Last week we completed our pre-proposal conferences for Healthy Lifestyles Foundation Defined Grants. We had a record turnout with many people attending their first HCF pre-proposal conference. I am not surprised by the large turnout of people as the demand for health and social services in our community is at an all time high.

As potential grantees begin to develop projects for the upcoming Healthy Lifestyles RFP, I want to encourage you to think outside of the box. Now is the time to think about how services can be provided better or more efficient, about new ways to partner and collaborate with other agencies and about being bold and innovative.

While it is important to provide education around our priority areas of fitness, nutrition and tobacco use, we encourage you to think beyond education and develop projects that strive to increase access and opportunities for fitness, nutrition and smoke-free environments. We hope to read about projects whose focus is not just on individuals, but on multiple levels of interventions. We are particularly interested in projects that seek to implement policy or regulatory changes, be it at the organization, community or government levels.

In tough economic times, the non-profit community is more important than ever. We look forward to reading your proposals, and as always, we are continually inspired by the quality services that you are providing to the uninsured and underserved. If you have questions about our Healthy Lifestyles RFP, please call 816-241-7006 and ask to speak to Jane Mosley or Adriana Pecina.

Often times the best opportunities are usually disguised as unsolvable problems.

2008 has brought to our collective attention many seemingly unsolvable problems. Those of us who spend much of our lives advocating for the poor have seen the cry for help increase at an alarming rate…especially from folks who have never sought help before. Many people who were recently laid off from their employers are now beginning to experience the reality of living without a regular pay check and health insurance. It is scary and very sobering to find yourself in this condition after being self sufficient for many years. Unfortunately, most economists are predicting that this situation will only get worse in the months/years ahead.

Lack of access to quality mental health services, health and health care programs, affordable insurance, good paying jobs with benefits, quality education, affordable housing, dependable and affordable transportation, safe and drug free neighborhoods, culturally competent services/programs and access to convenient grocery stores with fresh fruits and vegetables seems like unsolvable problems for many of our residents in today’s world.

2009 is the time for bold leadership in order to turn these seemingly unsolvable problems into great opportunities. Local, state and federal government, business, religious, education, nonprofit, ethnic, neighborhood, philanthropic and community leaders must work together. As we near the inauguration of our new President, we are hopeful that he will provide the leadership needed as we work toward turning unsolvable problems into great opportunities.