News » Living Healthy in America Wins HEMMY Award

A unique partnership between La Frontera, Inc., the Tucson Burundi refugee community and Access Tucson has produced an award winning television series, Living Healthy in America.

The Arizona Public Health Association presented the HEMMY award for best video during the 80th Annual AzPHA Meeting and Conference. The awards ceremony was held at the Arizona State Historical Society on September 17, 2008.

Jeannine Chappelle, La Frontera, Inc.; Rowan Frost, AzPha award presenter; Edward Hakizimana, host, Living Healthy in America with “best video” HEMMY award

Using Access Tucson’s long-running series, TucsonVision, as a model, La Frontera received a grant from Catholic Healthcare West in Phoenix to create African language television shows. These television programs teach ways to increase childhood health and welfare and decrease youth injuries among many Tucson African refugee populations.

Jeannine K Chapelle, Prevention Supervisor, La Frontera Center, Inc. directed a partnership that included health and safety experts from the University of Arizona, Tucson Fire and Police Departments, City of Tucson Emergency Call Center, International Rescue Committee, and P2 Preparedness.

Edward Hakizamana, President of BSPDA (Burundian Support Promote Development Association) served as the refugee community liaison as well as hosting each episode of Living Healthy in America in two languages, Kirundi and English. Edward will also translate the six part series into Swahili.

On the set, Vicki Evans, Access Tucson; Edward Hakizimana, LHA host; Deputy Chief Todd Pearson, Tucson Fire Dept.

Access Tucson Training Manager Lisa Horner and Outreach Manager Vicki Evans were project coordinators and videographers. Instructor and Production Specialist Larry Foster also worked behind the camera and edited the project, while Senior Production Assistant Rob Shoults directed the studio productions. Volunteers Byron Bissell, Sandra Socobi, Pat Quinn, David Cheng, Alan Barley, and John Byerley completed the “A- #1” studio crew.

On location with Living Healthy in America:

The six-part Living Healthy in America series can be seen during a special encore presentation on Access Tucson channel 74 on Comcast and 99 on Cox:

Sunday, October 19 starting at 8pm
Saturday, November 8 starting at 6pm
Sunday, November 9 starting at 8pm

The Living Healthy in America series will also be disseminated throughout Arizona to refugee resettlement agencies and healthcare providers so they can better assist African refugees who speak Swahili and Kirundi. Refugees are legal immigrants to this country who escape war, death and political chaos in their own.

Video open of Living Healthy in America. Living Healthy in America title music was composed and directed by Edward Hakizimana.