The National League of Cities (NLC) recognized Mayor Alvin Brown and the City of Jacksonville for the recent completion of key health and wellness goals for 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 aims to ensure that kids grow up healthy. LMCTC works closely with local elected officials nationwide to adopt policies that improve access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity for their constituents across five goal areas.
“We congratulate Jacksonville for your dedication to building a healthier community for children and families,” said NLC President Ralph Becker, mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah. “Through the tireless leadership and action of local elected officials in cities, towns and counties across the country, we hope to see continued progress in reversing America’s epidemic of childhood obesity.”
A silver medal was awarded to the City of Jacksonville for citywide action taken to improve access to healthy affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity. Jacksonville was recognized for its efforts, in partnership with Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville Head Start and the Jacksonville Children’s Commission to expand children’s access to programs that offer healthy food before, during and after the school day, and/or over the summer months.
“We all want our kids to be happy and healthy,” said Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. “I’m honored that Jacksonville is being recognized for our collaborative efforts with the I’m a Star Foundation and the Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition to increase access to nutritious food and create opportunities for physical activity in our excellent parks system. Working together, for our children, we can make Jacksonville the healthiest city in the nation.”
Medals are awarded to local elected officials based on their achievements in each of the following five goal areas:
-
Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart: Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings.
-
Goal II: MyPlate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served.
-
Goal III: Smart Servings for Students: Expanding access to meal programs before, during and after the school day, and/or over summer months.
-
Goal IV: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
-
Goal V: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity.
NLC is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties and other nonprofit organizations, to assist local elected officials who join LMCTC as they 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 those participating in LMCTC.
More than 465 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC, and more than 70 million Americans are now living in LMCTC communities that are dedicated to helping young people eat healthy foods and be physically active.
The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. For more information about LMCTC and Jacksonville’s accomplishments, visit
www.HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org.