April 14, 2021. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Working on Wellness Environments team is able to provide pre-application assistance to community leaders if needed, in the following ways:

  • Walking through program criteria and guidelines
  • Identifying possible projects in the community
  • Assisting with basic planning steps and providing a broad cost estimate

*If chosen to move on to step 2 of the application process, we can help you identify relevant resources and contacts fo technical assistance.


Please contact Anna Stehling – Working on Wellness Environments Program Coordinator, via email at astehling5511@tamu.edu if you have any questions. If you want additional information and wish to schedule a zoom call to discuss the program’s opportunities, you can visit the calendly link below to select a meeting time.


https://calendly.com/astehling5511/aarp-community-challenge-grant

aarp.org/CommunityChallenge

TxDOT TA Funding Program

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Are you looking to improve your community’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure? We have an opportunity for funding that you may be interested in!

The Texas Department of Transportation announced a call for projects for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) funding program with both currently available and future anticipated funds. The call is requesting projects surrounding pedestrian and/or bicycle safety and infrastructure.

Communities of any size are encouraged to apply for the funding program, though priority is given to communities with 5,000 people or less. *Note: The first application deadline is March 1st – We know that this is last minute, but we are here to help if anyone is interested. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Working on Wellness Environments team is able to provide pre-application assistance to community leaders if needed, in the following ways:

– Walking through program criteria and guidelines

– Identifying possible projects in the community

– Assisting with basic planning steps and providing a broad cost estimate

*If chosen to move on to step 2 of the application process, we can help you identify relevant resources and contacts fo technical assistance.

Please contact Anna Stehling – Working on Wellness Environments Program Coordinator, via email at astehling5511@tamu.edu if you have any questions. If you want additional information and wish to schedule a zoom call to discuss the program’s opportunities, you can visit the calendly link below to select a meeting time.

https://calendly.com/c/GDFZGXHJWSGVBY5F

End of Year Message

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The WOW-E team would like to wish you all a happy and safe Holiday Season.

We will be out of the office from December 23, 2020 – January 4, 2021.

For COVID-19 resources please visit Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and CDC .

We look forward to working with you all in 2021.

-The WOW-E Team

Battery Check

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For the past 8 months, COVID-19 has impacted the lives of Texans. In the midst of uncertainty and adjusting to new normalcy, we often forget to check-in with our mental health, our energy level and those of our community team members . Texas A&M Agrilife Extension’s Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan introduced the Working on Wellness Environments team to the importance of using the battery check to assist with self check-ins.

The Battery Check was posted at blessingmanifesting.com by this social media blogger to check-in for self-care purposes and know when and how to recharge. Dr. Mahadevan has adapted the graphic into a tool for use in early child-care conferences and in the local community. Dr. Mahadevan suggests the battery check is useful because it is very visual. Finding the words that explain how we feel can be difficult, but having a visual can help us find those words. The battery check should be used as needed and could be helpful to gauge communities and audiences. For personal use, the battery check can bring awareness; knowing when you need time to regroup for your mental health.

The battery check can help you check-in with your communities or audiences, the battery check can be used as an ice breaker or even a teaching tool if you are using as a way to check-in with people. Dr. Mahadevan says silence after introducing the battery check is not uncommon and, it is okay if someone isn’t participating. When working in large groups, the battery check can be used as a self-check breakout activity.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it especially important for self and community check-ins. When talking to groups and they are open to discussing how they are feeling, Dr. Mahadevan suggests reassuring and reaffirming that this is a safe space and everything mentioned will remain confidential. It is important to be empathetic and give everyone time to respond if they do not feel comfortable sharing at the moment. For additional information about mental health and mental health during the holidays, are available here.