exercise or healthy choices, their vocabulary reflects their work as reporters. Our sixth grade students had an hour-long press conference with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. How many members of the local media have been so privileged? Have you had the opportunity to interview a MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner? Our students did when Dr. John Rich of Drexel University School of Public Health graciously shared his reflections on violence in the community and his work to alleviate suffering. Our students learned first-hand the value of compassionate healing when they interviewed Dr. Amy Goldberg and Scott Charles at Temple University Hospital. And for this book they began to appreciate the connections between neighborhood social and environmental factors and community members’ health when they interviewed Dr. Ana Diez Roux of Drexel’s School of Public Health and learned about her research. This is education at its finest. It reflects the dedication of the Healthy NewsWorks staff and the teachers and staff members who partner with them. Those of us who witness the learning and delight in the outcomes can only respond with our gratitude and support. — By Rose Martin, R.S.M., Ph.D. Sister Rose is the Executive Director of Hope Partnership for Education. Discovery A reflection from an educator At a time of vigorous debate over educa- tion, Healthy News- Works simply offers excellence in all aspects of the learn- ing process. I know this from personal experience, as our students have been involved with the program for the past four years. If learning is about discovery, who can deny that teaching students to formulate in-depth articles about health, engage in research about a specific topic, and prepare probing interview questions qualifies as first-rate education? The Healthy NewsWorks program allows students to make connections. They can blend the experience of absorbing health and science information with the rigorous demands of journalism. The program also offers real-life applications of reading to learn and writing to communicate. And for inspiration and challenge, nothing beats the reporters’ face- to-face contact with the health leaders featured in this book. The leaders are models of the importance of education. Through our partnership, I’ve marveled at the experiences Healthy NewsWorks offers our stu- dents. When they talk about diabetes or asthma, 5