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Several individuals in the Cedar Valley community gathered together in 2009 to collaborate on a shared vision to create a healthy Iowa for all to live, grow and thrive. Initially, they sought a grant to address Iowa’s environmental health disparities. When the funding didn’t materialize as hoped, they decided to explore the starting of a grass-roots pilot project on the local level.
The original team included:
Dr. Bill Stigliani, University of Northern Iowa’s Senior Policy Advisor of the Center for Energy and Environmental Education (and Chernobyl survivor)
- Dr. Catherine Zeman, University of Northern Iowa’s Director of the Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center and professor in Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services
- Christine Carpenter, breast cancer advocate and Cedar Valley Cancer Coalition Beyond Pink Team board member
- Julie Fischer, 30-year Organic Gardener and organizer of the Malcolm Price Laboratory School’s Local Foods Project
Of key importance to this small team were objectives such as:
- citizens thinking globally, while acting locally
- good education about healthy nutrition and fitness lifestyles
- safe environments in which every family can raise healthy children
- greater emphasis on a “locavore” culture – a larger proportion of food grown, purchased and preserved locally year-round
- advancement of renewable resources and sustainable practices
- systems structured toward getting it all done
It was a pretty tall order, but the team knew there were already other persons, populations and organizations sharing some of the same objectives. Some were making strong contributions and some needed the synergy that comes with collaboration. They took the lead to align together and create a wider, cohesive network to strengthen the cause.
In January, a dozen or so people, many of whom were strangers to each other, gathered together to explore how the Cedar Valley could become a healthy place that served all populations. It was a time for daydreaming — or, more accurately, someday-dreaming.
The participants got acquainted with one another by each answering the question, “What particular aspect of creating a healthy Cedar Valley is most important to you, and why do you care about it?”
For Andrea Geary, Coordinator of Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership at UNI’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education, it was to build our food systems among local farmers and food buyers and dining establishments.
Carpenter wanted to see an end to cancer in the Cedar Valley.
Fischer dreamed of a circle of community gardens, greenhouses and local food growers surrounding and supplying the Valley.
For Dr. Zeman, it was to bring industry to better sustainable practices and raise up environmental health workers with the passion to ignite local toxic clean-ups. “It’s much easier to destroy a civilization than a planet. Our future is tied to our ecosystem,” she said.
For Rhonda Bottke, Schools Outreach and Clinics Division of the Black Hawk County Health Department, it was to address the growing levels of childhood obesity.
For me, it was to see harmful chemicals and pesticides reduced and used responsibly in our public and private dwelling places.
For several college students majoring in environmental education or health and leisure, it was to be a part of doing something about a healthy environment and a fit population. Nurses, employees of Hawkeye Community College, KBBG, Iowa State Extension Service, Tyson and El Centro Latino Americano – all had a voice.
During that first meeting, the group recorded positive steps already happening in the Cedar Valley. Participants then brainstormed about this question:
“If this community were to be living out the mission of ‘creating a healthy Cedar Valley, for all to live, grow and thrive’, what would it look like in 25-30 years?”
Over 40 compelling ideas were offered with three themes emerging from the brainstorming session. People chose which of the theme groups they wanted to align with and went to work on establishing their own particular goals. The groups have met monthly while growing in numbers, focus and synergy. The theme subgroups and their goals are:
Buy Fresh, Buy Local
To maximize fresh organic produce availability; expand urban agriculture; educate in schools about gardening, food preservation; promote health, economic, and social benefits of home, community, and neighborhood gardens.
Green, Clean and Healthy
To affect change in health and wellness lifestyle practices throughout various parts of the community through education and engagement, especially with children as advocates to the family.
Recycling and Renewable Energy
To be determined in the near future.
The first two immediate projects are to establish an educational website and to have a presence from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 5 at the My Waterloo Days celebration. One booth will offer free health screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose and weight, plus helpful information. Additional booths will have interactive composting and gardening activities for adults and children.
Be sure to stop by the Healthy Cedar Valley Coalition booths and demonstrations and check your health statistics or let us know if you'd like to join the growing movement for a healthy Cedar Valley!
Jean Vaux is a local life and health coach and wellness advocate; 319-277-7444.
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