Healthy Diva is a novel San Diego-based pilot project that aims to help African-American women improve and maintain their health through better nutrition and increased physical activity. What’s novel is we’re leveraging the close relationship many women already have with their hair stylists to get the word out. Fifteen salons have signed on as Healthy Diva sites to enroll women in a 60-day challenge to better health and to support their efforts by offering exercise-friendly hairstyles.

Motivation and encouragement for thinking, getting and being healthy is critical, so we’re also holding regular meet-ups in salons and community centers where women can get together, support each other, get tips and see hair demos from our stylists, learn and taste healthy recipes, and jus have fun.

A weekly text message to challenge participants and regular blog posts with all the info and tips from events and featuring Healthy Divas and their stories, rounds out the program.

Healthy Diva launched February 2014. We’re excited about the challenge. Stay tuned to the blog for more!

For additional info, contact healthydivachallenge@gmail.co

The Healthy Diva Challenge is a program of the Network for a Healthy California, part of the California

Department of Public Health (CDPH) and one of the largest and most innovative nutrition education and obesity prevention programs in the country. The Network is made up of hundreds of organizations and thousands of people fighting for healthy changes in homes, schools, workplaces, churches, and neighborhoods across the state.

About the African American Campaign 

The Network for a Healthy California—African American Campaign (Campaign) is designed to improve the health of low-income, African-American adult women, ages 18 – 54, and their families by empowering them to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and food security. The goal of the Campaign is to prevent obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases prevalent among African Americans. Through the work of six Regional Network and three faith-based projects, culturally-relevant community activities are conducted in a variety of channels including, beauty salons, churches, supermarkets and neighborhood markets, direct health service providers, community-based organizations, large community events, and other culturally-appropriate community gatherings. Television, radio, outdoor advertising, as well as media advocacy reinforce these activities. The African American Campaign also supports community change initiatives aimed to educate low-income African Americans about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables, being more physically active, and improving the availability of fruits and vegetables and safe physical activity opportunities in their communities. For more information, please visit: www.networkforahealthycalifornia.net/aa.

These materials are produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch with funding from USDA SNAP-Ed, known in California as CalFresh. These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. CalFresh provides assistance to low-income households and can help buy nutritious food for better health. For CalFresh information, call 1-877-847-3663.

For important nutrition information, visit www.CaChampionsForChange.net