Let's Move Cities and Towns

Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties: Coconut Creek Day of Play!

sknell — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:40:18 +0000

Posted by:

Aisha Hasan, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The City of Coconut Creek is located in beautiful South Florida and is known as “The Butterfly Capital of the World®.” Coconut Creek joined Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC) in September 2013.

Focusing on LMCTC Goal V: Active Kids at Play, children five years and older took part in a free, fun-filled day of dance, exercise, sports and play at the Coconut Creek Community Center in their September 2013 Day of Play. Participating children received a Let’s Move! Coconut Creek pedometer, a PALA+ (Presidents Active Lifestyle Award plus Nutrition) instructional post card, healthy snacks, and also a MyPlate plate. In addition, the children were presented with a participation certificate from the Mayor and City Commissioners.

Let's Move! Day of Play MyPlate Chalk Figure

Mayor Lisa K. Aronson and the City Commissioners actively participated in the City’s second annual Let’s Move! Coconut Creek Day of Play in February 2014. This Day of Play included adults – parents, family members, and guardians – to serve as healthy and physically active role models for the children. Over 225 participants warmed up with energy, enthusiasm and exhilarating exercises. Mayor Aronson noted: “I am proud of our City’s community-wide participation in First Lady Michelle Obama’s national Lets Move! Cities, Towns and Counties initiative. Our commitment to health and wellness grows every year through all of the City’s family-friendly and team building experiences.”

Let's Move! Day of Play 2014

As part of the 2014 Day of Play, the children rotated through various activities such as Zumba, karate, soccer, and track and field. The adults participated in “Parent Play” where they attended a mini boot camp, tennis clinics, and Zumba.

The adults also attended a lecture by West Boca Medical Center on bringing healthy eating and activity home to their children, and were provided with information and resources on how to address childhood obesity. After the lecture, the parents cheered their children on in a friendly game of tug of war. At the end of the day’s events, everyone helped themselves to healthy refreshments provided by the local Winston Park Publix supermarket.

Let's Move! Day of Play 2014 - Healthy Snacks

Let’s Move! Coconut Creek continues its presence throughout the city in various programs, classes, and summer camps. The City’s Recreation Programmer, Emana Power, painted the city’s Let’ Move! logo in the Recreation Complex to remind residents to MOVE!

Coconut Creek’s adults and children plan to continue moving and eating well. Learn more information on the City of Coconut Creek’s Let’s Move! initiative here.

To learn more about LMCTC, and how to become involved with the initiative, visit www.HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org.

New Bedford, Massachusetts Launches Healthy Market Initiative

sknell — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 17:38:12 +0000

Posted by:

Aisha Hasan, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

In the Let’s Move! City of New Bedford, Massachusetts residents don’t have reliable transportation to supermarkets, which limits their access to healthy food options. Instead, for their grocery purchases, many of New Bedford’s 95,000 residents often rely on local corner stores that offer limited healthy choices.

To address this concern, New Bedford’s Mayor, Jonathon Mitchell and his team adopted the statewide Mass in Motion Healthy Market Initiative, led by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

New Bedford, MA Mayor Jonathon Mitchell stands with owners/managers at the Mass in Motion Healthy Markets launch.

Over several months, a volunteer group of local dieticians identified corner and convenience stores that are located at least half a mile from a larger supermarket and are in close proximity to schools, neighborhoods, and local businesses. The team of dieticians, the Healthy Markets Task Force, worked with the owners to meet the Healthy Markets guidelines which included stocking at least:

two types of fruits and vegetables
three types of healthy cereals and grains
healthy beverages such as water, 100% fruit/vegetable juice and low-fat milk
five healthy snacks
fruit/nutrition bars, and trail mix bars

As part of this initiative, corner and convenience stores must promote the nutritious items by placing them near the store entrance or cash register; designating a “healthy food zone;” clearly marking prices on produce and healthy options, and reducing the promotion of unhealthy items.

To date, five local corner stores including Amaral’s Market, have signed onto this initiative, bringing healthy options to five different neighborhoods in New Bedford. Alex Magalhaes, manager of Amaral’s Market, said, “we saw benefit in this initiative because it promotes our products and is good for the community.” Mr. Magalhaes called the program both a “no brainer” and a “win-win” for his store and the community.

The Healthy Market Initiative is successful because of the commitment and support of volunteers, city departments, officials, and local proprietors. “Families rely on these corner stores,” Kim Ferreira, Mass in Motion Coordinator said. “We want to make sure parents know they are not just a convenient place to get a single item, but somewhere you could go to put together a healthy meal for the whole family. We hope to get several more local grocers to become Healthy Markets in the coming months and improve access to healthy, affordable foods for everyone in our community.”

Learn more about the Mass in Motion Healthy Market Initiative, here. And learn more about Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties and how to become involved with the initiative here.

Healthy Diet Important For Increasing Years of Healthy Life, New Study Says

ccotto — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 22:35:49 +0000

Posted by:

Elyse Cohen, Deputy Director, Let's Move!

Did you know that what you choose to eat each day is the greatest predictor of you living a long, healthy life?

According to a new study released by the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), poor diet and nutrition were the leading causes of disease burden in the US and contributed to more health loss in 2010 than smoking, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a "Let's Move!" Cities, Towns, and Counties Anniversary event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, July 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

As part of a celebration held yesterday for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties initiative, lead researcher, Dr. Chris Murray, briefed local elected officials from 39 communities across the country on the importance of this data.

