Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced that the City is being nationally recognized for creating and implanting key health and wellness goals for area children.
The National League of Cities (NLC) has awarded the City of Annapolis for its work with Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC). LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.
A total of eleven medals were awarded to the City for improving access to healthy, affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity.
Three gold, three silver and five bronze medals were awarded to Annapolis for its achievements in nutrition awareness, childhood physical activity and community health initiatives emphasizing the City’s Recreation and Parks’ motto, “Healthy Living Starts Here.”
“Our Recreation and Parks Department is one of the best in the nation, so it doesn’t surprise me that their hard work and attention to detail would yield national recognition,” Mayor Cohen said. “The department’s theme of ‘Healthy Living Starts Here,’ isn’t just a motto; it’s a core belief of our department and its professionals who dedicate their careers to creating a healthier community, starting with our youngest residents.”
More than 160 cities, towns and counties participate in LMCTC, and each has an opportunity to earn up to five gold medals; one for each actionable goal they commit to as part of the initiative. The five goal areas are:
- Goal 1: Start Early, Start Smart: Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings
- Goal 2: My Plate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served
- Goal 3: Smart Servings for Students: Increasing participation in school breakfast and lunch programs
- Goal 4: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Goal 5: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity
The National League of Cities (NLC) is the lead collaborating partner on this initiative, working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties, and other nonprofit organizations, in assisting local elected officials to implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded NLC a grant to provide technical assistance to local elected officials working to create healthier communities and prevent childhood obesity, including sites participating in LMCTC.
For more information about LMCTC and Annapolis’ accomplishments, visit www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org.
