Be Part of Our "Vital" City!

2011 is bringing lots of "VITAL" Changes to the Beach Cities!

Last week was very exciting for everyone here in the Beach Cities of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach....the Vitality City Initiative had it's big kick-off and lots of amazing focus groups for residents, business owners, teachers, etc to participate in.  We are blessed that Healthways and Blue Zones have teamed together to form this amazing 3yr program called Vitality City...they will be working with our local Beach Cities Health District to institute programs designed around what our citizens want.  We were chosen to be part of their pilot program and will receive fantastic overall "well-being" benefits as a result.   Here's just a few of the changes that will happen over the next 3 years:

Improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure - it will be safer to walk and bike to school, work, and around the beach cities
School and workplace policies - for better nutrition choices and wellness plans
Healthy Plant-based cooking classes
Restaurant menus will have healthier choices
Opportunities to improve social connectedness through walking groups, volunteering, purpose workshops, community gardens

This is a huge undertaking and I commend and applaud and completely support the Vitality City Plan.   I urge all of you to become involved.  You can register at www.vitalitycity.com and sign up for focus groups that you want to give your opinion on.  That's the great thing, your voice counts ...so let it be heard.   If you can't make a focus group then fill out their online feedback form to let them know what changes you want to see in your city!  Join Vitality City on facebook and keep yourself updated to upcoming events and focus groups.

The goal of this plan is that we will live longer, healthier, happier lives as a result of the vitality city plan.  Yeah!  And even better...our kids will live longer, happier lives!  Click here for more media info on the plan.  Did you know that the residents living in the 5 Blue Zones studied around the world lived an average of 12 years longer than us!  I certainly want to live 12 healthy and happy years longer as a result of this plan.

Did you know that in 2005 it marked for the first time in American history that our kids future was worse than their parents?  Previous generations (before 2005) could always say their kids would be better off than their parents.  This is devistating news to me.  I will do everything in my power to make sure my kids will have a bright and healthy future.  This is the very reason I started Farm2Table Connect, I wanted everyone in my community to have an easy way to get healthy farm-fresh produce.  I hope you are enjoying our program...help us spread the word to others in your community or even friends and family in other areas!  We will help connect them with their local farm...we're growing and have many new farms in CA and other states that are interested in reaching all of you. 

Send your friends, family, and neighbors a message through our site and invite them to participate.  The more the merrier!

I will keep you all updated on the progress of the Vitality City and how we can all help bring healthy change to our cities!

Leslie