The First Lady echoed its importance, stating:

The key here is that the data from this report goes all the way down to the county level, which means that you’ll be able to see which issues are affecting your communities the most. And that means that you’ll be able to connect the dots a little bit better, more efficiently, between your community’s nutrition and its rates of diabetes or heart disease. You’ll be able to see how much physical activity the people in your communities are reporting. And once you have all this information, you’ll be able to make more effective decisions to really focus your resources and programming to find solutions that fit the needs of your community.

Curious? Check out how your county stacks up! The report features an interactive, online tool that allows you to search data on life expectancy, diet, physical activity, hypertension, and a whole host of other indicators for your specific county. For more information on the findings from this report, please visit http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/.

Check out the data and encourage your local leaders to become a Let’s Move! City, Town or County by signing up here: http://www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/.

Places to Play in New Orleans

csponn — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:20:34 +0000

Posted by:

Susan Hildreth & Julia Bland

The eyes of the world were on the athletic abilities of the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers as they squared off in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, but the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) chose to focus on the health and creativity of that city's youngest citizens.

Recognizing that healthy lifestyle habits begin early in life, the museum asked four-year-olds from community Head Start centers and nursery schools to talk about the places they play to stay active and healthy. Children discussed their favorite parks, sports, and games, and then drew illustrations of family members, friends, and pets playing together. Places to Play in New Orleans was published in time to celebrate a world championship watched by millions of fans across the globe.

Children talk about their favorite activities and draw pictures of staying active.

The shared goals of PLAY 60, Let’s Move!, and the Fit NOLA Partnership (New Orleans’ own comprehensive health and fitness action plan) served as the museum’s inspiration to create Places to Play. And to support the city's Super Saturday of Service, the National Football League and community volunteers renovated five playgrounds for New Orleans youth the day before the big game. With the assistance of the bright blue Imagination Playground, a mobile playground made of different shaped blocks, children spent their Saturday playing together with family and friends.

“We recognize that childhood obesity will not be eliminated until children and families are aware of their health habits and can turn that awareness into behavioral changes with daily exercise and activity – as individuals or as a family,” said Julia Bland, CEO of the LCM, a Let’s Move! museum. “Offering our four-year-olds a chance to share their ‘play places,’ and documenting the experience through their artwork, stories and photography, will help increase awareness and active lifestyles.”

Places to Play gives children the chance to express the importance of play through artwork.

The Places to Play books were distributed to the four-year-old authors and the media. New Orleans Health Commissioner Dr. Karen DeSalvo was presented with a copy, along with a set of Imagination Playground blocks from the museum and the maker. “We believe that New Orleans can become one of America’s fittest cities by 2018, the 300th anniversary of New Orleans,” said Dr. DeSalvo. “Fit NOLA is a dynamic effort designed to shape our work as a Let’s Move! city.”

The voices of children were heard throughout the day from their play activities but will last much longer through their collected stories about memories and play aspirations, reminding us that it is never too early to begin a lifestyle of playing together.

Susan Hildreth is the Director at the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Julia Bland is a director at the Louisiana Children’s Museum and a National Museum and Library Services Board Member

Join Today's Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties Webinar

mduswalt — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:02:25 +0000

Posted by:

Marissa Duswalt

Join Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties today, December 5th from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST to learn more about a new website -- HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org -- and resources for local elected officials. This webinar will provide valuable information about how to use and get the most out of the exciting new online features created to help officials who have signed up for making their city, town or county a healthier place to live.

REGISTRATION: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2441786972750744576

Local elected officials from across the country joined First Lady Michelle Obama to announce public and private sector commitments to get our kids healthier as part of her Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation, in Philadelphia, Pa., July 18, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties supports local elected officials who are working to build healthier communities. In July 2012, the First Lady announced private and public sector commitments to support this initiative with new tools, resources, and a framework to enhance the vital work happening at the local level.

"Every day, local officials like these are changing our children's lives and helping them learn and grow and fulfill every last bit of their potential. And thanks to the commitments we're announcing today, our cities, towns, and counties will be able to do every more," said First Lady Michelle Obama. "We still have a long way to go to solve this problem. But if leaders like these keep coming to the table and we all keep working together, then I am confident that we can give all our children the happy, healthy futures they so richly deserve."

Marissa Duswalt is the Associate Director for Let's Move!

Healthy Eating Habits Start from the Ground Up

mduswalt — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:03:16 +0000

Posted by:

Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento

You can't have a great city without great schools. And you can't have great schools if students arrive each morning poorly nourished and out of shape.

The connection between a city and its schools was the prime motivating factor that pushed me to run for Mayor in 2008. Our collaborative success -- raising awareness about the critical connection between Sacramento and its schools -- was a major factor in deciding to continue the work for a second term.

We all know about the importance of great teachers in the classroom. But now, thanks to the inspiration of First Lady Michelle Obama and her Let's Move! campaign, our country is learning more about the fundamental connection between strong minds and bodies in our children.

The goal of Let's Move! is to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Cities across the nation are doing their part. And so is Sacramento.

Let's Move! aligns perfectly with one of my proudest achievements as mayor, the creation of Greenwise Joint Venture, which will turn the Sacramento region into the Emerald Valley, a hub for clean energy and sustainable lifestyles. A big part of Greenwise Joint Venture is raising the Green IQ in our region through the education of our children and the promotion of healthy eating habits as we support our great legacy -- the Valley's agricultural heritage.

Today, we are bringing that heritage to school, by establishing California's first "Edible Schoolyard" project based at a high school campus.

Students at the first garden dig (Photo credit: Erika Dimmler)

The Edible Schoolyard at Sacramento Charter High School is powered by a partnership we formed with legendary chef and restaurateur Alice Waters, whose landmark Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley has inspired chefs around the world to focus on sustainable, seasonable and local ingredients, and has long recognized the connection between successful and well-nourished students.

