The Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program is partnering with Health by Design to present a series of workshops this spring and summer designed to help seven Indiana communities become healthier—as well as more walkable, bikeable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
The Town of Sheridan is one of the recipients of the Active Living Workshop.
Community Wellness coordinator Gloria Del Greco submitted the application on behalf of the community, and workshops were selected through a competitive process.
The seven communities chosen to host workshops through June 2017 are:
- City of Fort Wayne
- City of Monticello
- City of Rockport
- Town of Sheridan
- City of Southport
- City of Wabash
- Town of Whiteland
According to Purdue Extension NEP Director Melissa Maulding, these daylong Active Living Workshops will bring together government staff, civic leaders and advocates to network, learn about the benefits of active-living communities, and discuss strategies for success.
“We’re very excited to engage with Indiana communities in a new way,” said Maulding. “Since 1994, our NEP Assistants have provided nutrition education lessons to youth and adults through schools and a variety of community groups, helping them to eat better and move more.”
“Now as our Community Wellness Cordinators work with Health by Design to bring these Active Living Workshops to Indiana communities, we’re looking forward to making an even bigger impact in local health.”
Each workshop will be tailored for the individual community and will build upon existing assets and projects already underway. Presenters will lead participants through various group exercises to identify active-living priorities. Other activities may include a walk audit to assess the safety and comfort of sidewalks and streets, mapping exercises designed to identify important destinations and access to them, and/or a streetscape visualization to show potential improvements to a key intersection or corridor.
“This workshop will demonstrate that healthy people and vibrant communities go hand-in-hand. Creating neighborhoods and public spaces that allow and encourage active living has vast benefits for everyone,” said Kim Irwin, executive director of Health by Design, a statewide coalition that works to create built environments that foster healthy living.
“If someone can easily walk to the grocery store or bike to work, for example, they’re more likely to do so, which is good for him or her as an individual, but also for the environment and the entire community,” Irwin added.
Throughout 2016, the Nutrition Education Program and Health by Design awarded and conducted seven Active Living Workshops in communities across Indiana.
Denny Spinner, Mayor of the City of Huntingburg, participated in the Active Living Workshop for his community that was held in October 2016. “The Active Living Workshop was an opportunity for us to bring together those in our community that are truly dedicated to improving Huntingburg’s quality of life,” said Spinner.
“We had a great day of discussion and activity that allowed us to explore some of the barriers we have in making our city more fit-friendly, while also identifying the things already in place that we are doing well. I came away with a clearer vision on how to integrate these issues into the city’s way of doing business, and energized by the community involvement that was included in all of the day’s events,” Spinner added.
For more information on the Active Living Workshop in Sheridan or to be involved in the planning, contact Gloria Del Greco, Community Wellness Coordinator, at 317-776-0854.
About the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program
The Purdue Extension Nutrition Program (NEP) works to improve the nutrition and health of audiences with limited resources in communities statewide by focusing on five areas: diet quality, physical activity, food security, food safety and food resource management. To learn more, visit the NEP website at http://bit.ly/1MZtGU.
About Health by Design
Health by Design is a coalition of partners working to ensure that communities throughout Indiana have neighborhoods, public spaces and transportation infrastructure that promote physical activity and healthy living. To learn more visit www.healthbydesignonline.org or call 317-622-4820.
