The document summarizes an email exchange regarding an upcoming press conference by the U.S. Surgeon General to announce a $1.57 million grant for public health initiatives in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The event is scheduled to take place at the Somerville Armory, but the facility is not accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. Community advocates email the organizers to request that the event be moved to an accessible venue, as the Armory has been in violation of accessibility laws since it opened in 2009. They provide details on the Armory's accessibility issues and ongoing fines. They emphasize the importance of ensuring accessibility and inclusion at an event focused on health, wellness and prevention programs.

1. From: Community Access project <CAPSom@verizon.net>
Subject: Fwd: The March 23rd Surgeon General's Press Conference is being held
in an inaccessible facility. Somerville's ARMORY IS STILL
INACCESSIBLE
Date: March 29, 2012 11:43:28 AM EDT
1 Attachment, 53.0 KB
Begin forwarded message:
From: Community Access project <CAPSom@verizon.net>
Date: March 21, 2012 6:56:11 PM EDT
To: judyann.bigby@State.MA.US, christine.griffin@State.MA.US, kito@mapc.org,
marcaya@mapc.org
Subject: The March 23rd Surgeon General's Press Conference is being held in an
inaccessible facility. Somerville's ARMORY IS STILL INACCESSIBLE
March 21, 2012
Bottom Line on Top: You have scheduled the Surgeon General's Press Conference
(announcement copied below) in an inaccessible location. Please move the March 23,
2012 U.S. Surgeon General's Press Conference on the Middlesex County Public Health
Community Transformation Grant to an ACCESSIBLE FACILITY.
Dear Assistant Secretary Christine Griffen, EOHHS Office of Disability Policy and
Programs,
Cheryl Bartlett, Director, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP), Division
of Prevention and Wellness, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH),
and friends at MAPC,
The Community Access Project, Somerville, received information today that the U.S.
Surgeon General's Press Conference on the Middlesex County Public Health Community
Transformation Grant is being held at the Somerville Armory.
The Somerville Armory facility is inaccessible at the door, due to the excessively steep
ramp plus an excessively steep door threshold.
PLEASE MOVE THIS EVENT TO AN ACCESSIBLE VENUE IMMEDIATELY.
Somerville's Mayor Curtatone, who announced on air yesterday that he is advising the

2. First Lady on the Let's Move Initiative, well knows that the Armory facility, and all of the
programs, opportunities, and events held there- has been nonfunctional, unusable, and
inaccessible to an entire class of individuals; namely, persons with mobility and
ambulatory disAbilities-since it opened in 2009. It will remain an exclusive facility until
these issues are resolved.
The Armory owners are currently paying a $500 fine per day because they failed to
comply with the State Architectural Access Board's Order to remedy these issues of
noncompliance by June 15, 2011.
If you require more information verifying that the ARMORY IS CURRENTLY AN
INACCESSIBLE FACILITY, please contact the State Architectural Access Board, Mr.
Thomas Hopkins, Executive Director, MA Architectural Access Board, One Ashburton
place, Room 1310, Boston, MA 02108. 617-727-0660. Please ask for information
regarding: AAB Docket #V09-197 and C10-059, The Armory 191 Highland Avenue,
Somerville, MA.
This mistake, right from the start, highlights an important gap in the visioning of Mass in
Motion; and, the ongoing enormous disparities that persons with disAbilities face in
accessing Health Prevention & Wellness programs even in Massachusetts.
PLEASE MOVE THIS EVENT TO AN ACCESSIBLE VENUE IMMEDIATELY.
Please acknowledge that you have received this message.
Thank You.
Eileen Feldman, director
Community Access Project, Somerville
CAPSom@verizon.net
Quality isn't possible without Equality

3. Friday, March 23, 2012
MIDDLESEX COUNTY RECEIVES $1.6
MILLION PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT
U.S. Surgeon General to anounce funding in
Somerville on Friday
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the Massachusetts
Department of Health a $1.57 million Community Transformation Grant to promote
health and wellness in Middlesex County.
United States Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, will
formally launch the grant's activities at a press conference on the
anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:
March 23, 2012
10:30 a.m.
The Somerville Armory
191 Highland Avenue
Directions
The grant will help reduce death and disability in the county from health-related
factors such as poor nutrition, a lack of physical activity, and smoking. Work will focus
on expanding efforts in tobacco-free housing, active living and healthy eating, quality
clinical and other preventive services, social and emotional wellness, and healthy and
safe physical environments.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) collaborated with the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health (MDPH) in applying for the Community Transformation
Grant. This grant allows for the expansion of MDPH's "Mass in Motion" initiative,
which works to reduced obesity and supports MDPH's smoking cessation and
prevention activities.
MAPC will assist with program coordination in Middlesex County, providing grant
coordination, technical assistance, and direct community funding and program
management. MAPC will also manage some subcontracts, directly including youth
interventions, clinical interventions, mini-grants and some technical assistance
providers. Friday's event will showcase some of the grant's leading projects and
partners.
Cities and towns involved in the Community Transformation Grant include Lowell,
Everett, Malden, Medford, Waltham, Cambridge, Framingham,
Marlborough, Hudson, Arlington, Belmont, Newton, Watertown, Melrose-
Wakefield, Somerville, Stoneham, and Reading.
Join us Friday to learn more.

4. Join us Friday to learn more.
RSVP now!
Questions? Contact MAPC Public Health Manager Mariana Arcaya
atmarcaya@mapc.org or 617-451-2770 ext. 2050.