At Sac High, the Edible Schoolyard will introduce the "MyPlate" program to document improvements in the eating habits of students. The overall goal will be to demonstrate how a community working together -- from the White House to City Hall, in partnership with local families who want the best for their kids -- can make the difference.

It's all about partnerships and inspiration. Oh, and there will be a fun, competitive aspect to our Edible Schoolyard: We will be applying for participation in the Healthier U.S. School Challenge, which will establish how Sacramento is doing compared to other places.

Hands in the garden (Photo credit: Erika Dimmler)

Sacramento Charter High School is close to my heart. I graduated from Sac High before heading to UC Berkeley in 1983. By 2002, the school was by all measures a failure, with only 30 percent of students moving onto college. Our charter school organization, St. HOPE Public Schools, was given the opportunity to manage the high school, and 10 years later, 90 percent of the students are headed to college.

Thanks to the inspiration of Michelle Obama and Let's Move!, the goal of well-nourished students eating sustainable, seasonal and locally grown food is spreading across the nation.

Mayor Kevin Johnson is a participant in Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties.

Last Stop of the Summer: MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR

dchapman — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:47:09 +0000

Posted by:

Jessica Larson

Calling all Houstonians -- the Move It Movement Tour is coming to your city. In support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition has partnered with the Cartoon Network to launch the third annual Move It Movement Tour, a national campaign to get kids moving more and eating healthy in a fun and interactive outdoor environment. Think your kid won’t like it? Think again! Kids have been eager to try different activities at every stop. Our favorite quotes: “This is the best day of summer camp yet!” and “I wish this was here every day.”

After hosting events in several cities around the country, the tour wraps up on August 12in Houston, Texas. The First Lady appeared on the Cartoon Network on May 28 to inform kids and families how they can get involved with Let’s Move! through the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) program. The tour officially kicked off in Atlanta on June 10, and at each of the 17 stops, families have been able to enjoy a wide range of active games, such as basketball and soccer shootouts, football and golf drills, and sidewalk art creation stations. By exposing kids to various activities, families can learn more about different ways they can lead a healthy, active lifestyle.

On the tour Let’s Move! and PALA+ have shared a booth to provide healthy nutrition and lifestyle tips. PALA+ is a challenge that requires kids to be active for 60 minutes a day, five days a week, for six out of eight weeks, while adults should get active for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Recently a nutrition component was added to the challenge. The PALA+ program challenges participants to commit to a new healthy eating goal each week. By committing to PALA+, participants are called to be physically active and eat healthfully every day. One goal of the tour is to register kids and families to participate in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) and to become involved in the Let’s Move! initiative.

The annual Move It Movement Tour is part of the effort to reverse the trend of childhood childhood obesity and can rally kids and families to be active and healthy. As Mrs. Obama has said, “By finding the activities you love, and then getting up and getting active for an hour a day, you’re showing the rest of us that being healthy isn’t just good for you, it’s fun, too.”

For more information on the Move It Movement, check out www.MoveItMovement.com.

Jessica Larson, USDA Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Richmond Plants an Edible Forest Garden

dchapman — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:31:20 +0000

Posted by:

Marissa Duswalt

Have you ever heard of an Edible Forest Garden? It’s a garden that grows native and edible plants, and it's also a great way to get kids connected to nature. In Richmond, California, volunteers came together to celebrate Cesar Chavez Community Garden Day at their own Edible Forest garden. Youth learned about forest plants that are both unique to the local geography and also edible.

Volunteers plant fruit trees as part of the Edible Forest in Richmond, Calif.

Community and youth leaders can learn how to plant their own edible forest gardens. Read Richmond’s story for inspiration and direction.

A Kids Zone added fun with face painting and other activities during planting at the Urban Tilth Edible Forest in Richmond, Calif. Other highlights were the community barbeque and a “make your own soda” used to teach children how much sugar goes into their favorite beverage.

Learning about where food comes from is exactly what First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside! Initiative is all about – working to get kids active outside and living a healthier lifestyle. Why not get outside in your own local forest or woods? Check out the More Kids in the Woods program for funding and resources to get your own project started.

Marissa Duswalt is the Associate Director of Policy and Events for Let's Move!

Celebrate the Summer Games at Your Local Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day

kcoccaro — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:41:09 +0000

Posted by:

Kori Schulman, Director of Online Engagement

First Lady Michelle Obama is leading the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games and she’s calling on families around the country to support Team USA, not just by cheering on our athletes, but by getting active in their own communities.

Saturday, July 28^th is the first day of the competition in London. We're calling on families around the country to join us by participating in “Olympics-inspired” Meetups in your towns or neighborhoods.

Watch First Lady Michelle Obama kick off the first-ever Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetup.

Join your local Olympic Fun Day Meetup with family, friends and neighbors to play soccer, hold relay races, go for a bike ride--whatever gets you moving! See more ideas below.

At your Let’s Move! Meetup, share photos and updates using the hashtag #LetsMoveDay. We’ll highlight activities happening across the country on LetsMove.gov, Twitter and Facebook.

RSVP and start planning your local Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetup here: http://www.meetup.com/lets-move

Want to attend a Meetup in your area? Follow these steps:

Go to the Let’s Move! Meetup page at meetup.com/lets-move, and click on your town below the map
Click “RSVP” and select yes!
Share the Meetup on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #LetsMoveDay
Stay tuned for updates: Once you have RSVP’d, you’ll get updates from Let's Move!

