On November 16th and 17th, the Foundation for the Mid South and the National League of Cities (NLC) hosted mayors from 19 cities and towns in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana at the King Edward Hotel in Jackson to focus on reducing childhood obesity in their communities.
The Municipal Leadership for Healthy Southern Cities project,which is sponsored by the NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families, helps municipal leaders use their leadership positions to more effectively influence policy to improve community health. Specifically, efforts in the 19 communities will focus on increasing residents’ access to recreational opportunities and fresh, nutritious foods. The project is supported by Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The participating cities and towns are working to form their own community action plan to improve policies to reduce childhood obesity. Mayors will received guidance from the state municipal leagues, state health departments, NLC, and the Foundation for the Mid South.
The following are the cities and towns participating:
Mississippi
Alligator
Arcola
Coldwater
Hernando
Lexington
Mound Bayou
Okalona
Starkville
Tupelo
Wesson
Arkansas
Arkansas City
Batesville
Cherokee Village
Little Rock
McGehee
North Little Rock
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Lecompte
Natchitoches
“Our collaboration is focused on helping municipal leaders—from both large and small communities—make health and wellness a priority,” said Necole S. Irvin, Senior Program Officer at the Foundation for the Mid South. “The knowledge and skills shared today and tomorrow will allow leaders to create plans that will keep their communities focused on curbing obesity and improving health, even when the work of Foundation and the National League of Cities is complete.”
“High childhood obesity rates represent a grave threat to public health and often impose a financial burden on cities already struggling to provide residents with essential services,” said Clifford M. Johnson, Executive Director of NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families. “We commend these cities for taking it upon themselves to help make their communities healthier.”