In the News

Childhood obesity a key concern for Michigan

Written by Louise Knott Ahern, Lansing State Journal
Sep. 15, 2011

When Rebecca Eldridge had her first baby almost a year ago, she had the same desire as any new parent. She wanted to raise a healthy, happy child. She knew the best way to do that was to lead by example, so she and her husband decided to make over their fast-food lifestyles.
 
The Lansing couple started exercising, cooking more and shopping almost exclusively at farmers markets and the Lansing City Market for fresh foods and lean meats.

Barb Flis, founder of Parent Action for Healthy Kids, to present at Girl Scouts Summit

Kalamazoo, Mich. — Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan (GSHOM) will continue to advocate for healthy girlhood at the sixth Girl Developers Summit, on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at the Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University, 2350 Business Court, Kalamazoo.

Grand Rapids Family magazine October 2010 Issue

Moms Today: Calling for action

Michigan Mom Barb Flis was one of 10 parents nationawide invited to the White House to help Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative, designed to reduce childhood obesity and raise a healthier generation of children.

The Farmington Hills mother of two daughters has since launched her own grassroots initiative, Parent Action for Healthy Kids.

 

Ann Arbor Family June 25, 2010

A Woman of Action By Nora Feldhusen

Barb Flis makes changes in health education at a state and national level

A lifelong resident of Detroit, Barb Flis does not take her citizenship lightly. Known statewide in schools and communities as “the parent voice” for health education, she is an example of grassroots work at its finest. And simplest, because for Barb, her career is a self-proclaimed example of “doing what you love and everything falls into place.”

In this case, Barb loves people and working with them. Her career began in sales, where she was never happy with the work, but always loved the people. She was volunteering as PTA President when health education first caught her attention and jumpstarted a new career.