Activate Elgin is an initiative to engage all sectors of the community to work in harmony providing all residents with opportunities to improve their health, well-being, and overall quality of life. This challenging work requires collaboration by many organizations working toward the common goal of reducing obesity and improving health-related conditions in the Elgin area. The breadth of community partners demonstrates our commitment to change in local policies, systems, and environment (PSE) with representatives from parks and recreation, healthcare services, the health department, the library, school district, food banks, and university programs with links to local governing bodies.
Goals
- To advocate opportunities for physical activity and nutrition education in our community.
- To provide opportunities for physical activity that is convenient, affordable and accessible to all residents of our community.
- To encourage healthy eating through programs and education that takes into account the cultural diversity of our community.
- To partner and support other organizations to improve health and well-being.
- To encourage government officials at the local, county and state level for policy changes that support healthy living and lifestyles.
- To utilize measurement tools that collects and analyzes baseline data. Monitor trends and share the results with the community.
- To encourage, assist and support the development of a healthy and physically fit workforce.
Get involved
At Home…
- prepare your meals at home and freeze the leftovers. Home-cooked meals often contain much less fat, calories, and sodium than takeout.
- Eat more fruits and veggies! Experts recommend getting 5-9 servings per day. Not a fan? Try eating one or the other with each meal.
- Exercise. Start off slow by taking a walk around the block after dinner. Every little bit counts!
- Start a garden!
At Work…
- Start a lunchtime walking group. Organize your office staff to walk a 100 miles in 30 days.
- Push for healthier items in your vending machines, or request the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables in your cafeteria.
- Start a worksite wellness team. Distribute monthly newsletters and bring in experts to conduct “Lunch and Learn” sessions.
At School…
- Push for vending policies that eliminate sugary drinks and nutritionally-empty snacks
- Start a “Walking School Bus” program to get neighborhood kids walking or riding their bikes to school.
- Start a parent-teacher wellness group with interested parents, teachers, and staff. Or schedule a healthy cooking workshop as an extracurricular session for parents.
In the Community…
- Push for sidewalks, bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly intersections
- Start a community garden
- Volunteer for community events: 5k runs, walks, parades, etc.
We can provide lots of ideas and suggestions for you to try, or you can create your own. When you do, be sure to tell us about it because what you do counts! We would like to recognize you for the effort, because it’s possible that your effort can inspire others to do the same.
Key team members in the Activate Elgin coalition are: Kane County Health Department, Northern Illinois University, Judson University, Gail Borden Public Library, School District U-46, Provena St. Joseph Hospital, Sherman Hospital, South Elgin Parks and Recreation, Elgin Parks and Recreation, Taylor Family YMCA, Northern Illinois Food Bank and Feeding Greater Elgin.
For more information contact:
Silvia Ceja
sceja@elginymca.org
(630) 503-6571
Cathy Headley, PhD.
cheadley@judson.edu
(847) 628-1085
