Life comes at us from all directions, and sometimes it’s difficult to prioritize our health when work and school demand so much of our time. We know physical activity is important, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to squeeze a family trip to the gym into an already packed schedule. Community support for active living can help families find time for fun and fitness, and that’s what Move Your Way is all about.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) created the Move Your Way campaign to promote the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and has selected Kansas City, Kansas as a pilot community for the campaign with BikeWalkKC as a lead facilitator of the effort. With our partners, the WYCO Health Department and the Department of Population Health through Univ. of Kansas Medical Center, we will leverage the Move Your Way campaign to enhance existing local active living programs and increase use of KCK’s parks and trail systems.
After 7 years of Safe Routes to School, pedestrian and bicycle safety education, and other active living partnerships in KCK, we are excited to begin a new project in Wyandotte County that complements our ongoing work. Laura Steele, BikeWalkKC Education Director, says, “There is amazing work around active living that is happening throughout Wyandotte County by dedicated community organizations. The core campaign team hopes to enhance and promote these efforts while finding new ways to partner for greater collective impact. Moving your way isn’t just about treadmills, sweat and pedometers. It’s about getting outside to help clean up a local trail, celebrating the expansion of the levee system and meeting friends at a local park for the farmer’s market. Embedded in all of these activities is the chance for residents and families to move their way together.” Move Your Way is one more resource to help kids and their families make physical activity an easy part of their day.
The Wyandotte County Move Your Way group is seeking community organizations to join our coalition. We are looking for events and programs for families with older elementary and middle school-age students that we can strengthen with resources from the Move Your Way campaign. Is your group interested in participating in the Move Your Way campaign? Learn more on our website and contact Laura Steele at laura.steele@bikewalkkc.org.
Move Your Way is a service mark of the Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. Participation by BikeWalkKC does not imply endorsement by HHS/ODPHP.