Want to organize a Meetup in your town? Follow these simple steps:

Go to the Let’s Move! Meetup at meetup.com/lets-move and click on your town below the map.
Suggest a location for your Meetup: Find a local park, community center or another space that will fit for your Meetup
Add the details: Let others know what to expect. Are you planning a hoola-hoop contest, a relay race or soccer game? See a list of more Meetup ideas and activities here, but feel free to get creative!
Talk about the Meetup! Start a conversation on the Meetup page and get the word out in your community. Use your Facebook and Twitter to encourage others to join and plan their own Meetups.

Need some ideas to get started? Here are 10 Olympic inspired activities, and stay tuned as we continue to add ideas for your Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day:

The Summer Games contain more than 40 different Track & Field Athletics! Combine multiple activities into a relay race around the neighborhood or park you’re using to stage your event. In addition to running, consider incorporating different types of movement, including skipping, jumping, and bear crawling. Set individual goals for time or distance, or compete as separate teams.
Did you know that the U.S. Women’s Basketball team has won four gold medals in a row? Follow their lead and include a tournament in your neighborhood’s Olympic Day event. Create teams of 2 or more players and mix it up with dribbling races or shooting contests.
Tennis can be played on many surfaces, including asphalt, clay, or even grass! This year’s Olympic tennis competition will be held onthe iconic grass courts at Wimbledon. While you won’t find many grass courts in the U.S., tennis is a great way to get your community moving. A round robin tournament is a fun way to include people of all ages and skill levels in your town’s event. (If your kids get inspired and want to improve their skills, find a court near you that offers lessons).
Lace up your sneakers for a game of Olympic football – known in the U.S. as SOCCER! This is an easy, familiar sport that is fun for all ages and ability levels. Create teams as small or as large as you want. (The official size is 11 players per team.)
Bump-Set-Spike! These are the fundamental techniques for playing volleyball, a popular sport that first made it into the Summer Olympics in 1964. Volleyball is typically played with six players per team, but you can play with as few as two. Set up a net on grass, sand, or a gym court and get moving!
Swimming is one of the most watched Olympic sports. You can organize races – or, depending on the ages of your participants, games with balls, diving rings, and other water toys -- at a beach, lake, or pool in your area. For important water safety info and to find a pool near you, visit www.swimtoday.org.
Olympic cycling includes road events, track racing, BMX and mountain biking. Map out a safe cycling course, and take turns riding through it as individuals, or in teams. Consider riding on a paved pathway, or for a more rugged ride, try grass or dirt. Click here to find a safe place to ride near you.
Gymnasts produce some of the most awe-inspiring moments of the Summer Games. Even if your participants can’t do a double back flip (on a balance beam), there are plenty of gymnastics events that are fun and safe. Check out the American Council on Exercise’s ideas for fun stretches and movements that bring out the gymnast in everyone.
Go retro! Organize teams for a tug of war, which was an official Olympic sport until 1920. It was also part of the original Olympic Games, dating back to 500 BC. In the modern Olympics, the tug-of-war contest was between two teams of eight, and one team had to pull the other six feet along in order to win. If after 5 minutes no team had done this, the team which had pulled the most was declared the winner.
Make sure your littlest athletes feel involved. Think about including activities that are fun for all skill levels, like who can hula hoop for the longest, or who can do the most jumping jacks.

Joining a Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day on Saturday, July 28th?

Share your story and follow the fun:

On Twitter, use the hashtag #LetsMoveDay to share updates and photos
"Like" Let's Move on Facebook and join the discussion
Follow #LetsMoveDay and @LetsMove for highlights from around the country
After your event, tell us all about it here: http://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/share-your-story-lets-move-olympic-fun-day

We’ll highlight activities happening across the country on LetsMove.gov, Twitter and Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you!

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama Makes Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties Announcement

kcoccaro — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:54:12 +0000

Posted by:

Marissa Duswalt, Let’s Move! Associate Director of Policy & Events

Today in Philadelphia, First Lady Michelle Obama joined local elected officials from across the country to announce new opportunities to bring Let’s Move! to cities, towns and counties across America. Since she launched Let’s Move!, the First Lady has encouraged local solutions to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Today, she announced opportunities for local elected officials to do just that through Let’s Move! Cities, Towns & Counties, an initiative that calls upon all local elected officials to work for changes that make their communities healthier.

“Every day, local officials like these are changing our children’s lives and helping them learn and grow and fulfill every last bit of their potential. And thanks to the commitments we’re announcing today, our cities, towns and counties will be able to do even more,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “We still have a long way to go to solve this problem. But if leaders like these keep coming to the table and we all keep working together, then I am confident that we can give all our children the happy, healthy futures they so richly deserve.”

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius joined the First Lady today and announced support of subject matter experts from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance and information to local elected officials as they work toward specific goals: (1) to provide children with a healthier start, (2) empower communities with information using MyPlate, (3) provide healthy food in schools, (4) use healthy and sustainable food service guidelines in municipal food service, and (5) map playspaces and create safe places for kids to play.

The private sector stepped up in big ways to support local elected officials in achieving those goals. Check out today’s announcements:

A new website, free resources, access to experts and tracking tools and maps from the National League of Cities with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Cities, towns and counties can sign up for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns & Counties at www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org to get involved.
A new grant opportunity for local leaders to create Play Streets – street-closings where kids and families can run, walk, bike or play outside freely without traffic – in their city or town from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association through the Partnership for a Healthier America. Local leaders can apply for the Play Streets funding at www.ahealthieramerica.org/PlayStreetsRFP
Free materials, technical assistance and online guidance for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties local elected officials to build or expand public playgrounds from KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America

The First Lady was also joined by 12 local elected officials who are leading by example in their own cities, towns and counties. Their stories are examples of how local leadership can create big change. And that’s what Let’s Move! is all about – any person, in any role, stepping up to make positive changes for healthier communities. Thanks to the public and private sector commitments announced today, communities across America can join the movement. Sign up your city, town or county to get started!

Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia
In line with the overarching goals of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, the City of Philadelphia has made a substantial commitment to improving residents’ overall health and physical fitness through Get Healthy Philly, a ground breaking public health initiative focused on healthy eating, active living and tobacco control. Through partnerships with government agencies, community-based organizations, the private sector and academic institutions, Get Healthy Philly is working to increase the availability and affordability of healthy foods, decrease the availability and marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages and increase physical activity among Philadelphians. In just two short years, Get Healthy Philly has made great progress in creating environments that make it easier for Philadelphians to engage in healthy behaviors. These changes have occurred in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and the media. Over the last two years, Get Healthy Philly has made significant strides:

Increased access to healthy foods for 220,000 residents of low-income neighborhoods
Opened 10 new farmers’ markets in low-income communities
Helped increase SNAP redemption at markets by 335% through the Philly Food Bucks program
Trained and supported over 630 corner stores to sell healthier products, such as produce, water and low-fat dairy
Installed 9.7 miles of conventional bicycle lanes, 6.7 miles of new buffered bike lanes, 2.0 miles of Green bicycle lanes and 8.9 miles of shared bicycle lanes
Integrated healthy living and health impact assessments into Philadelphia 2035, the city’s new comprehensive plan
Established active School Wellness Councils in 171 public schools serving over 100,000 students to incorporate physical activity into the school-day and remove junk foods from classrooms, school stores and fundraisers
Implemented food and fitness standards for over 200 Out-of-School Time afterschool programs and 100 after-school recreation programs that serve 20,000 children annually
Increased parents’ awareness about the sugar content of beverages like soda, fruit drinks and sweet teas through a media education initiative that was seen or heard over 40 million times

In addition, the City of Philadelphia has embraced the Corporation for National and Community Service’s “United We Serve: Let’s Read! Let’s Move!” initiative. Mayor Nutter’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service convenes a steering committee comprised of grassroots and more established non-profit organizations that promote reading, exercise and healthy eating. Each summer, starting in 2010, the steering committee has hosted a series of volunteer driven, neighborhood based events promoting the tenets of “Let’s Read! Let’s Move!” These events have included a community health fair, family-friendly field days, healthy food tastings and two 5K run/walks. Currently, the steering committee is gearing up for a city-wide “Let’s Read! Let’s Move! Field Day” on August 1st, organized in partnership with the Mayor’s “Fun, Safe Philly Summer Campaign.”

Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ
Let’s Move! Newark was established on October 10, 2010 by Mayor Booker, as a result of the drastic increase in the occurrence of childhood obesity in children residing in the City of Newark. Working with existing pertinent data, studies and reports to accurately identify and address a variety of precursors to childhood obesity, the City aims to significantly reduce the occurrence of childhood obesity in the City of Newark. The program is being overseen by the Newark Youth Policy Board and the Let’s Move! Newark Council. Let’s Move! Newark has brought opportunities for healthier food choices and physical activity to Newarkers through many initiatives, including: the Marching 4 PALA campaign that challenges youth to get 60 minutes of activity today and earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) and the Cory Booker Challenge, an online fitness game that encourages participants to earn points and awards when they participate in physical activities. Mayor Booker serves as the Honorary Vice Chair of the Partnership for a Healthier America and has made the health and well-being of Newark’s residents a priority for the Booker Administration.

Mick Cornett, Mayor of Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett famously put his entire city on a diet, resulting in 47,000 residents losing one million pounds. More importantly, Cornett started a community-wide conversation that opened the doors to nearly $1 billion in infrastructure investment designed, in large part, to promote a more active lifestyle. Oklahoma City – once on the list of America’s least fit cities – is adding miles of hike and bike trails, senior wellness/aquatic centers, river sports, and a new 70-acre downtown central park. The City is also redesigning and constructing 180 acres of urban streetscapes with an emphasis on pedestrian traffic. Cornett is also co-chair of Wellness Now, a partnership with the City/County Health Department that is currently building a 54-acre health and wellness campus on the city’s northeast side. The project represents far more than a new building that will deliver public health services: it marks a major, innovative shift in approach to improving community health. The Wellness Campus will offer a central location for activities aimed at reducing chronic diseases by focusing on programs that encourage people to become leaner, more active, nutritionally aware and health conscious.

Karl Dean, Mayor of Nashville, TN
Mayor Karl Dean recognizes that healthy eating and active living are not only personal choices for individuals to make every day, but also the result of the built environment in which they live, their family and community culture, and their personal knowledge and awareness about healthy choices. Mayor Dean’s vision for improving the health of Nashville citizens is to have a city where the healthy choice becomes the easy choice for all residents. Mayor Dean is working to instill real change in the health of Nashville citizens by making significant capital investments in infrastructure that supports healthy living, such as sidewalks, bikeways, sports fields, interactive play parks and open space, and then inspiring people of all ages to take advantage of those resources through community-wide health challenges that bring people together.

Mayor Dean’s community health challenges began just months after being sworn into office with the launch of the Mayor’s “Let’s Get Moving Challenge” in April 2008. This initiative was a week-long series of events held in conjunction with National Public Health Week where Mayor Dean challenged Nashville citizens to get active and take advantage of the city’s resources for a healthy lifestyle, especially parks and greenways. Encouraged by a high level of public interest, Mayor Dean began holding monthly neighborhood walks all across the city, which was followed by a “Walk 100 Miles with the Mayor” health challenge in 2011 where over 4,000 Nashvillians walked more than 100,000 miles. With the success of the Walk 100 campaign, Mayor Dean recently initiated other large, public initiatives inspiring the community to be active, such as “The Mayor’s Challenge 5K” and “Mayor’s Field Day with the Tennessee Titans.” Between Mayor Dean’s on-going health challenges and his investment in expanding infrastructure that supports healthy living, Nashville’s leader is shaping a healthier community for this generation and the generations to come.

