The Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community held its Friends of the Partnership Spring Luncheon to review the progress of the organization May 9.

With guests such as Suffolk Public Schools superintendent Deran Whitney and Obici Healthcare Foundation executive director Gina Pitrone, members and executives of the Suffolk Partnership gave an overview of the work they are doing in the community.

Partnership president Caroline Martin said the organization is committed to making the community healthier by encouraging small steps and redefining the idea of active living to include more than just fitness.

“It’s the little things that make a difference in how happy and healthy we can be,” she said.

Partnership executive director Jaya Tiwari introduced new programs that aim to improve community health.

Healthy Moves for Suffolk Youth is a multimedia, social-networking campaign to fight childhood obesity. It was funded by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.

“This is a program to get youth to talk to their peers,” she said.

The Partnership hopes to sign up 150 young people to use social networking and other media to be leaders among other youth to live healthy and active lifestyles.

Through the program, youth will develop leadership, become examples for others and refine social-networking skills, Tiwari said.

Another new initiative is the Positive Lifestyle Commitment Program. Tiwari said through this program, the Partnership will recruit citizens to receive health assessments and advice on improving their health over the course of a year.

At the luncheon, the speakers also discussed the progress on current programs, such as Suffolk on the Move and the community gardens.

Karen Brower, chair of the Healthy Eating and Fitness Committee, said the Suffolk on the Move program aims to include activities appropriate for all different fitness levels.

“We wanted to make sure everyone could be involved at their own level of fitness and activity,” she said.

Brower discussed completed events such as the Suffolk on the Move 5K, in which 570 citizens participated last June, and a Bike Fun and Safety Day the partnership put on with Suffolk Parks and Recreation last month.

“There was something for everyone to learn and participate in (at the bike day),” she said.

On May 21, the Suffolk Partnership will sponsor a Bike Roll and Stroll 16-mile ride to be held in conjunction with Community Day at Northern Shores Recreation Center.

Also, the Suffolk on the Move 5K will take place again in June, and a Peanut Fest 5K is planned for Oct. 1.

As part of its redefining the idea of active living, the Suffolk Partnership opened five community gardens last year, including two school learning gardens.

Community Gardens Committee chair Kay Cherry said the committee is working with various schools to open more gardens this year. Plans for gardens at Mount Zion Elementary School and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy already are in the works.

“It’s part of a teaching tool,” she said.

The gardens provided about 1,600 pounds of food to community members last year, Cherry said.

The Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community formed in 1998 as a coalition to coordinate efforts to improve the health of Suffolk’s citizens.