AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project

Vitality Project Initiatives

Initiatives within the Vitality Project were divided into categories such as habitat, social networking, community, and purpose.{{Citation

• Walking Moai Program: Over 500 participants formed approximately 70 "walking moais," groups of 4-10 walkers meeting weekly to walk to a set destination and back. They collectively walked over 75 million steps and engaged in over 2,200 hours of volunteer work. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090727040434/http://moai.albertleajournal.com/ | archive-date = 27 July 2009 | url-status = dead

• Walking School Bus: This program enlisted parents and volunteers to walk groups of children to elementary schools, promoting walking, building social networks, and enhancing safety.

• Vitality Compass: An online tool assessing participants' habits and providing an approximate life expectancy. Participants took the survey at the beginning and end of the program, with the average life expectancy increasing by three years.{{Citation

• Volunteering: Participants were encouraged to volunteer in their community.

• Employers: Employers were encouraged to make their work environments more amenable to practices leading to good health. For example, some employers added healthy alternatives to vending machines.

• Grocery Stores: Grocery stores encouraged to feature foods thought to engender better health and increased life expectancy.

• Neighborhood Picnics: To encourage community building and social networking, several neighborhood picnics were held, and everyone in a given neighborhood were invited to attend. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100421075437/http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/08/26/11118/a_minnesota_blue_zone_its_closer_than_before | archive-date = 21 April 2010 | url-status=dead

• Community Gardens: Space made available for citizens of Albert Lea to plant vegetables and flowers, promoting urban gardening.

• Purpose Workshops: Free workshops focused on helping individuals find their sense of purpose,{{Citation

Walkability

Early in the Vitality Project, organizers invited Dan Burden to come speak to community leaders and do a "walkability audit".{{Citation | archive-date = 27 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627070357/http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/jan/16/walkable-audit-albert-lea-offers-bridge-avenue-ide/ | url-status = dead

Sustainability

The city also established a sustainability committee focused on maintaining implemented practices. Their goal is that Albert Lea will have a Vitality Center where leaders of other cities, organizations, and individuals can learn about how making small changes in lifestyle as a community can help improve health and life expectancy. | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130414161709/http://www.cityofalbertlea.org/?page_id=4079 | url-status=dead | archive-date = 2013-04-14

On October 26, 2009, the Albert Lea City Council voted to designate the lower level of the Jacobson Apartment Building on Broadway Avenue in downtown Albert Lea as the Vitality Center. The space was refurbished and updated to accommodate the Vitality Center. The city's goal was for the Vitality Center be opened in the first part of 2010.{{Citation

Media coverage

The Vitality Project was featured in a variety of news outlets and publications. Among them are Good Morning America, USA Today, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Minnesota Public Radio.

The initiative collaborated with Healthways and expanded to the LA beach cities - Hermosa, Redondo, and Manhattan Beach. In Iowa, a statewide initiative was implemented.

References

References

1. Improvement, Roundtable on Population Health. (2015-05-08). "Lessons from the Blue Zones®". National Academies Press (US).