Ted Ellis, Mayor of Bluffton, IN
The City of Bluffton partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation over five years ago to establish “Operation Wellness,” which jumpstarted an improvement in the general wellness of the community and enhanced the residents’ understanding of what goes into a healthy lifestyle. To encourage more physical activity, through its Parks department, the city expanded its parks and established new areas for children, individuals and families to walk while also sponsoring community competitions called “mileage clubs” to see which students could walk the most. Bluffton also started a program in local schools to encourage more physical activity and getting kids to get outside to play and onto the playground as well as provide juice and healthier beverage options. The program teaches children about nutrition. Realizing that obesity and poor health is family-wide, parents learned what they could do to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

To improve employee wellness, the city established a fitness center in city hall and provided employees 24-hour access to exercise. To encourage residents to improve their health, the city sells low-cost memberships to residents. Bluffton also started regular employee health fairs to provide preventive health screenings and regular health campaigns. Six times a year, the city sponsors a campaign on a specific health concern and brings in a local health expert to talk to employees about the problem and how it can be avoided. When the initial grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was completed, the residents demonstrated their commitment to health and raised money to start a YMCA to continue the work. Thanks to the success of these wellness efforts, Bluffton has been able to keep its health care costs level for the last four years with no health care cost increases for employees.

Harvey Johnson, Jr., Mayor of Jackson, MS
The City of Jackson’s Employee Wellness Committee partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi in March of 2011 to kick off a ten week walking campaign for city employees. The “Let’s Go Jackson” program encouraged city employees to spend time walking every day to control weight, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, improve productivity and strengthen their bones and muscles. Mayor Johnson kicked the ten-week event off, and over 200 employees signed up to participate in the program. Employees kept logs of when and how much they walked and reported health benefits from the walking program, including notable weight loss. Employees were awarded for their participation during a special ceremony, and those who walked the most were provided awards from local businesses. Recognition was also given to the City Department with the most participation.

Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento, CA
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson created the Greenwise Joint Venture with the objective of transforming Sacramento into the Emerald Valley: the greenest region in the country and a hub for clean technology. Greenwise has a number of actions to do this including a focus on raising the Green IQ through the education of children, K-12 and to promote healthy eating, supporting the region's agricultural economy and preserving farmland. To this end, the Mayor created the first Edible Schoolyard in a high school setting in the state of California. The project, in Sacramento, will include a hands-on kitchen classroom, a complete overhaul of cafeteria services, and an on-campus garden, with the eventual goal of having the students run the cafeteria as a business by partnering with local organic farmers.

Mayor Johnson has used his influence and national reach to establish Dr. Oz’s Health Corps in five area schools, which targets high-need school populations with high incidents of obesity and early on-set diabetes. The City of Sacramento has also adopted the Healthy Vending Nutrition Policy, as well as being recognized as an “Active City” in the Health Eating/Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign. Finally, Sacramento can claim credit as home to the nation’s second best park system in the United States by the Trust for Public Land. This recognizes Sacramento specifically for how well the City has provided accessible play space and amenities for its residents.

Larry Johnson, Commissioner of DeKalb County, GA
In 2005, Commissioner Johnson, by Resolution declared “walking” as the official exercise of DeKalb County. Each year he hosts a 4-mile walk as part of the initiative called DeKalb Walks…for the Health of It! The past two years of the initiative have been dedicated to the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. The next walk is scheduled for September 8, 2012. In addition, Commissioner Johnson co-sponsored the first Let’s Move! DeKalb event in June 2011 at the Porter Sanford Center. In May of this year, Commissioner Johnson co-hosted the first ‘DeKalb Day of Play’ and in June hosted the first DeKalb Diabetes Awareness 8-mile bike ride; both in support of Let’s Move! This year, on July 28, 2012, the 2nd Annual Let’s Move! DeKalb event will be held at the Exchange Park Intergenerational Center.

Linda Langston, Supervisor of Linn County, IA
County officials in Linn County, Iowa are committed to improving the health of all those who live, learn and work within the County. The Linn County Board of Health is entering its 5th year of recognizing local public, private and non-profit organizations through a Worksite Wellness Awards Program. In 2012, thirty-five organizations received a no cost assessment to identify strengths and opportunities for making their worksite a healthier place. Large and small workplaces alike appreciate the assistance provided by local health department staff in identifying easy, low or no cost changes grounded in best practice that can facilitate better health for employees and greater productivity for the business. Simple things such as using smaller plates in the cafeteria, stocking vending machines with healthier options, and tobacco free properties can lead the way in long-term behavior change for employees and their families. Additionally, Governor Branstad’s Healthiest State Initiative serves as a driving force of the county’s initiative.

Marie Lopez Rogers, Mayor of Avondale, AZ
Avondale’s leaders are committed to ensuring that the city’s families have the resources to keep kids healthy through its myriad of youth sports and recreation activities, early childhood programs and family services resources. In 2011, Avondale, through a public private partnership, opened the Randall McDaniel Sports Complex, an 80,000 square foot indoor basketball, soccer and volleyball sports facility, to encourage physical activity among youth. The city also partnered with a farmers market co-op to host Saturday morning farmers markets at Avondale Friendship Park so that residents have access to fresh, locally grown produce. Additionally, the city’s Civic Center campus is the site of a community garden, The Garden Patch, where residents can lease small plots of land to grow and harvest their own fruits and vegetables. Avondale has long promoted walking and cycling through its participation in programs such as Safe Routes to School/Walk to School Day, and its commitment to building walking trails, bike lanes and open space amenities all across the city. The Mayor’s monthly City Hall Comes to You initiative has also focused on healthy eating, with nutrition demonstrations at a local Food City grocery store, and “Come and Play” events for young children and parents at the Avondale Library. Avondale also partners with its six school districts, the Boys & Girls Club, and a host of other groups to keep the city on the move.

