Welcome Lesley Graham to AFHK staff

CHICAGO, IL (October 23, 2023) – Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), a national nonprofit that brings together dedicated volunteers and partners to make schools healthier places where kids thrive, announces Lesley Martinez Graham as Vice President of Programs.

As Vice President of Programs, Graham will provide leadership and oversight across the entire suite of AFHK and RMC Health programs and offerings, including the family-school partnership model, key initiatives such as Active Schools Initiative, Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, and professional learning and facilitation services. Graham will lead the programs department and its national team of staff to develop an integrated, holistic program model that improves health outcomes for children and youth.

“We are excited to welcome Lesley to our growing team of passionate, knowledgeable and deeply committed staff,” said Rob Bisceglie, executive officer and president, Action For Healthy Kids. “Her diverse experience will be instrumental in cultivating new partnerships in school communities, leading our programs team, and ultimately scaling AFHK’s programmatic model to achieve maximum results for kids, families and communities.”

Previously, Graham worked for the national non-profit Save the Children. She led program design and development across school-based education and health programs, focusing on family engagement, rural child hunger and community impact approaches. She has also worked as an elementary education interventionist and a Family Resource Director within the Kentucky education system.

“Research so clearly articulates how children’s health impacts their educational trajectory, and ultimately their ability to learn, develop, and thrive,” said Lesley Graham, vice president of programs, Action For Healthy Kids. “By maintaining a whole child focus, and creating environments (home, schools, communities) where children can truly thrive, AFHK is poised to deepen our programmatic impact. I’m excited to lead initiatives that will create a brighter, healthier future for children and families across the United States.”

Graham is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky and a member of the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) professional associations.

ABOUT ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS
Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is dedicated to improving children’s health and well-being by bringing together and mobilizing educators, families, and other key stakeholders to help children lead healthy lives. Through its core programming and family-school partnerships, AFHK has impacted more than 20 million children in 55,000 schools nationwide to address systemic challenges in underserved communities. In 2023, AFHK joined in a cooperative agreement with USDA Food and Nutrition to help implement the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, designed to improve the nutritional quality of school meals through food systems transformation, school food authority recognition, and technical assistance. To learn more about its growing network of volunteers and champions, visit: actionforhealthykids.org.