By: Dr. Jamie Rae Walker
Creating healthy environments that support healthy choices does not have to be scary! Let’s take this time to stroll through a few ways to get stated without getting frightened!
- Start small! For example, let’s say you are not ready to pass a Community-wide Healthy Events policy. You could look at working on the organization or association level. That is your single organization could pass a healthy food meeting policy that indicates you will have at least one healthy choice at all meetings that have food. Or, a local restaurant association can start by getting members to elect to offer adults to purchase kids meals for the regular kid’s meal price so they are not charged for selecting to purchase a meal of smaller portions.
- Similarly, if you are not ready to plan and build bike lanes, start with a walking or biking audit. Invite key decision makers and potential multi-sector partners. This is a great way to start a conversation about what is working in your community and what might need some work.
- Build on existing activities! For example, we have many farmers markets that offer healthy choices. A few of them have also started to partner with other local organizations to offer pop-up, play or StoryWalkTM. Or, to offer programed activities that encourage physical activity such as Zumba or Yoga. that also give people an opportunity to be introduced to or get access to physical activity.
- Tie into existing plans or budget requests for related infrastructure. Is your community planning on restriping or repaving roads? Does your community have a long-term capital improvements schedule for when this work will occur? If yes, work with your planning team, local leadership, or local advocates to see if it is feasible to plan needed bike lanes, walking lanes, crosswalks, and traffic calming in accordance with the larger effort for repaving or restriping. If your community is already taking on a project of this magnitude and there is community support for these smaller needs, This can save time and money and is often a great time to coordinate efforts.
- Was that too scary? Then start with Demonstrations. Demonstrations or pop ups are quick and temporary installations of parks, parklets, bike, lanes, walking and traffic calming materials, They can help leaders and planners gather feedback and see what does and does not work.
- Pilot tests and walk and chalks are a similar concepts. Both of these approaches are a way to get engagement, identify potential partners, and start a visual conversation prior to making a long-term commitment. Oftentimes, people get excited when they can see proposed changes and try them out. This also allows land managers an opportunity to work out some the potential kinks,
- Still a little scared? Consider starting via a technical assistance program. In addition to WOW-E, Safe Routes to School, the Center for Local Foods, Walk America, Kaboom, and many other organizations offer technical assistance. These allow local advocates and providers the opportunity to get education and expert assistance while working on plans and projects. These programs tie capacity building to project development. It is kind of like having a big brother or sister walk you around with you when you first start trick-or-treating!
Let’s not be afraid of creating healthy environments. Let’s work together to build capacity and find paths on which we are ready to follow to get started. Check out WOW-E’s Video page to see how small steps can lead to community change.