Jack Reed, Jr., Mayor of Tupelo, MS
Mayor Reed established the “Mayor’s Task Force On A Healthy City,” a passionate all-citizen group which founded the “Health On A Shelf” initiative, now nationally recognized, which puts healthy choices in convenience stores throughout the city. He also began “The Mayor’s Marathon” which has resulted in all 4000 K-12 Tupelo Public School students running 26.2 miles in a month (a mile every school day) for 3 years in a row, giving them the opportunity to experience daily exercise and earn a signed certificate of success from “Mayor Jack”! In co-operation with the Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department, the Tupelo Public Schools, and citizen volunteers, the mayor also established the “Safe Splash Program” which teaches every second grader how to swim, providing them with both a life-saving skill and a life-time sport.

Joe Riley, Mayor of Charleston, SC
Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. has been a supporter of healthier lifestyles for Charlestonians for all of his ten terms of service. Thirty-five years ago, he was one of the founders of the Cooper River Bridge Run, which today is one of the nation’s largest and most successful 10K road races. More recently, he founded Lighten Up Charleston. This mayoral initiative has as its goal to make Charleston the healthiest city in the southeast. He has challenged local hospitals, schools, colleges, businesses, health agencies, physicians and community leaders to join together to encourage Charlestonians to lose a goal of 100,000 pounds. A website, www.lightenupcharleston.org, has been established to help citizens track their weight loss and to encourage healthy eating habits and physical activity. Mayor Riley believes that in a community where more than 40% of public school students are overweight, physical activity and healthy eating habits are critical skills for all citizens to learn.

Communities on the Move Video Challenge Winners Announced

dchapman — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:40:12 +0000

Posted by:

Ari Schoenholtz

The winners of the Communities on the Move Video Challenge have been chosen! Since First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Video Challenge in February, Let’s Move Faith and Communities has been inspired by every congregation and community that submitted a video highlighting how they are promoting healthy lifestyles for kids. From putting on nutrition-themed puppet shows in Connecticut to advocating for safer play spaces in Colorado and preaching healthy living from the pulpit in Florida, the ideas in these videos demonstrate the commitment that communities across the country have to reversing the trend of childhood obesity within a generation.

The Video Challenge encouraged faith-based and neighborhood organizations to create one-to-three minute videos highlighting the work they are doing to make their communities or congregations places of wellness. The challenge recognized efforts that promote healthy lifestyles for kids in three areas: encouraging nutritious eating through USDA’s MyPlate icon, increasing physical activity, and ensuring access to healthy, affordable foods. The winners and honorable mentions will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a Let’s Move! event.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition! The high quality of the submissions made picking a winner and honorable mentions a very difficult decision. Here is the final list:

First Prize Winner

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church; Eatonville, FL

Watch Macedonia on the Move.

Popular Choice Award Winner

City of San Fernando Partnership for Healthy Families; San Fernando, CA
100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future

Video Challenge Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

The Food Trust; Philadelphia, PA
HYPE! Healthy You. Positive Energy

Hispanic Health Council, Inc.; Hartford, CT
Puppets & Peers .....On the Move! To Prevent Childhood Obesity

LiveWell Colorado; Denver, CO
LiveWell Wheat Ridge

Long Island Head Start; Patchogue, NY
Sowing The Seeds Of The Future

Martha O’ Bryan Center; Nashville, TN
Martha O’ Bryan - Highway to Health

Most Holy Trinity Church; San Jose, CA
SJSU/MHT Food Justice Communities on the Move Video Challenge

South Valley Family YMCA; San Jose, CA
A Community on The Move- South Valley Family YMCA

Please check out their videos and see how these congregations and communities are helping kids live healthy. Congratulations to the winners and to all the communities that participated in the Video Challenge!

Let’s Move! to the Move It Movement Tour

dchapman — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 20:09:10 +0000

Posted by:

Ali Kelley

Looking for ways to get your family moving? On June 10, Cartoon Network launched their national Move it Movement Tour, offering kids and families across the country an opportunity to try new activities and sports. Now in its third year, the Move it Movement Tour hosts expos in 17 locations where several national organizations introduce families to strategies for fighting childhood obesity through free, kid-focused physical activity and healthy eating.

The tour kicked off in Atlanta, GA and will wrap up in Houston, TX on August 12^th. At each of the tour stops, kids and families will experience a range of sports and games – from basketball and soccer, to football and golf – that will help them get the 60 minutes of daily activity they need to stay healthy

In addition, each tour stop will feature a Let’s Move! booth where kids and parents can sign up to earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). PALA+ challenges kids to be active and for 60 minutes a day and fuel up with healthy foods over a period of six weeks. The Let’s Move! booth will also offer healthy recipes and other nutrition and activity tips designed for families.

Shooting Hoops, Staying Active. (Photo Credit: Cartoon Network)

By hosting these free events and encouraging healthy, active lifestyles, Cartoon Network and its partners are helping to advance First Lady Michelle Obama’s goal of ending childhood obesity within a generation. “By finding the activities you love, and then getting up and getting active for an hour a day, you’re showing the rest of us that being healthy isn’t just good for you, it’s fun, too,” says First Lady Michelle Obama.

