Workshop to focus on creating healthy communities

People interested in working to implement environmental changes to support active and healthy living in their communities are invited to a free workshop in Terre Haute on Wednesday, May 1 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The "Building Communities for Health" workshop will be held at the Landsbaum Center for Health Education located at 1433 N. 6 ½ St. in Terre Haute. The Landsbaum Center is located on the south side of Union Hospital's campus.

The Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative, in collaboration with Chances and Services for Youth, Union Hospital and Indiana State University's Center for Health, Wellness and Life Enrichment is bringing Mark Fenton and Ken Meter, both nationally recognized presenters to speak about building healthy communities.

A former host of the "America's Walking" series on PBS, Mark Fenton is an adjunct professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

Fenton will focus on the "built environment" or creating pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities and will include suggestions for creating livable, walkable communities, fostering community health, building interdisciplinary partnerships and initiating lasting changes in health through policy, systems and environmental change.

A recognized authority on public health, transportation and planning issues, he advocates for policies and changes to the built environment that help to create places where more people walk, bicycle, and take transit more of the time.

Meter will focus on the "food environment" in hopes of helping community members learn about the role that local food can play in economic recovery and also help with strategies to create a regional food system.

Meter is an experienced food system analyst in the United States. His work integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking and social concerns. Ken was recently featured in the HBO documentary Weight of the Nation, which investigates United States' struggle with obesity.

The workshop is free to those who register and includes lunch. Register by contacting Alia Hazel at 812-232-5190 or alia@cfiy.org.

Participants may choose between the "built environment" or "food environment" afternoon session. During the "built environment" session, a walking audit is part of the afternoon's activities, so participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothes.

"I learned more about some of the reasons why things are as they are -- for example, why there are textured tiles where the B-Line Trail, in Bloomington, crosses over streets-- as a cue for the visually impaired. And how walk-ability of any town could be improved," said Debby Herbenick, an attendee at recent Bloomington walk-ability study.

The one-of-a-kind event is designed for health advocates, city and county boards, planning commissions, bike and pedestrian committees, public health department representatives, health care professionals, farmers, local food growers, farmer's markets, students and educators, engineers and planners, nonprofit organizations and anyone working to implement policy and environmental changes that support healthy eating and active living.

If you are coming from a community outside of Vigo County, it would be preferable to have 4-5 additional people attend from your community to make the most impact. Registration is required.

For more information or to register contact Alia Hazel at 812-232-5190 or via email, alia@cfiy.org.