Visit www.MoveItMovement.com to find out if the tour is coming to an area near you!

Watch First Lady Michelle Obama thank everyone who participated in the Presidental Active Livestyle Award program (PALA).

Ali Kelley is Deputy Associate Director for Let's Move Outside!

Soccer Steps Up: Let's Move! Hosts LA Galaxy and Young Soccer Fans

lmatthews — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:06:43 +0000

Posted by:

Lindsay Matthews

Yesterday, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed MLS Cup Champions the LA Galaxy to the White House. President Obama honored the teams 2011 season and their MLS Cup victory and the First Lady hosted a question and answer session where the players discussed getting active, eating right and keeping healthy with an audience of young, talented soccer fans from around the country.

During the event Mrs. Obama announced the U.S. Soccer Federation’s commitment to “increase opportunities for kids to get involved in a variety of sports.” She noted that the Federation will host more clinics and after-school programs in cities and towns across the country:

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with members of the Major League Soccer champions, the LA Galaxy, in the Blue Room of the White House prior to hosting a “Let’s Move!” soccer event with students from across the country, May 15, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Because the Federation also knows and these guys up here – the LA Galaxy players – know that being active and learning new skills doesn’t just help you become a better soccer player or a better athlete. It gives you the energy that you need to keep you from getting sick, to do well in school, to be able to focus on your bigger dreams – because there is life after soccer. There is something more important than sports, and that’s becoming a well-rounded person.

And being healthy and eating the right foods, and staying active is a part of that. And that’s what everybody here is trying to promote. And that’s why I’m so pleased with our U.S. Olympic Federation and all the teams that have made a commitment to invest in kids like you across the country.

The First Lady, who will lead this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games delegation in London, drove home the importance of learning a sport, mastering that sport and most importantly striving for success because you love that sport.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts a “Let’s Move!” soccer event with students from across the country and the Major League Soccer champions, the LA Galaxy, in the State Dining Room of the White House, May 15, 2012. The children participating come from the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success programs in Washington, D.C., Houston and Miami and America SCORES programs in Washington, D.C., St. Louis and Denver. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Read full remarks from the event here.

Get Moving for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

lmatthews — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:30:05 +0000

Posted by:

Drew Brees & Dominique Dawes, Co-Chairs of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Ed. Note: This was cross-posted from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition blog.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is the perfect time for children and families to get outside and play together! You don’t have to do back flips in the Olympics or throw a football 40 yards down the field to be active and break a sweat. Whether you ride your bike to work or school or chase after your dog in the park, physical activity can be fun and it helps you feel good too.

First Lady Michelle Obama runs with kids during the "Let’s Move!" South Lawn series kick-off at the White House, May 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring May National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. In that proclamation he calls on all Americans to make daily physical activity, sports participation and good nutrition a priority in their lives.

You’ve probably heard that today in America, one-third of all children and two-thirds of all adults are overweight or obese. We know that physical activity can help build lean muscle, reduce fat, and promote strong bone, muscle and joint development so what are you waiting for? Through her Let’s Move! initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama has formed a coalition of supporters including community and faith based organizations, schools and childcare centers, local governments, and corporations to help end childhood obesity within a generation.

This time of year in most parts of the country, the weather makes is easy to explore America’s great outdoors. So the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is challenging everyone to pick up a new activity or sport, and help guide your loved ones and neighbors to better health!

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watch a balance beam demonstration hosted by gymnast Dominique Dawes, far left, on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 16, 2009. Also pictured are Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett (second from left) and former Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner Kersee (in white shirt). (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Did you know that May is also Older Americans Month? It’s never too early – or too late – to lead a healthy lifestyle. We want Americans of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to set new physical activity and healthy eating goals, and track your progress online while earning a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). That’s right – you can actually receive presidential recognition by improving your health. What more motivation do you need to get fit?

As the First Lady often says, we want to make the healthy choice the easy choice and PALA+ is the easy choice to jumpstart or maintain a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you live, anyone can participate in PALA+. The physical activity requirements are as simple as 60 minutes a day for kids – 30 minutes a day for adults, and five days a week for six weeks. Each week, you also add a healthy eating goal and build upon those goals throughout the six week period.

So what are you waiting for? Earn your PALA+ today and follow us on Twitter @FitnessGov for tips to stay motivated throughout the month!

Celebrate Healthy Kids Day with the Y!

lmatthews — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:57 +0000

Posted by:

Ali Kelley, White House Council on Environmental Quality

With summer right around the corner, this is a perfect time to get moving! For most kids, the end of the school year means more free time for adventures, outdoor activities, and fun with friends. At the same time, we know that a few months of inactivity can lead to critical gaps in health and education that put kids at risk for childhood obesity and learning loss. For parents, keeping their kids healthy and active during the summer requires planning and preparation.

Kids participate in fun group exercises at one of the YMCA's Healthy Kids Day® events. Healthy Kids Day, the largest health day for kids, will be celebrated at Y's nationwide on April 28. (Photo by YMCA of the USA)

To encourage kids to keep their minds and bodies moving this summer, Y’s across the country are celebrating Healthy Kids Day® on Saturday, April 28^th.

As part of Healthy Kids Day, the Y is encouraging kids to "Take on Summer" through free events at more than 1,900 Ys across the country. These events will feature fun and educational activities designed to inspire healthy habits and learning. Y’s will provide resources and tips for parents to begin thinking about simple ways to keep their kids active throughout the summer.

Learn more and find a participating Y near you!

For more great ideas about how to keep healthy and active visit our Let's Move Outside! "Where to Go" guide.